ASHANTI HISTORY CLASS( ASEM)

ASHANTI HISTORY CLASS( ASEM)

Asem is a suburb of Kumasi which covers places such as areas around the Kumasi Central Market, Asawase, Akwatia line which was named after Panin Atia from Kwahu Akwatia, Roman Hill, New Town Ejisu Road now Fante New Town, areas around Kumasi railway station near Nsuoase and Adum, Asafo Market formerly Nkrumah Market, other areas which have been named Asafo, Abinkyi, Alabar, Kumase Bompata, Sabon Zongo, Dr. Mensah station stretching from the road in front of the Manhyia Palace to River Dekyɛm where Asem shares boundaries with Dichemso.

The Asemhene belongs to the Kyidom division of the king and swears Allegiance to Asantehene using the Mponponsuo State sword. Asem stool is a matrilineal descent which originally belongs to Aduana clan.

Traditionally, Asemhene is Asantehene’s chief farmer “Akuafoↄhene”. According to oral traditions, the people of Asem migrated from Denkyira Ntoam to their present location. Nana Antwi Brafo I was the first chief of Asem and he was succeeded by his brother Nana Asem, in the reign of Kwamanhene Nana Obiri Yeboah. According to oral traditions, during the reign of Asantehene Osei Tutu I (1697-1717) that the present area of Asem became incorporated into Kumasi. Formerly the area known as Asem today was called “Agyamanmu”.

The town “Asem” was named after Nana Asem because whenever people questioned the Asantehene’s messengers on their way to summon Nana Asem to a state meeting, they would reply that they have been sent to Nana Asem’s place. Nana Asem was succeeded on the stool by Nana Mensah the brother of Nana Asem in the reign of Asantehene Osei Tutu I. Nana Mensah went to the Denkyira war in which Denkyirahene Nana Ntim Gyakari was defeated at Feyiase in 1701.

Nana Mensah was succeeded on the stool by his brother Nana Anane in the reign of Asantehene Opoku Ware I (1720-1750). Nana Anane accompanied Asantehene Opoku Ware I to the Takyiman war in which Nana Kwakye Ameyaw was captured and defeated by Asante. He also went to the first Asante Gyaman war in which Gyamanhene Nana Obo Kofi was defeated and decapitated by Asante.

During the reign of Asantehene Opoku Ware I that the people of Dadiesoaba left Denkyira with their Matriarch name Nana Ampomaa to Kumasi. Prior to their departure, the group had rifled the Denkyira armoury and arrived in Kumasi heavily armed.

Upon the arrival, Asantehene Opoku Ware I asked Asemhene to give them land to settle on. Before 1732, when Asantehene Opoku Ware I invaded Gonja destroying their capital, the land of Yeji was owned by the Gonja’s but it was through the intervention of the Asemhene that a group of Aduana’s from Larteh in Akuapem were given the land of Yeji to build their new settlement by the Asantehene Opoku Ware I. It was through the Asemhene that Yeji was elevated to paramountcy.

During the reign of Asantehene Osei Kwadwo Okoawia (1764-1777) that the Asante Banda war was fought in which Bandahene Worosa was defeated and beheaded by Asante.

According to oral tradition, during this war that Asantehene’s Osafohene called Ofosu Pim discovered the Manye Muslims at a place called Manye, a town about 24miles from Wenchi.

These Muslims were captured from this place by the Osafohene and he questioned them about their place of origin and they said, they came from heaven. Their chief occupation was yam growing and farming. The osafohene captured these Muslims and sent them to Kumasi.

They were about one hundred (100) in number. On their arrival in Kumasi, they were introduced to the Asantehene, who he learnt that their main occupation was yam farming and ordered that they should serve through at his court through the Asemhene.

The Asantehene further ordered that they should act as Yam growers for the Golden stool. So, these Muslims became established in Kumasi and were made to stay at Asem under the supervision of the Asemhene.

