Read on Twitter
Ankyerena: A Forbidden History in Asante________
Last Thursday at Manhyia Palace, Santehene implicitly gave permission for two new towns to be created - recreated- in Asante since the 1870s.
And this is how it came about.
A thread.....
Last Thursday at Manhyia Palace, Santehene implicitly gave permission for two new towns to be created - recreated- in Asante since the 1870s.
And this is how it came about.
A thread.....
Just imagine coming from a village or town or nation which no longer exists but only in the memories of the people.
Of simply imagine the Jews before Israel's creation in 1948.
Now imagine the outcomes of war before the Geneva Convention.
Of simply imagine the Jews before Israel's creation in 1948.
Now imagine the outcomes of war before the Geneva Convention.
There were only two consequences of war after a town, city or nation had been defeated : either the city/State was completely destroyed with it's people put to the sword; or the people sent to exile in the land of the victors.
In the 1950s, a destoolment case brought Antoahene Sarkodie Darte II to the Court of Prempeh II, the Asantehene.
During the presentation of his sub chiefs, Antoahene introduced the "Ankyerena-Dikro."
As soon as the name "Ankyerena" was mentioned, there was a huge uproar
During the presentation of his sub chiefs, Antoahene introduced the "Ankyerena-Dikro."
As soon as the name "Ankyerena" was mentioned, there was a huge uproar
The Antoahene was immediately leveled with contempt charges ( dedua ) for mentioning the unmentionable, the forbidden.
Kyeame Akoto (then married to Antoahene's niece) had to intervene and plead on behalf of his akonta ( brother-in-law) to, literally save his head, his stool.
Kyeame Akoto (then married to Antoahene's niece) had to intervene and plead on behalf of his akonta ( brother-in-law) to, literally save his head, his stool.
But what was the unmentionable?
During the reign of Opemso Osei Tutu I, there existed a town in Kwabre called Ankyerena which shared a border with Antoa.
One fateful day, one of the wives of the King, Osei Tutu was on her way to Kumasi from Sekyere area.
During the reign of Opemso Osei Tutu I, there existed a town in Kwabre called Ankyerena which shared a border with Antoa.
One fateful day, one of the wives of the King, Osei Tutu was on her way to Kumasi from Sekyere area.
When the King's wife got to Ankyerena, dusk was about to set so the chief allegedly offered her an overnight hospitality and entertainment benefiting her status.
The King's wife's overnight stay in Ankyerena was not well received in Kumasi.
The King's wife's overnight stay in Ankyerena was not well received in Kumasi.
It was interpreted as an affront and detainment, under duress, of the King's wife. The implications therefore were very clear. Had he defiled the King's wife?
Ankyerenahene, Owosoadoto ( Shaker of grooves), was well known for his rants against Osei Tutu’s status as Asantehene.
Ankyerenahene, Owosoadoto ( Shaker of grooves), was well known for his rants against Osei Tutu’s status as Asantehene.
Thus keeping the King's wife in Ankyerena instead of giving her escort to Kumasi was taken as a mischievous act.
Consequently, Osei Tutu invaded Ankyerena and destroyed the town, basically wiping it off the face of the earth- like Rome had done to Carthage.
Consequently, Osei Tutu invaded Ankyerena and destroyed the town, basically wiping it off the face of the earth- like Rome had done to Carthage.
But instead of putting the people to the sword i.e massacre all of them or send them into exile in Kumasi, Osei Tutu asked Antoahene to give them land to live on as free people never to ever resurrect the town of Ankyerena.
Again, in order not to remind the King of this painful memory, the name Ankyerena was forbidden at Manhyia.
So when Antoahene found himself at Santehene's court some two hundred and fifty years later after the event,
So when Antoahene found himself at Santehene's court some two hundred and fifty years later after the event,
the gravity of the Ankyerena issue must have faded from then Antoa contemporary memory. But the memory of Manhyia is always ever fresh.
For how could Antoahene have committed such a travesty by bringing up Ankyerena at Manhyia?
For how could Antoahene have committed such a travesty by bringing up Ankyerena at Manhyia?
Besides, no Antoahene since the 1700s had enstoolled an Ankyerena dikro after the effect.
So what could have motivated Antoahene Sarkodie Darte to enstool an Ankyerena-Dikro as one of his sub chiefs when none of his predecessors had dared to do so?
So what could have motivated Antoahene Sarkodie Darte to enstool an Ankyerena-Dikro as one of his sub chiefs when none of his predecessors had dared to do so?
Faded institutional memory after centuries? But Manhyia's memory is always fresh.
When Ankyerena was annihilated, it affected another town closely nearby, Sisirase.
Again, per Asantehene's instructions, Antoahene gave the Sisirase people a land to live on.
When Ankyerena was annihilated, it affected another town closely nearby, Sisirase.
Again, per Asantehene's instructions, Antoahene gave the Sisirase people a land to live on.
But this time around, Sisirasefuo were sent to Krobo, a town under Antoahene to settle.
Now fast forward to three hundred years in AD 2020 after the event. The peoples of Ankyerena and Sisirase now want to go back to their lands to settle and create their own destinies.....
Now fast forward to three hundred years in AD 2020 after the event. The peoples of Ankyerena and Sisirase now want to go back to their lands to settle and create their own destinies.....
.....after living in exile in Antoa for centuries.
In order to achieve that, they had to send a plea (dwatoa) to Asantehene through their immediate overlord, the Antoahene.
And if anyone could forgive the three hundred year old travesty of Dwantre Owosoadoto,
In order to achieve that, they had to send a plea (dwatoa) to Asantehene through their immediate overlord, the Antoahene.
And if anyone could forgive the three hundred year old travesty of Dwantre Owosoadoto,
it definetely had to be none other than Osei Tutu himself, reincarnated.
And that was why Antoahene Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman with his Adikrofuo, Ankyerenafuo and Sisirasefuo found themselves at Otumfuo's court last- for Asantehene to trash out a few kinks before the process....
And that was why Antoahene Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman with his Adikrofuo, Ankyerenafuo and Sisirasefuo found themselves at Otumfuo's court last- for Asantehene to trash out a few kinks before the process....
the process for the "independence" of Ankyerena and Sisirase could begin.
Up to this day, one would still find three hundred year old foundation ruins of mud houses within the Ankyerena and Sisirase forests.
Long live Santehene.
Long live Santeman.
Piawwwwwwww!!!
Up to this day, one would still find three hundred year old foundation ruins of mud houses within the Ankyerena and Sisirase forests.
Long live Santehene.
Long live Santeman.
Piawwwwwwww!!!
Credit: Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa Akoto.
