|
|
|
|
| Birth Name(s) : Ashanti |
Date of Birth: N/A |
| Status:
Single
|
Partner:
|
| Profession:
N/A |
| << Add Ashanti To Your Favorites |
|
Full Ashanti Biography
Prior to European colonization, the Ashanti people developed a large and influential empire in West Africa. The Ashanti later developed the powerful Ashanti Confederacy and became the dominant presence in the region.
Ghana has a variable terrain, coasts and mountains, forests and grasslands, lush agricultural areas and near deserts. The Ashanti settled in the central part of present-day Ghana, about three hundred kilometres from the coast. The territory is densely forested, mostly fertile and to some extent mountainous. There are two seasons -- the rainy season (April to November) and the dry season (December to March). The land has several streams; the dry season, however is extremely desiccated. It is hot year round.
The Ashanti were and continue to be expert artisans. Ironworking by bellows and charcoal fire was a specialized craft. Their blacksmiths made work tools such as axes, hoe blades, knives, daggers, projectiles, nails, hammers; and in addition, many ornaments such as bells, chains, just to name a few. Handmade pottery was also a focused craft, as well as woodcarving, which rivals figurines and stools collected in both Europe and The Americas.
The abusua ancestors owned the land and were buried in it. Typically, not many individual Ashanti owned land, but rather occupied that which came down from a previous ancestor. The occupier cannot be removed from the land, nor can the land be sold, nor can the occupier even determine which of his descendants gets a major share. Because the land is matrilineal, a man's goods are always passed down to his brother, if he dies young, or passed to his sister's sons. Only products produced from the land can be owned independently. Certain goods, if agreed by the abusua, can be passed from father to son, or in some cases, father to daughter.
Trade occurred at both the state and local levels. The state ran the import-export business and other local trade typically took place in local market towns, where handicrafts and food products are exchanged. This minor trade tends to be conducted by women, normally in the interest of the household. Traditionally, local trade involves much haggling whether exchanges occur through direct barter or cowry shells as money. State representatives regulated these local markets and exacted taxes.
The Ashanti require girls to be virgins at marriage and punish adultery relatively severely. If a wife is caught or confesses to adultery, her parents must pay the husband a compensatory payment and the male seducer pays an amount commensurate with his social status. Adultery with any of the King's wives result in torture of the seducer and death for the guilty. The Ashanti allowed a man divorce for a wife's adultery, as well as barrenness, drunkenness, quarrelsomeness, witchcraft, and mother-in-law trouble.
Among the Ashanti peoples, Christianity and Islam modified some of these traditional beliefs and practices. Most modern day Ashanti are Protestant Christians. The ancestors, as well as matrilineal descent, bride price, and the concept of the descent of the spirit from the Nyame (Supreme One) through males, however, continue as an important ceremonial and ritual aspect of identity and group
Anansi the Spider is a folk hero who plays no role in Ashanti mythology. He is, however, prominent in Ashanti folktales where he is depicted as a trickster.
Realizing the weakness of a loose confederation of Akan states, Osei Tutu strengthened centralization of the surrounding Akan groups and expanded the powers judiciary system within the centralized government. Thus, this loose confederation of small city-states grew into a kingdom or empire looking to expand its borders. Newly conquered areas had the option of joining the empire or becoming tributary states. Opoku Ware I, Osei Tutu's successor, extended the borders, embracing much of present day Ghana's territory.
The Golden Stool is sacred to the Ashanti, as it is believed that it contains the 'Sunsum' — spirit or soul of the Ashanti people. Just as man cannot live without a soul, so the Ashanti would cease to exist if the Golden Stool were to be taken from them. The Golden Stool is not just sacred; it is a symbol of nationhood, a symbol that binds or unifies all Ashanti.
The Ashanti strongly resisted attempts by Europeans, mainly the British, to subjugate them. The Ashanti aligned themselves with the Dutch to limit British influence in the region. But Britain still annexed neighbouring areas, including the Fante.
Ashanti was one of the few African states able to offer serious resistance to European colonizers. Between 1823 and 1896, Britain fought four wars against the Ashanti kings (the Anglo-Ashanti Wars). In 1900, the British finally defeated the kingdom and incorporated it into the Gold Coast colony.
Relations improved, however, and in 1926 the Asantehene was given ceremonial control over Kumasi. In 1935 the full role of leader of the Ashanti people was restored.
While tribal and ethnic identity are important for Ashanti and other Ghanaians, they do not define a person nor carry as much weight as they did hundreds of years ago. Being an Ashanti now is mostly a point of reference and a linguistic tie more than a strongly cohesive tribe. In other words, typically Ashanti and Ghanaians in general do not place extreme emphasis on tribe and are more nationalistic. |
|
|
| Add Ashanti Biography (SuperUSERS) + |
| Add Ashanti Review/Comment
|
HQ Ashanti Pictures (212) | Random Ashanti Picture
|
| << Back to the Ashanti Homepage |
|
