Info For Y'all Akwamu People: Ghana`S Akan Conquering Warrior People That Led Slave Revolt On United States Virgin Islands
The Akwamu people also known as Akwuambo are Akan-speaking people of larger Kwa ethnolinguistic people of Republic of Ghana as well as West Africa. They are found inward the Eastern regions of Ghana. Their primary metropolis is Akwamufie. The Akwamu people who were warriors as well as have got conquered a lot Ghanaian as well as Togolese tribes became famous globally when they started revolt on Nov 23, 1733 inward Americas. African slaves from Akwamu revolted against the owners as well as managers of the island's plantations inward the 1733 slave insurrection on St. John inward the Danish West Indies, (now St. John, United States of America Virgin Islands).
Akwamu people at a world function
The slave rebellion was 1 of the earliest as well as longest slave revolts inward the Americas. The Akwamu slaves captured the fort inward Coral Bay as well as took command of most of the island, intending to resume crop production nether their ain command as well as usage other ethnic Africans as slave labor. The revolt ended inward mid-1734 when several hundred French as well as Swiss troops sent from Martinique defeated the Akwamu. Even before the Akwamu fomented slave revolt inward the Caribbean Area isle of St. John inward 1733, in 1693, Asimani an Akwamu warlord who was unhappy well-nigh how the Whites were controling merchandise instead of blacks led a raid as well as seized Osu Christianborg Castle (which used to live on the topographic point of the Ghanaian government), from the Danish colonists. The Akwamu thus controlled many of the merchandise routes from the interior to the coast inward the eastern one-half of what is at nowadays Republic of Ghana as well as created a upper-case alphabetic quality at Nyanoase whiles Asamani became the unofficial governor of the Gold Coast.
Akwamuhene Odeneho Nana Kwafo Akoto III ( R inward traditional Kente cloth) as well as a sub-chief Nana Gyansare
In Republic of Ghana the Akwamus defeat of Ewes inward Ho brought the call "As)glimeawo" to the people of Ho according to Jakob Spieth inward his 2011 volume entitled "the ewe people: a instance study of the Ewe people inward German linguistic communication Togo." In that when the Akwamu defeated the Ho ewes, before they surrounded their Ho town to the Akwamu, every human being sharpened pieces of wood,inserted them to the walls of their houses as well as spread thorns all over their camp-sites . Its important,however, to banknote that the Ho came dorsum from defeat to give resounding beatings to the Akwamus inward state of war as well as it is believed that,that defeat caused the commencement of Akwamu state of war machine superiority as well as its kingdoms decline.
There well-nigh 60,000 Akwamu people inward Republic of Ghana inward living inward Eastern regional towns of Akwamufie, Atimpoku, Senchi, Asamankese etc.
Location as well as geography
The Akwamu Hills Community wood is an ungazzetted wood located betwixt Atimpoku as well as Akwamufie on the eastern side of Volta River inward the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region. The loma on which the wood is located rises to superlative of well-nigh 400 metres inward a higher identify bounding main flat as well as forms the southern bound of the Akwapim-Togo Range at the interface with the Akwapim Plateau inside the Volta Gorge. The loma provides a rare panoramic persuasion of the lower regions of the Volta River system. The community wood is owned jointly past times a issue of royal families inward the Akwamu Traditional Area.
Akosombo
The wood has sub-montane vegetation at the crest of the hills, which comprises a mixture of Dry Semi-deciduous as well as Southern Marginal wood types characterised past times rather brusque trees as well as relatively dense canopy dominated past times Hymenostegia afzelii. Antiaris toxicaria as well as Ceiba pentandra are mutual emergent trees forming a discontinuous upper canopy. Dominant feature species of these wood types include Teclea verdoorniana, Drypetes parvifolia, Diospyros abyssinica, Dialium guineense, Triplochiton scleroxylon, Sterculia tragacantha, Celtis zenkeri, Cola millenii as well as Pterygota macrocarpa, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides.
Akosombo dam on Akwamu land
Protected loosely past times local traditional as well as cultural arrangements, the community wood is nether intense pressure level from the numerous fringe communities for variety of non-timber wood products including bushmeat. This notwithstanding, the brute multifariousness of the wood is quite impressive. About 20 species of medium to large mammals including well-nigh 5 primates are known to occur inward the community wood as well as adjoining areas. Some of the large mammal species that occur inward the wood include western pied colobus monkey, olive colobus monkey, Mona monkey, reddish river hog, maxwell's duiker, bay duiker, royal antelope, long-tailed as well as tree pangolins as well as the African golden cat. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 total of well-nigh 150 aeroplane species have got been confirmed inward the wood as well as the adjoining areas, with the globally threatened as well as enigmatic white-necked picathartes existence the most pregnant alongside them. Other aeroplane species commonly seen inward the wood include the black-winged oriole, guinea turaco, purplish turaco, white-throated greenbul, gross-beak finch, Narina's trogon etc. The flora as well as brute multifariousness of the wood coupled with the aesthetic beauty of the Akwamu Hill ranges as well as the Volta River scheme are peachy enhancements to the ecotourism potential of the area.
The Royal Senchi inward collaboration with the Akwamu Traditional Council, acting through the Akwamu George Conservation Trust (AGCT) is working with reputable local as well as international consultants as well as organizations to conserve the ecological integrity as well as aesthetic beauty of the Akwamu Hills Community Forest past times developing its ecotourism potential. The Royal Senchi hopes to accomplish a long term conservation of the community wood past times developing it into a firstly flat ecotourism destination. It is envisaged that ecotourism activities inward the wood as well as the surrounding areas would ensure sustainable do goodness flow to the chiefs as well as people of the Akwamu Traditional Area.
Akwamu people
Language
Akwamu utter Twi a dialect of the larger Akan language within the Kwa grouping of languages as well as is inward the Atlantic–Congo grouping inside the Niger-Congo phylum.
History/Origins
Oral Traditions of the ruling Abrade (Aduana) Clan relate that they originated from ancientGhana d'Ivoire Savannah Twifo-Hemang , North West Cape Coast. This displace was commercially motivated.
Ancient Akwamu people
Outrageous! The creative individual made these slaves stand upwards inward the same topographic point for iii weeks. Read this article: "The Akwamu: the commencement of the cease of Danish colonial power' here:http://cphpost.dk/culture/through-looking-glass/akwamu-beginning-end-danish-colonial-power
Events on Nov 23, 1733
The 1733 slave insurrection started with opened upwards acts of rebellion on Nov 23, 1733 at the Coral Bay plantation owned past times Magistrate Johannes Sødtmann. An hr later, slaves were admitted into the fort at Coral Bay to deliver wood. They had hidden knives inward the lots, which they used to kill most of the soldiers at the fort. One soldier, John Gabriel, escaped to St. Thomas as well as alerted the Danish officials. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of rebels nether the leadership of King June stayed at the fort to maintain control, closed to other grouping took command of the estates inward the Coral Bay expanse after hearing the bespeak shots from the fort's cannon. The slaves killed many of the whites on these plantations. The rebel slaves so moved to the northward shore of the island. They avoided widespread devastation of belongings since they intended to select possession of the estates as well as resume crop production.