It is further to note that only Asem township owns a Muslim community in Kumasi which was different from the Muslims Asantehene Osei Kwame, brought from Yeji when he was coming from Mampong to occupy the Golden Stool after the death of Osei Kwadwo Okoawia.

These Muslims brought by Asantehene Osei Kwame (1777-1798) who became known as Asantehene’s Kramo whom their descendants still serve at the Asantehene’s court. Muslim. Kramo Abu was said to be the leader of the Manye Muslims. Whiles Manye Muslims provided Yam, the Yejihene also brought smoked catfish to be given to the Asantehene through the Asemhene.

He went to the Banda war where the chief of Banda was defeated and beheaded by Asante. It is said that there was some fierce fighting in this war. At long last Worasa was totally defeated and his head cut off. His head was imitated in gold, and place on a sword called “Worosa ti” which can be found today at the Asantehene’s court.

The Dadiesoabahene took the initiative in this war. Tabiri Panin was succeeded on the stool by Tabiri kumah in the reign of Asantehene Bonsu Panin. Tabiri Kumah went to the second Asante Gyaman war where Gyamanhene Kwadwo Adinkra was defeated and decapitated by Asante.

Tabiri Kumah was succeeded on the stool by Tiakosah Kwame during the reign of Asantehene Osei Yaw Akoto. Tiakosah Kwame was said to be the son of Tabiri Panin. He was entrusted with the stool because there was no ripe at the time, he occupied it. The king makers of the stool elected him as the appropriate choice for the stool. He was there installed and took the oath of office before them.

He later took the oath of allegiance to Asantehene Osei Akoto. He was Ɛkoↄna clan in maternal sense but of Aduana in paternal sense to which clan or abusua the stool belongs.

This chief took active service in the battle of Akatamansu in 1826. He returned home unscathed, although this is regarded in high traditional circles as a very bitter war.

Tiakosah Kwame reigned from a considerable length of time. He was alive during the reigns of Asantehene Kwaku Duah I, Asantehene Kofi Karikari and Asantehene Mensah Bonsu. His stool was blackened after his death, thus making his descendants royals of the Asem Stool thus making the Asem stool constitute both members from the Aduana and Ɛkoↄna clans

Tiakosah was succeeded on the stool by his nephew Nana Adunkwa but he was enstooled before the Nkoransa war during the first part of the reign of Asantehene Prempeh I that was prior to his exiled. This chief went to the Nkoransa war and returned home with others victorious.

He was on the stool during the Yaa Asantewaa war of 1901 against the British, when he realized that Asante was losing, he grew afraid for the future and committed suicide. Traditionally he is claimed as one of the heroes of the stool because he died on the stool.

He was succeeded by Kwasi Mfum by appointment of the British Colonial Government with the help of Kwame Tua. Akwasi Mfum was succeeded by Akwasi Ampofo from the Aduana clan while Asantehene Prempeh I was still in exile. Akwasi Ampofo was succeeded Nana Apiagyei.

Nana Kwaku Kyidom succeeded Nana Apiagyei. Nana Yaw Kumahene succeeded by Kwaku Kyidom. Nana Kwaku Kyidom was succeeded by Nana Antwi Brafo II. The current Chief of Asem succeeded his uncle Nana Antwi Brafo II on August, 1988 by swearing an oath of allegiance to the Late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

Prior to the subjugation of Asante in the Yaa Asantewaa War by the British in 1901, the people of Asafo had many lands and were living in present areas around Miklin Hotel at Danyame, Dakodwom and other lands along the Kumasi Cape Coast Road. It was said, that the colonial Government banned the firing of guns during funerals at areas that were occupied by the people of Asafo.

This prompted the Asafohene to request for a land from Asemhene to build his new Palace at the border between Asem and Amakom to prevent any fear from the Colonial Government. According to the Asemhene Nana Ampofo Kyei Baffour, although some of his lands in his territory have been named after Asafo but are still under his jurisdiction.

Source : By Kofi Frimpong(The Kingdom of Asante)