History of the Fante

[kofiasr]

The history of Mankessim is closely linked to that of the Akan speaking people to which the Fante people belong. This is so because Mankessim is the cradle of the Fante Nation. History has it that the Akan speaking people were one of the Nations/States that formed the Old Ghana Empire in Sudan which migrated after the collapse of the Empire in the 10th century. It is believed that after wandering through the Nile and the River Niger Valley, they eventually settled at "KRAKO" literally meaning to bid farewell; present day Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
After settling there for about 350 years, part of the group decided to break away to find a new settlement since they felt threatened by the Islamic movement that was drifting towards them. This group was referred to as "fa Atsew" meaning the broken half. The people were referred to as "fa Atsew-fo" that is the people belonging to the group that has broken away. This group became known and recognized as the Fante People. Those who chose to remain were called "Aso-Antse-fo" meaning the stubborn people - now known and recognized as the Ashanti people.
The migration from Techiman was under the leadership of three warriors OBRUMANKOMA, ODAPAGYA and OSON, meaning the whale, the eagle and the elephant respectively, their fetish priest Komfo Amona and his dog Eku. The names of the three warriors ostensibly signified mastery of the sea, air and land. The warriors presumably feared no foe and this was important since they themselves did not know where they were leading the Fante people.
The first two warriors died on the way and their bodies were embalmed and carried along. The Fante people came across the River Okyi and followed its course till they arrived at a settlement called "Adoakyir" whose inhabitants wore bushy hair and were therefore referred to as "Etsi-fue-yifo" meaning people with bushy hair. The Fante people conquered these people renamed the settlement "Oman-kesemu" meaning the big town; present day Mankessim. The first group of the Fante people to arrive were the people of Ekumfi, Abora, Enyan, Nkusukura and Kurentsir. They were later joined by the people of Gomoa, Ajumako, Akatakyi, Shama and Edina. However the Kurentsir people are the present inhabitants of Mankessim.
After the people had settled down, the bodies of the two warriors were eventually laid to rest at the outskirts of the town; Their burial place became a sacred grove for the Fante Nation and was named "Nana-nom-pow". Traditionally, the priest, priestess and their assistants were the only mortals who were to have access to this grove. "Nana-nom-pow" later became a household name throughout the Gold Coast and people from all parts of the country came to consult this great sacred grove. It also became a 'Mecca' where Fante people from all walks of life came to pay homage to the departed warriors. Also available at the grove were several medicinal plants which were used to cure people afflicted with various ailments. The fame of this great fetish grove came to an end with the coming of Europeans and the subsequent introduction of Christianity. Some of the accouterments used by the fetish priests can still be seen.
Once a year, all paths to this and other shrines in Mankessim are cleared to make them safe and comfortable for users. However apart from the clearing of the paths, the occasion offers the people the opportunity to come together. These yearly activities culminated in the celebration of the annual Akwanbo festivals throughout Mankessim. "Akwanbo" in the Akan language literally means clearing of paths. It is now a festive occasion during which people from all walks of life - citizens as well as visitors - come to Mankessim. traveladdict.be - Ghana - posuban

[pain]

I wonder why they're describing the people they're coming among in modern Ghana, bushy haired. Were either the Fante or Akan people in general practicing going bald at the time or something? I know they ayne trying to say that they had straight hair.

And I've never seen that etymological explanation of Asante before. The one I've always seen was that their name is made of the words "Asa" meaning wars and Nte meaning "therefore" or "because" - that their name means "because of wars". The story behind that, I was told, was that the Asante were formed of warriors from many different Akan subgroups and they were formed specifically for the purpose of going to war with the Denkyira to overthrow their rule. I had also read somewhere that they basically made a vow never to reveal the true origins of any one of them to another person.

Interesting read.

[kofiasr]

Those are two ?'s I ask my self when I was reading the article. I also heard that Asanti means because of war. Furthermore I've never seen a Staight or wavy haired Fantini (unless she was permed out of course).