Accounts of the rebel attacks
After gaining command of the Suhm, Sødtmann, as well as Company estates, the rebels began to spread out over the relaxation of the island. The Akwamus attacked the Cinnamon Bay Plantation located on the fundamental northward shore. Landowners John as well as Lieven Jansen as well as a grouping of loyal slaves resisted the assault as well as held off the advancing rebels with gunfire. The Jansens were able to retreat to their waiting boat as well as escape to Durloe's Plantation. The loyal Jansen slaves were also able to escape. The rebels looted the Jansen plantation as well as moved on to human face upwards the whites held upwards at Durloe's plantations. The assault on Durloe's plantation was repelled, as well as many of the planters as well as their families escaped to St. Thomas
End of the rebellion as well as the aftermath
Two French ships arrived at St. John on Apr 23, 1734 with several hundred French as well as Swiss troops to seek to select command from the rebels. With their firepower as well as troops, past times mid-May they had restored planters' dominion of the island. The French ships returned to Martinique on June 1, leaving the local militia to runway downward the remaining rebels. The slave insurrection ended on August 25, 1734 when Sergeant Øttingen captured the remaining maroon rebels. The loss of life as well as belongings from the insurrection caused many St. John landowners to displace to St. Croix, a nearby isle sold to the Danish past times the French inward 1733.
Franz Claasen, a loyal slave of the van Stell family, was deeded the Mary Point Estate for alerting the menage unit of measurement to the rebellion as well as assisting inward their escape to St. Thomas. Franz Claasen's Earth deed was recorded August 20, 1738 past times Jacob van Stell, making Claasen the firstly 'Free Colored' landowner on St. John.
The slave merchandise ended inward the Danish West Indies on Jan 1, 1803, but slavery continued on the islands. When the British emancipated their slaves inward the British West Indies inward 1838, slaves on St. John began escaping to nearby Tortola as well as other British islands. On May 24, 1840, xi slaves from St. John stole a boat as well as escaped to Tortola during the night. The 8 men (Charles Bryan, James Jacob, Adam [alias Cato], Big David, Henry Law, Paulus, John Curay), as well as iii women (Kitty, Polly, as well as Katurah) were from the Annaberg plantation (one) as well as Leinster Bay (10) estates. Brother Schmitz, the local Moravian missionary, was sent to Tortola past times the St. John constabulary to persuade the slaves to return. After coming together with the Tortola officials as well as the runaway slaves, Schmitz returned to St. John to relay the slaves' resolve to remain away because of abusive handling past times the overseers on the plantations. After the overseers were replaced, Charles Bryan, his married adult woman Katurah, as well as James Jacobs returned to piece of work at Leinster Bay. Kitty, Paulus, David, as well as Adam moved to St. Thomas. Henry Law, Petrus, as well as Polly West Indies on Tortola. John Curry relocated to Trinidad. None of the runaway slaves were punished.
On July 3, 1848, 114 years after the slave insurrection, enslaved Afro-Caribbeans of St. Croix had a non-violent, majority demonstration; the Governor-General declared emancipation throughout the Danish West Indies.
Economy: Akwamu people are pastoral agricultural people that engaged inward crop planting. They flora cassava, yams, plantain as well as vegetables similar onion, pepper, tomatoes etc. Some of Akwamu people also engage inward rearing of sheep as well as caprine animal as good as cattle.
Akwamu people observing a farm
Religious Belief
Akwamu belief inward almighty "twediempon onyankopon"/Nyame (the supreme creator). It is a god inward a higher identify all god that created all the gods. Akwamu similar Akans telephone outcry upwards on him whenever they are inward need. They revere Onyankopon/Nyame. In prayers to the other lesser "abosom" (lesser family/communal gods), Nyame is shown with alcohol but is never given any. The libation maker would say "twediempon Nyame wokyere wo nsa so y3 ma wo nsa" (almighty god inward a higher identify nosotros present yous drinkable but nosotros cannot offering yous some). This signifies Akan (Akwamu) belief inward a Sky God.
Apart from nyame the Akwamu also have got lesser 'suman" (family/ancestral gods) as well as "aman bosom" (community gods) that they brand prayers to for protection as well as prosperity.
Many of the Akwamu people are at nowadays christians.
Ceremonies as well as Rites
Akwamu similar all other Akans have got rites for initiating their youths into adolescent stage. In the past times women who reaches the historic menses of adolescent are made to undergo "bragor" (menstral rites) past times existence confined inward rooms for closed to days to have advice from their elders. These teachings include how to do domestic chores,marriage techniques as well as social norms.After undergoing through these process, a concluding 24-hour interval is so reserved for the women to live on purified past times bathing inward a flow as well as after that they are clad inward white cloth to signify their purity. Animals such as fowls as well as either caprine animal or sheep are slaughtered to prepare soup for them. Marshed yam mixed with eggs are so served to the initiates to glorify their "kra" (soul).
Apart from this initiation rite,Akwamu exactly similar all Akans also have got festivals they celebrate. These include Odwira,Akwasidae but the greatest 1 which the Akwamu are noted for is their ain Adae festival.
Adae Festival
The Akwamu people initiated many of the traditional festivals celebrated past times the Akan peoples of Ghana. As a outcome of the prominent role they played inward the political as well as economical developments inward the early on European contact with the peoples of West Africa, many ethnic groups inward the coastal as well as wood regions, adopted closed to of the essential elements of Akwamu cultural festivals as well as adapted them to suit their ain political as well as spiritual needs. In his volume Festivals of Ghana, Professor A.A. Opoku presents a detailed concern human relationship of many festivals celebrated past times the Akan people as well as other ethnic groups. Two of such festivals relevant to Akwamu history as well as civilisation are extracted from Professor Opoku’s volume for the purpose of deepening noesis well-nigh the pivotal role played past times the Akwamu people inward the history of Ghana. He
emphasizes the importance of celebration of festivals as thus:
“At a fourth dimension when the demand for coin is forcing Ghanaians
to go out their towns as well as villages to expression for piece of work elsewhere,
the festivals offering the best chance to go dorsum to our heritage,
renew old ties as well as describe inspiration for the future”
Opoku A.A.’ Festivals of Ghana,Ghana Publishing Corporation, Accra,1970
The next are excerpts from Prof. Opoku’s book.
