The Fantse were originally part of the great Ghana kingdom when it extended as far as to Bono-Manso in the present Brong ahafo region. The people seceded from the union and moved further south from (Bono- Manso (Krako) present day Techiman in Brong Ahafo region) in search of fertile land for its growing population, good drinking water and to live in peace in the year 1250 AD. “FANTSE” comes from two akan words “FA and ATSEW” meaning the half that seceded or the half that separated.
They were led by the 3 great warriors who were believed to have been spiritually fortified. They were, Obrumankoma, Ɔdapagyan and Ɔson (the whale, the eagle and the elephant respectively).
It is said that their names, signified their might in the air, by land and under the sea. Proverbially and culturally, these leaders were seen as symbol of invincibility by the early Fantse communities.
Legend (in this case, tradition) has it that Obrumankoma and Ɔdapagyan died on this exodus and were embalmed and carried the rest of the way. Ɔson led the people to Ɔman Kɛsimu which would later become present day Mankessim in 1252. The main reason for settling in that town was because of good water. This land was called Adoakyir by its existing inhabitants, which the Fante called “Etsi-fue-yifo” meaning people with bushy hair. The Fante conquered these people and renamed the settlement Oman-kesemu, meaning large town. The name has evolved into the current name, Mankessim.
Their chief fetish priest, Komfo Amona, planted a spear in the ground when they reached the location of the settlement. The spear is called the Akyin-Enyim, meaning “in front of god”. The place became the meeting place for the Fante elders and the head fetish priest when discussing important matters. The first Omanhene (king) of Mankessim was installed here, and later kingmakers would visit the site for consultation. According to the Fante Legend, the spear cannot be removed by mortal hands.
The Fante settled the land as their first independent kingdom, and buried Obrumakankoma and Odapagya in a sacred grove called Nana-nom-pow. Komfo Amona also planted the limb of a tree he had brought from the Akan homeland in Krako to see if a place was good for settlement. The day after the priest planted the limb, the people found a tree starting to grow. The tree was named Ebisa-dua, or the consulting tree, and its location is today one of the most important shrines in Mankessim.
Just after the burial of their leaders, the Fantes quickly organized themselves into military groups, or companies, called Asafo (history of Asafo will be shared in details at a later date), to defend themselves from non-Akan groups in the vicinity, as well as separate Akan groups – most notably the Ashanti in later centuries. Tradition has it that the Fante sub-groups Ekumfi, Abora, Enyan, Nkusukum and Kurentsir were the first to settle Mankessim. They were later joined by the Gomoa, Ajumako, Akatakyi and the Edina.
The people of Mankessim had a religious belief that they were invincible during those war times. In the picture of their shrine is a figure on top of Ghana’s coat of arms which is a monster with four heads looking at all corners. It has wings, and has a bow. The local proverb associated with it says “ɛbɛtu anaa, ɛbɛyera” translated, it means…
“will you fly or vanish when faced with us”?
In the early 19th century, the Ashanti began expanding their control over Ghana, sending many people fleeing to the coast. Fante communities outside of Mankessim became targets of the Ashanti, and decided to unite in defense.
In 1806, the first Ashanti–Fante War resulted in a humiliating defeat for the Fante. In 1811, the Fante again went to war with the Ashanti, again losing in open battle, but forcing a withdrawal by using guerrilla tactics. In 1844, the Fante put themselves under British protection, but were guaranteed self-governance. However, the British, and the Dutch on the coast, did little to recognize Fante sovereignty.
Finally, in 1868, the Fante formed a confederacy of their own, with British backing, to guard against further Ashanti aggression. The Fante met in Mankessim and elected the kingdom’s Omanhene as Brenyi over the Fante Confederacy. In 1871, the seven Fante kingdoms and 20 chiefdoms signed the Constitution of Mankessim, formalizing their alliance.
Omanhene Kwesi Edu led the confederacy for the whole of its short existence, acquiring the lands of neighboring Asebo, Cabesterra and Agona kingdoms. The confederacy was also successful in its resistance to the Ashanti, playing their arch-enemy off against their powerful British supporters. Mankessim, through the confederacy, monopolized trade on the coast and became an important economic force. The Fante Confederacy dissolved in 1874 (the confederacy story will be shared in weeks to come).
Now, let’s discuss the shrine…
The great obromu posuban( shrine) houses the ammunitions and drums and all other equipment that is associated with the asafo company at the time. Every part of the statue has its religious and historical significance.
•There is a man holding a scale. The significance is that the warrior group weighs strengths and weaknesses of all enemies before confronting them. •The drummer (odomakoma okyerema) is an important individual in the Fantse tradition. He is highly respected in the community. He spends many years understudying master percussionist and they command a lot of traditional wisdom that they play on their drums. “Ɔdomakoma bɔ adze, ɔbɔ ebɛn adze? Ɔbɔ ɔkyerema kwaanan a oye kurantsir amanfo n’dehye. Ɔkyerema kasa kasa kasa”. There is also the 3 warriors and the monster with 4 heads and a wing; both spoken of above.
#DiscoverCentralRegion
#YearOfReturn
#Ghana ??