The Akan calendar twelvemonth is divided into nine cycles of twoscore days called Adae. The adae, however, does non only grade a menses inward time, but it is also observed as a special 24-hour interval of worship. It is the 24-hour interval on which the primary as well as his elders go to the identify where the sacred stools are kept.The spirits of the departed chiefs, it is believed, relaxation inward the stools kept for them after their death. These stools are blackened with soot as well as the yolk of eggs to brand them finally long. They are sometimes wrapped inward camel-hair blankets as well as set on their sides inward the dark room called nkonguafieso or stool-house. Only chiefs who do good inward business office are honoured inward this way because the Akan say "it is the adept spirit that deserves the feast of sheep".
The sacred stool has ii uses. It is the shrine into which the spirit, or soul, of adept chiefs may 1 time again live on called upon to acquire into on special occasions such as the Adae. It is also a agency past times which nosotros tin tell the issue of chiefs that have got ruled over the tribe. Perhaps yous know someone called Adae. The give-and-take agency a resting-place. It is the call of the special 24-hour interval on which nosotros are allowed to go into the room where the spirits of our forefathers rest. We shall before long consider what the primary as well as his elders go to do at the nkonguafieso. In the meantime allow us expose out how the Adae is reckoned.
There are ii types of Adae observed inward every 1 of the nine cycles mentioned before on. These are the Dominicus Adae, known as Akwasidae as well as the Midweek Adae called Awukudae.
The menses betwixt 1 Dominicus adae as well as the side past times side is 40 days. The Awukudae or Midweek adaes are also separated past times the same period. The Midweek cidcies come upwards betwixt the Dominicus ones. There are 23 days betwixt a Dominicus adae as well as the Midweek adae that comes after it, but the gap betwixt a Midweek adae as well as the Dominicus 1 next it is 17 days.
We have got already mentioned that adae agency a resting or sleeping place. The main rites inward the adae festival are observed inward the stool-house or room.
The Akan live on with the spirits of their dead. They believe that the souls of their dead relatives are silent close to them as well as they telephone outcry upwards upon them inward times of trouble. They enquire for their guidance as well as brand them offers of drinks as well as eggs, chicken as well as sheep.
On adae days, water, food, meat as well as rum are taken to the shrines. The dead are so invited to hold to aid those over whom they ruled when they were alive. Not all people are allowed into the stool-house. Only those who perform the rites as well as a few who are related to the primary go there. Of those who go in, alone the primary as well as the royal princes vesture their sandals. We shall render to the rites that are performed inward the stool house, but allow us go dorsum to the preparations for the Adae.
The 24-hour interval right away before the adae is called Dapaa. There is the Sat that comes before the Dominicus adae, called Memeneda Dapaa. The Tuesdaypreceding the Midweek adae is also called Benada Dapaa. Children born on the dapaa days are called Dapaa exactly as those born on adae days are called Adae. The Dapaa is the 24-hour interval of grooming for the Adae.
Foodstuffs, firewood, water, drinks, chicken, sheep, eggs as well as all the articles required for the celebration of the Adae are brought habitation on the Dapaa. On Adae days, no piece of work or go may live on done except duties connected with the celebration.
The Dapaa is also the fourth dimension for tidying upwards the theater as well as its surroundings. Villages as well as towns as well as wells as well as footpaths leading to them are also cleaned.
There is much activity at the chief's house. Attendants as well as stool-carriers scrub the white stools as well as calabashes needed for the Adae celebration. The hornblowers as well as province drummers also busy themselves tuning the instruments which they volition usage to usher inward the Adae inward the eventide of the Dapac. At sundown, when all the preparations are complete, the drummers gather at the chief's theater as well as drum till belatedly inward the night,
Only a few people are allowed to acquire into the stool theater with their sandals on.
On the adae day, the "Divine Drummer", that is the chief's principal drummer, rises early on inward the forenoon as well as drums the next piece, (the words vary from identify to place):
Cheng, cheng, cheng, heng, heng, heng,
Ofuruntum tree, tweneboa tree,
Tall drummer Amponua the Gunpowder.
Great Dwora as well as Nnummire Akurampn String,
Obua Kwaku, the drummer's wedge as well as prop,
Divine Drummer says: I have got bestirred myself.
Mighty as well as Valiant Ofori,
When the Creator created things What did he create?
He created the Ohene,
He created the court-crier,
He created the drummer,
He created Okyere Kwawuo,
the Mighty one
That feeds on human heads.
He found two, iii petty birds; Which percentage of me would yous have got for meat?
Dwamena volition have got my middle part. Oboama Dwamena Antwi the fearful one,
Mighty King of Okyere Kwawuo, the
Mighty one,
I salute-you sir,
I bid yous "Good adae dawn." Great Nyankomago volition render the Divine Drummer;
Great Nyankomago came inward fellowship of the Divine Drummer:
Okotommirifa Gyanadu the fair coloured one,
Ampasakyi that swallows the phant,
Elephant that breaks the axe,
Elephant, the Divine Drummer says
He has bestirred himself at dawn,
This early, early, early on morn
The hooked stick that bends as well as pulls
The thicket as well as thorny climbers;
Won't yous come upwards as well as bring together with me inward play?
King that captures kings,
Go fetch me drink,
Fetch me rum that I may drink.
An hr or so after this awakening call, the drummer 1 time again calls the primary inward the next message:
Great as well as Valiant Ofori,
I am off to Abirem Akyem,
I am going to the stool theater Where room encloses room.
King of hosts
Who is always sought for an ally inward battle
Benevolent peachy killer
Vanguard alongside equals
Unconquerable one,
Dread of the old as well as the young
Grandson of Ofori of the Asona Clan
He that balances the keg of gunpowder upon his head
And somersaults over the flames, He that bends the sword with ease Out, as well as come upwards with me!
Out, as well as come upwards with me!
This before long brings the primary as well as those of his people who are to acquire into the stool house. The ritual inward this "Holy of Holies" begins with the pouring of a calabashful of H2O at the entrance to the room past times the primary stool attendant. By this, he invites the spirits to come upwards out as well as launder their hands to prepare for the feast to which they volition presently live on invited.
Ritual nutrient of mashed yam or plantain is so brought into the room. The primary stool attendant or steward takes ladlefuls of this as well as hands it to the chief. The primary inward plough moves from 1 sacred stool to the other as well as places portions of the nutrient upon them. He begins with the firstly stool of the dynasty as well as ends with the 1 right away preceding him inward office. While performing this rite, the primary slips off his sandals as well as tucks his cloth circular his waist as a sign of honor for his lords. For the same reason, he dresses inward an old cloth, unremarkably adinkra or kuntunkuni.
While placing the nutrient upon the stools, the primary says:
Spirits of my grandsires,
Today is Adae;
Come as well as have this food
And catch Us with prosperity;
Permit the bearers of children to deport children;
Grant wellness to your servant;
Grant wellness to the Queen Mother; Grant wellness to the Nation.
Let no evil come upwards upon the town; To him who wishes evil
Let evil autumn upon himself.
At the cease of each line of piece of work of the prayer,
the hornblower blows his horn inward praise of the ancestors. He recalls their peachy deeds to remind the ruling primary of what is expected of him.
When the spirits of the departed chiefs have got had their meal, the residuum of the ritual nutrient is taken exterior the stool room as well as sprinkled inward the courtyard for the spirits of the dead courtiers as well as attendants.
At this stage, 1 attendant carries inward a sheep upon his shoulders. On sure enough special occasions, say on the Adae K€se or Big Adae, the sheep is carried before the stools past times the primary himself as a sign of high respect. This is the most impressive percentage of the ceremony.
The sheep is slaughtered, that is to say the pharynx is cutting as well as the blood collected into a wooden bowl. This is smeared on the Seats of the stools. Meanwhile the primary as well as his elders retire to the courtyard of the stool house. The attendants follow them afterwards with what remains of the sheep's blood as well as usage it to grade the breast as well as brow of the primary as well as all present.
The sheep is so flayed as well as alternative parts are cutting up, skewered as well as roasted on a dismiss made inward the courtyard. Pieces of the fatty from the entrails are pasted on the centre props of the sacred stools as well as the caput as well as parts of the intestines are placed before the stools. The skewered meat is placed Upon the stools. This, however, does non consummate the courses of this ritual feast. The Queen Mother prepares fufu with the relaxation of the meat as well as places it before the stools. No tabular array salt is pose into the food. I suppose yous know why. The belief is that spirits do non swallow salt. They prefer their nutrient to live on saltless.
When the concluding course of didactics of the repast is set before the stools, an attendant rings a bell to signify that the spirits are eating. Rum is at nowadays poured upon all the stools past times the primary stool attendant as well as the relaxation is passed circular to all present. The offerings remain upon the stools till belatedly inward the eventide when all but the pieces of fatty are removed.
Akwamu sub-chief Nana Gyansare as well as his elders
The ritual inward the stool theater over, the primary retires finally to the main courtyard. By at nowadays all the lesser chiefs as well as those of his subjects who have got come upwards to wishing him "adae morn" have got assembled. The drums crunch as well as the horns flourish till dusk when the celebration comes to an end.
In most Akan states the 9th or concluding Adae, unremarkably referred to as Adae Kese, is observed as the province festival or Odwira. This festival, which covers an entire calendar week marks the cease of the old twelvemonth as well as the commencement of the new.
Source:http://www.akuapem.com/akwamu.html
wikipedia.org/wiki/1733_slave_insurrection_on_St._John
http://akwamuman.org/
King of the Akwamu people
Akwamu King Nana Kwafo Akoto III existence given the staff of business office during his enstoolment as the King of Akwamu state
Akwamu King existence carried inward a palanquin
Akwamu people at a world function
The slave rebellion was 1 of the earliest as well as longest slave revolts inward the Americas. The Akwamu slaves captured the fort inward Coral Bay as well as took command of most of the island, intending to resume crop production nether their ain command as well as usage other ethnic Africans as slave labor. The revolt ended inward mid-1734 when several hundred French as well as Swiss troops sent from Martinique defeated the Akwamu. Even before the Akwamu fomented slave revolt inward the Caribbean Area isle of St. John inward 1733, in 1693, Asimani an Akwamu warlord who was unhappy well-nigh how the Whites were controling merchandise instead of blacks led a raid as well as seized Osu Christianborg Castle (which used to live on the topographic point of the Ghanaian government), from the Danish colonists. The Akwamu thus controlled many of the merchandise routes from the interior to the coast inward the eastern one-half of what is at nowadays Republic of Ghana as well as created a upper-case alphabetic quality at Nyanoase whiles Asamani became the unofficial governor of the Gold Coast.
Akwamuhene Odeneho Nana Kwafo Akoto III ( R inward traditional Kente cloth) as well as a sub-chief Nana Gyansare
In Republic of Ghana the Akwamus defeat of Ewes inward Ho brought the call "As)glimeawo" to the people of Ho according to Jakob Spieth inward his 2011 volume entitled "the ewe people: a instance study of the Ewe people inward German linguistic communication Togo." In that when the Akwamu defeated the Ho ewes, before they surrounded their Ho town to the Akwamu, every human being sharpened pieces of wood,inserted them to the walls of their houses as well as spread thorns all over their camp-sites . Its important,however, to banknote that the Ho came dorsum from defeat to give resounding beatings to the Akwamus inward state of war as well as it is believed that,that defeat caused the commencement of Akwamu state of war machine superiority as well as its kingdoms decline.
There well-nigh 60,000 Akwamu people inward Republic of Ghana inward living inward Eastern regional towns of Akwamufie, Atimpoku, Senchi, Asamankese etc.
Location as well as geography
The Akwamu Hills Community wood is an ungazzetted wood located betwixt Atimpoku as well as Akwamufie on the eastern side of Volta River inward the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region. The loma on which the wood is located rises to superlative of well-nigh 400 metres inward a higher identify bounding main flat as well as forms the southern bound of the Akwapim-Togo Range at the interface with the Akwapim Plateau inside the Volta Gorge. The loma provides a rare panoramic persuasion of the lower regions of the Volta River system. The community wood is owned jointly past times a issue of royal families inward the Akwamu Traditional Area.
The wood has sub-montane vegetation at the crest of the hills, which comprises a mixture of Dry Semi-deciduous as well as Southern Marginal wood types characterised past times rather brusque trees as well as relatively dense canopy dominated past times Hymenostegia afzelii. Antiaris toxicaria as well as Ceiba pentandra are mutual emergent trees forming a discontinuous upper canopy. Dominant feature species of these wood types include Teclea verdoorniana, Drypetes parvifolia, Diospyros abyssinica, Dialium guineense, Triplochiton scleroxylon, Sterculia tragacantha, Celtis zenkeri, Cola millenii as well as Pterygota macrocarpa, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides.
Protected loosely past times local traditional as well as cultural arrangements, the community wood is nether intense pressure level from the numerous fringe communities for variety of non-timber wood products including bushmeat. This notwithstanding, the brute multifariousness of the wood is quite impressive. About 20 species of medium to large mammals including well-nigh 5 primates are known to occur inward the community wood as well as adjoining areas. Some of the large mammal species that occur inward the wood include western pied colobus monkey, olive colobus monkey, Mona monkey, reddish river hog, maxwell's duiker, bay duiker, royal antelope, long-tailed as well as tree pangolins as well as the African golden cat. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 total of well-nigh 150 aeroplane species have got been confirmed inward the wood as well as the adjoining areas, with the globally threatened as well as enigmatic white-necked picathartes existence the most pregnant alongside them. Other aeroplane species commonly seen inward the wood include the black-winged oriole, guinea turaco, purplish turaco, white-throated greenbul, gross-beak finch, Narina's trogon etc. The flora as well as brute multifariousness of the wood coupled with the aesthetic beauty of the Akwamu Hill ranges as well as the Volta River scheme are peachy enhancements to the ecotourism potential of the area.
The Royal Senchi inward collaboration with the Akwamu Traditional Council, acting through the Akwamu George Conservation Trust (AGCT) is working with reputable local as well as international consultants as well as organizations to conserve the ecological integrity as well as aesthetic beauty of the Akwamu Hills Community Forest past times developing its ecotourism potential. The Royal Senchi hopes to accomplish a long term conservation of the community wood past times developing it into a firstly flat ecotourism destination. It is envisaged that ecotourism activities inward the wood as well as the surrounding areas would ensure sustainable do goodness flow to the chiefs as well as people of the Akwamu Traditional Area.
Akwamu people
Language
Akwamu utter Twi a dialect of the larger Akan language within the Kwa grouping of languages as well as is inward the Atlantic–Congo grouping inside the Niger-Congo phylum.
History/Origins
Oral Traditions of the ruling Abrade (Aduana) Clan relate that they originated from ancient
They were able to constitute closed contact with the Europeans on the coast as well as profited greatly cast the coastal trade. The style of the Abrade to live on off merchandise rather than past times it, brought them into conflict with neighbouring Akan States, especially Denkyira's expansionist tendencies were also commencement to threaten the peace as well as safety of the Abrade. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 to a greater extent than pressing work which faced the Abrade was a succession dispute.
Symbol of Akwamu state
After the decease of the 5th Twifo King, a department of the Abrade, Under the leadership of Otumfo Asare (1580-1595), migrated from Twifo-Hemang to Abakrampa to Asamakese, they became know as "Akwamu", inward identify of their quondam call "Twiforo". From hither they left for Asamankese (i.e. Asamankese). Their remain at Abakrampa was brusque because the Fantis had potency over the Earth . The Abrade found the land of Asamankese , inward the Basin of the Densu and Birim Rivers
After decease of Otumfo Asare, the Abrades led past times Otumfo Akotia (1595-1610) moved to Nyanoase close Nsawam. This displace was motivated past times strategic reasons. This novel topographic point gave the Akwamu the payoff of warding off enemy attacks. The presence of the strong of Akyem province also made it necessary for the upper-case alphabetic quality to live on sited at a identify where it could easily live on defended. After settling at Nyanoaso, the Abrades began to organise themselves into a powerful State. In the 17th century, nether Ansa Sasraku I (1640-1674); Ansa Saraku II (1674-1689); Basua Addo (1689-1699); Ansa Sasraku III (1699-1702); as well as Akwonno(1702-1725), Nyanoaso was transformed into a huge as well as powerful Empire. Nyanoaso was sited on the Nyanao Hill. While King resided at Nyanoaso, the Queen Mother was made to reside at the bottom of the Hill, at Nyanoase. She was protected past times the Gyase as well as the surrounding Villagers. Nyanoaso was close the famous Accra
Akwamu derived economical benefits from participation inward the Maritime Trade inward aureate as well as slaves.
The nearness of the settlement close the river River Densu, made it possible for Akwamu to collect Tolls from Akyem as well as beyond who travelled along the Main Trade Route from the interior to Accra. The King of Accra
In the middle of the 17th Century, Akwamu extended her ability over the Guans as well as Kyerepongs. Ansa Sasraku set the foundations of the Akwamu Imperial power. Berekuso, Aburi, Awukugua, Dawu, Larteh, Anum as well as Obutu became Vassal States. From the Akuapem Hills, Akwamu was assured of a ready provide of nutrient as well as manpower.
Akwamu chieftaincy swords
Larteh was also an of import Trade Outlet. This stage of Akwamu expansion provided the resources inward wealth as well as manpower to enable her embark on other ventures. Some Southern Akan Groups close the Guan Communities as well as the foothills of the Kwahu Scarp were also brought nether Akwamu suzerainty. Between 1677 as well as 1681, Akwamu embarked on the conquest of Accra Portugal , Holland , England ,Sweden and Denmark converged in Accra North West North West Forest / Inland province as well as as a Coastal state. The alone alternative left to Akwamu was expansion southwards. Under the able leadership of Akwamuhene Ansa Sasraku II, Akwamu launched an assault against Accra
Akwamuhene Nana Kwafo Akoto III sittung majestically inward state
A prince was sent to the Accra Accra Accra
Between 1680 as well as 1681, the Akwamus attacked "Small Accra" again.Accra Fort Fredricksborg
Not long afterward, Akwamus launch a 3rd attack. Accra became aTributary Province Accra Accra
Female figure on a gourd,Akwamu art
Between 1646 as well as 1681, Akwamu also conquered the Ga-Adangme province of Ada Volta side to Tema. The Agona province was also overrun past times the Akwamu. The expansion of Akwamu continued after the deaths of Ansa Sasraku the firstly as well as minute Kings Addo, Basua as well as Akwonno undertook a serial of state of war machine campaigns as well as won to a greater extent than territories.
Addo who was supposed to have got succeeded Sasraku was so immature that his uncle Bausa acted as Regent. When Addo came of age. Basua refused to vacate the stool as well as thence both Addo as well as Basua ruled Akwamu , each had his ain Army. Basua `s engineered the capture of Christiansburg Castle
Addo spent the whole of 1701 in Accra
The manful individual monarch Akwonno succeeded Addo when he died. Akwonno had a long reign of 23 year. His firstly deed was to negotiate a treaty on 3 Apr 1703 with the Dutch inward which the Dutch fountain themselves to assist Akwamu inward whatever " Just War" with 100 fully armed men, 3000 Ibs of Gunpowder, 300Ibs of bullets etc. inward returns, Akwonno agreed to hold the Trade routes from the interior opened upwards as well as to preclude his subjects from trading with European "interlopers" Akwamu began Territories Expansion to North as well as the North East. The marched to the Krepi district as well as overrun them Agava, Anlo, Keta, Kpandu as well as Peki were all subjugated. These town are currently regarded Ewe town but during this they were known as "Krepi "Akwonno`s side past times side displace was towards Kwahu. His forces given a surprise assault past times the Kwahu forces as well as they were forced to render to their capital. Akwonno made a minute effort against the Kwahu 1708, but he was repulse. Akwonno stopped whatever major venture s but sent small-scale expendition from fourth dimension to fourth dimension to harass them. In 1710 the Kwahu retaliated as well as destroy the large Kwabeng town, North of Akwamu. Akwonno reacted. He made large buy of Gunpowder from Accra Forts, as well as inward Feb 1710 moved towards Kwahu. Within 4 months, Kwahu was overcome as well as made a vessel state. The conquest of Kwahu marked the cease of Akwamu expansion. The Akwamu Empire reached its fullest extent.
Akwamu`s human relationship with the Asante was based on mutual friendship throughout the duration of the Empire. It continued inward the Volta Gorge until the 19th century when the Akwamu came nether British "protection ". It started during the reign of Ansa Sasraku I when Osei Tutu Stayed at Nyanaoso for closed to time, where he was good treated. At the decease of his uncle Obiri Yeboa, Osei Tutu was grand Royal Escort to Kumase. Okomfo Anokye was release to upon his request.
Akwamu primary as well as elders
AKWAMU SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Akan as well as Ewe traditions portray the Akwamu as a people who were rich inward civilisation as well as good versed inward state of war machine as well as political Organization. All published piece of work on Akwamu describe so as an earlyAkan State
Akan as well as Ewe traditions portray the Akwamu as a people who were rich inward civilisation as well as good versed inward state of war machine as well as political Organization. All published piece of work on Akwamu describe so as an early
The Akwamu made of import contribution to the kingship system. Kingship was silent is vested the Royal Abrade Clan. Any fellow member of the Dispersed Abrade Clan is eligible to the stool. This determination arose from the succession dispute inward Twifo- hemang. This exercise spread alongside the Akan.
In 1882 King Akoto I of Obomeng- Kwahu ruled after the decease of Kwafo Akoto I. This confirms the fact that whatever fellow member of the dispersed Abrade Clan is eligible to the stool. Royal Twins were as well as silent are eligible to the stool.
Various State Drums became percentage of the establishment of kingship. Among these the Atumpan and Fontonfrom.These drums were as well as silent are mutual to many Akan States, but the deed of "adorning" them with Human Skulls as well as Jaw-Bones originated from the Akwamus.
The Akwamu also claim to have got originated the Apirede and PrempehDrums.The Apirede Drum was adorned with Skulls as well as Jaw-Bones.
The Prempeh Drum was instituted at Twifo-Hemang to rally circular soldiers inward fourth dimension of war, as well as to summon the people to of import political meetings inward fourth dimension of peace.
It was the Akwamu who introduced the Asesedwa, the Four-legged Stoolinto the kingship system, as well as this spread to Akan as well as non-Akan tribes. They also evolved the concept of Oman
Akwamu made several contributions to Traditional Dancing inward the fields ofAdowa and Mmeamu. Adowa spread from Akwamu to Asante
Akwamu also introduced Adowa to the Gas. All Akans celebrate the Adaefestival, but the Akwamu claimed to have got instituted the Akwasidae,Awukudae and Odwira Festivals.
Ansa SasrakuI invented Akwamu Military Organization, which was copied, past times Akans as well as Non- Akans. It consisted of a Central Wing (Adonten); RightWing (Nifa); Left Wing (Benkum); Rearguard (Kyidom); the Household as well as Bodyguard (Gyase ne Twafo).The Commander inward Chief was the Krontihene.
Between 1682 as well as 1730, the Army consisted of betwixt x to 20 G men. The Akwamu possessed Artillery but the main strength of the regular army lay inward its infantry, which consisted of Musketeers, Bowmen as well as spearmen. Osei Tutu introduced the state of war model into Asante Asante State
The Anum were also Executioners inward Akwamu as well as they became Executioners in Asante Asante
Gyaman as well as Wenchi for representative were Akan States who were influenced inward this way. Gyamanhene Adinkra did non alone model his regular army on that ofAsante
THE COLLAPSE OF THE EMPIRE
Akwamu collapsed inward 1730 as a outcome of a combination of internal as well as external factors. Internally, first, the empire grew beyond its optimum size as well as it was hard for the resources of the empire to come across the organizational demands required. Second, the rules of succession were non really clear as well as this led to several patricidal struggles, the most of which ocurred in1730 when Prince Amu joined the Forces of Akuapem as well as Akyem to defeat Akwamu.
Akwamu collapsed inward 1730 as a outcome of a combination of internal as well as external factors. Internally, first, the empire grew beyond its optimum size as well as it was hard for the resources of the empire to come across the organizational demands required. Second, the rules of succession were non really clear as well as this led to several patricidal struggles, the most of which ocurred in1730 when Prince Amu joined the Forces of Akuapem as well as Akyem to defeat Akwamu.
Decades before 1730, at that topographic point was mounting unrest inward the Akwamu Dominions caused largely past times the social problems created past times a switch from Gold Trade to Slave Trade as the footing of the economy. In 1713, the British signed a contract for the provide of slaves to the Castilian possessions inward the "New World " Following this, the rivalry betwixt the British, Dutch as well as Danish Trading Companies on the Coast go extremely fierce, producing a abrupt rising inward the export of slaves. In monastic enjoin to cash inward monastic enjoin fierce, European contest as well as satisfy the larger demand, Akwamu looked for novel source of supply. In customary law, strict rules governed the processes of Enslavement. The Pawn as safety could non live on sold, but the Enslaved criminal or 1 who placed himself voluntarily inward slavery could, at that topographic point were also restrictions on the sale of captives / state of war prisoners slaves brought from the opened upwards markets. Throughout the latter one-half of the 17th century, Akwamu Traders met the demand for slaves in Accra
In firstly iii decades of the 18th century, adept regime changed to bad government. Power was abused as well as at that topographic point began to sprout upwards all over the Earth Organization s concerned purely as well as simply with the illegal enslavement of freemen as well as women, as well as their hush-hush sale to the trading companies on o the coast. The Europeans as Siccadingers knew these organizations. This is derived from the Ga give-and-take Sikadin (Black Gold). Band of Siccadingers prowled well-nigh the countryside at night, pouncing on the inspecting as well as carrying them into slavery. The Akwamu rulers did non depository fiscal establishment check this abuse as well as they also became guilty of it. King Akwanno employed his ain Bands who raided as well as kidnapped neighbouring territories. His successor, Ansa Kwao(1725-1730) went fifty-fifty farther as well as sent Bands to enslave his ain subjects as well as to kidnap people from the Akuapem Hills.
Side past times side with these Slave-Raiding organisation occurred an increase inward the deliberate fabrication of "Palavers" aimed specifically at reducing freemen as well as women to slave Status " Palaver could live on " manufactured" against the whole communities. Thousand of Slaves passed through the Accra Forts than always before. Roemer, the Danish Trader inward accuse ofChristianborg Castle
There was a deep feeling of soreness as well as injustice After Akwanno`s death, opposition mounted. In 1726 the people of Berekuso killed a Sword Bearer of the King. In early on 1727 opened upwards revolts flared upwards inward the Coastal Regions between Accra and Volta . In the East as well as West the External Enemies that is Dahomey
In 1728, the human relationship betwixt the European companies in Accra Inland State
In 1729, the Gas launched a state of war of independence as well as joined forces with the Akuapems. They were all the same defeated past times the Akwamus. When the Allied forces realised that they were no tally for the Akwamus, they looked elsewhere for assistance. The Akuapems sent a delegation to King of Akyem Abuakwa called Ofori Panin . This delegation to the Akyeame(linguists) of Abiriw, Larteh and Adukrom. The Okyenhene agreed to provide them with a forcefulness as well as deputed his ain relative Safori, to go to their assistance Safori raised a large Army to create out side past times side with the Gas, Akuapem as well as Fantis. This was because of the human relationship betwixt Akwamu and Asante
In July 1730, fighting broke out as well as the Akwamus were defeated. In November, the upper-case alphabetic quality was ransacked Ansa Kwoa beheaded. The Akwamus were evicted from Nyanoaso as well as forced to seek a haven across the Volta River Volta . The removal of the Royal House of Akwamu to its nowadays location at Akwamufie marked the cease of Akwamu power.
On the arrival they met the Nkonya, Kammra, Adjena and Kotropei people. The Nkonya had an opened upwards conflict with them but they were defeated as well as forcefulness northwards. The relaxation of the people submitted to Akwamu domintion. After the defeat, the Guans as well as Kyerepong communities organized themselves into the nowadays Akuapem State . The boundaries were widened to include parts of the Akwamu country. Safori, the Akyem War commander was granted a paramountcy, as well as together with his followers they founded the Towns of Akropong as well as Amanokrom, with the consent of the Okyenhene Ofori Guan as well as kyerepong Tribes into the Unified province of Akuapem. Safori requested them to select the Oath of the Traditional Priest called Kyenku at Obosomase to endose their voluntary allegiance to his rule. The Akyems impose on Akuapem a novel political conception, the thought of territorial as well as secular leadership, inward identify of immemorial establishment of a Ruler who was the High priest of the Clan god or goddess. The Akyem Ruler of Akropong was recognised as the Omanhene of the Akuapem province as well as Akropong became the focus of the Union . Akwamu Miltary organisation was introduced into the union.
While the Akwamu Royal Family as well as the main Army moved to Akwamufie , others remained. According to Roemer., alone well-nigh 500 families escaped across the Volta . The remnant Akwamus became concentrated inward Asamankese, Akwatia, Kwaaman Tafo. They remained largely Akwamu inward graphic symbol as well as maintained their political, social as well as linguistic modes of life. Their Oral traditions give diverse reasons for non migrating Across the Volta. The firstly they refused to bring together inward the state of war against the Akyems inward 1730 as well as they remained neutral. Their neutrality was due to a succession dispute. After King Akwanno, the side past times side line of piece of work of succession was Amu, but he was past times - passed for Ansa Kwao, nephew of Amu . Amu was acting as Envoy of the Akwamus in Accra
The minute argue was the that they resent the oppressive Rule of Akwamu Kings. The Provincial Akwamu resented the over centralized nature of the Akwamu political system. The manful individual monarch had the concluding say inward the affairs of the state, reverse to the Customary Practise that the manful individual monarch should consult all the of import Divisional Chief mater of National importance. Everything was centred at Nyanoaso without consulting them. It was non uncommon to expose out that manful individual monarch had been sent to wage state of war on a Neighbouring Tribe without knowing the causes of the raid. Third argue is that they were against the internal witch wound for slaves. In addiction to the other source of supply, the primary of Asamankese had to provide Remnants at Kade , Apapam as well as Tafo province is that though they went to state of war against the Akyems , they decided to brand peace with them after experiencing the harsh brutalities of the war. They were non convinced to displace across the Volta River
The defeat of the Akwamus past times the Akuapems, Gas as well as Akyems saw the total select over of all the Akwamu lands upwards to the Densu River
In the firstly Volta Gorge, Akwamu monopolised the Volta Trade as well as concerned itself with political developments on the coast. Akwamu was fortunately sited on the merchandise road eastward of the Volta River Volta River
List of Rulers of the province of Akwamu (formerly Twifo-Heman)
Territory comprised percentage of present-day southern Ghana
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Akwamuhenes (Rulers) | ||
| Twifo-Heman | ||
| c.1480 to c.1500 | Agyen Kokobo, Akwamuhene | Founder of Twifo-Heman |
| c.1500 to c.1520 | Ofusu Kwabi, Akwamuhene | |
| c.1520 to c.1540 | Oduro, Akwamuhene | |
| c.1540 to c.1560 | Ado, Akwamuhene | |
| Akwamu | ||
| c.1560 to c.1575 | Otumfo Asare, Akwamuhene | Founder of the Akwamu State, with upper-case alphabetic quality at Asaremankesse |
| c.1575 to c.1585 | Akotia, Akwamuhene | Relocated upper-case alphabetic quality at Ayandawaase |
| c.1585 to c.1600 | Ansa Saseraku, Akwamuhene (Ansa Saseraku I) | |
| c.1600 to c.1620 | Ansa Saseraku, Akwamuhene (Ansa Saseraku II) | |
| c.1620 to c.1640 | Ansa Saseraku, Akwamuhene (Ansa Saseraku III) | |
| c.1640 to c.1660 | Abuako Dako, Akwamuhene | |
| c.1660 to c.1680 | Afera Kuma, Akwamuhene | |
| c.1680 to 1702 | Manukure, Akwamuhene | |
| 1702 to 1726 | Akwano Panyini, Akwamuhene | |
| 1726 to 1734 | Dako Booman, Akwamuhene | |
| 1734 | Conquest past times the Akyem peoples | |
Akwamu as well as 1733 slave insurrection on St. John
The 1733 slave insurrection on St. John inward the Danish West Indies, (now St. John, United States of America Virgin Islands) started on Nov 23, 1733 when African slaves from Akwamu revolted against the owners as well as managers of the island's plantations. The slave rebellion was 1 of the earliest as well as longest slave revolts inward the Americas. The Akwamu slaves captured the fort inward Coral Bay as well as took command of most of the island, intending to resume crop production nether their ain command as well as usage other ethnic Africans as slave labor. The revolt ended inward mid-1734 when several hundred French as well as Swiss troops sent from Martinique defeated the Akwamu.
In their homeland many of the Akwamu were nobles, wealthy merchants or other powerful members of their society; marooning was a natural reply to their intolerable living conditions, as they did non select the status of slaves. (SEE: 1733 St. John's Slave Revolt, Discovery Channel: Moments inward Time link championship Narrator: James Woods; Actor: Jamall Sprauve; Actress: Jackie Smalls). The Akwamu intended to select command of St. John inward the insurrection as well as dominion it, continuing the production of saccharide as well as other crops. They would usage other slaves of differing tribal origin as slave laborers inward turn. The leader of the revolt was an Akwamu chief, King June, a plain slave as well as foreman on the Sødtmann estate. Other leaders were Kanta, King Bolombo, Prince Aquashie, as well as Breffu. According to a study past times a French planter, Pierre Pannet, the rebel leaders met regularly at nighttime to railroad train the plan.
Outrageous! The creative individual made these slaves stand upwards inward the same topographic point for iii weeks. Read this article: "The Akwamu: the commencement of the cease of Danish colonial power' here:http://cphpost.dk/culture/through-looking-glass/akwamu-beginning-end-danish-colonial-powerThe 1733 slave insurrection started with opened upwards acts of rebellion on Nov 23, 1733 at the Coral Bay plantation owned past times Magistrate Johannes Sødtmann. An hr later, slaves were admitted into the fort at Coral Bay to deliver wood. They had hidden knives inward the lots, which they used to kill most of the soldiers at the fort. One soldier, John Gabriel, escaped to St. Thomas as well as alerted the Danish officials. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 grouping of rebels nether the leadership of King June stayed at the fort to maintain control, closed to other grouping took command of the estates inward the Coral Bay expanse after hearing the bespeak shots from the fort's cannon. The slaves killed many of the whites on these plantations. The rebel slaves so moved to the northward shore of the island. They avoided widespread devastation of belongings since they intended to select possession of the estates as well as resume crop production.
Accounts of the rebel attacks
After gaining command of the Suhm, Sødtmann, as well as Company estates, the rebels began to spread out over the relaxation of the island. The Akwamus attacked the Cinnamon Bay Plantation located on the fundamental northward shore. Landowners John as well as Lieven Jansen as well as a grouping of loyal slaves resisted the assault as well as held off the advancing rebels with gunfire. The Jansens were able to retreat to their waiting boat as well as escape to Durloe's Plantation. The loyal Jansen slaves were also able to escape. The rebels looted the Jansen plantation as well as moved on to human face upwards the whites held upwards at Durloe's plantations. The assault on Durloe's plantation was repelled, as well as many of the planters as well as their families escaped to St. Thomas
End of the rebellion as well as the aftermath
Two French ships arrived at St. John on Apr 23, 1734 with several hundred French as well as Swiss troops to seek to select command from the rebels. With their firepower as well as troops, past times mid-May they had restored planters' dominion of the island. The French ships returned to Martinique on June 1, leaving the local militia to runway downward the remaining rebels. The slave insurrection ended on August 25, 1734 when Sergeant Øttingen captured the remaining maroon rebels. The loss of life as well as belongings from the insurrection caused many St. John landowners to displace to St. Croix, a nearby isle sold to the Danish past times the French inward 1733.
Franz Claasen, a loyal slave of the van Stell family, was deeded the Mary Point Estate for alerting the menage unit of measurement to the rebellion as well as assisting inward their escape to St. Thomas. Franz Claasen's Earth deed was recorded August 20, 1738 past times Jacob van Stell, making Claasen the firstly 'Free Colored' landowner on St. John.
The slave merchandise ended inward the Danish West Indies on Jan 1, 1803, but slavery continued on the islands. When the British emancipated their slaves inward the British West Indies inward 1838, slaves on St. John began escaping to nearby Tortola as well as other British islands. On May 24, 1840, xi slaves from St. John stole a boat as well as escaped to Tortola during the night. The 8 men (Charles Bryan, James Jacob, Adam [alias Cato], Big David, Henry Law, Paulus, John Curay), as well as iii women (Kitty, Polly, as well as Katurah) were from the Annaberg plantation (one) as well as Leinster Bay (10) estates. Brother Schmitz, the local Moravian missionary, was sent to Tortola past times the St. John constabulary to persuade the slaves to return. After coming together with the Tortola officials as well as the runaway slaves, Schmitz returned to St. John to relay the slaves' resolve to remain away because of abusive handling past times the overseers on the plantations. After the overseers were replaced, Charles Bryan, his married adult woman Katurah, as well as James Jacobs returned to piece of work at Leinster Bay. Kitty, Paulus, David, as well as Adam moved to St. Thomas. Henry Law, Petrus, as well as Polly West Indies on Tortola. John Curry relocated to Trinidad. None of the runaway slaves were punished.
On July 3, 1848, 114 years after the slave insurrection, enslaved Afro-Caribbeans of St. Croix had a non-violent, majority demonstration; the Governor-General declared emancipation throughout the Danish West Indies.
Economy: Akwamu people are pastoral agricultural people that engaged inward crop planting. They flora cassava, yams, plantain as well as vegetables similar onion, pepper, tomatoes etc. Some of Akwamu people also engage inward rearing of sheep as well as caprine animal as good as cattle.
Akwamu people observing a farm
Religious Belief
Akwamu belief inward almighty "twediempon onyankopon"/Nyame (the supreme creator). It is a god inward a higher identify all god that created all the gods. Akwamu similar Akans telephone outcry upwards on him whenever they are inward need. They revere Onyankopon/Nyame. In prayers to the other lesser "abosom" (lesser family/communal gods), Nyame is shown with alcohol but is never given any. The libation maker would say "twediempon Nyame wokyere wo nsa so y3 ma wo nsa" (almighty god inward a higher identify nosotros present yous drinkable but nosotros cannot offering yous some). This signifies Akan (Akwamu) belief inward a Sky God.
Apart from nyame the Akwamu also have got lesser 'suman" (family/ancestral gods) as well as "aman bosom" (community gods) that they brand prayers to for protection as well as prosperity.
Many of the Akwamu people are at nowadays christians.
Ceremonies as well as Rites
Akwamu similar all other Akans have got rites for initiating their youths into adolescent stage. In the past times women who reaches the historic menses of adolescent are made to undergo "bragor" (menstral rites) past times existence confined inward rooms for closed to days to have advice from their elders. These teachings include how to do domestic chores,marriage techniques as well as social norms.After undergoing through these process, a concluding 24-hour interval is so reserved for the women to live on purified past times bathing inward a flow as well as after that they are clad inward white cloth to signify their purity. Animals such as fowls as well as either caprine animal or sheep are slaughtered to prepare soup for them. Marshed yam mixed with eggs are so served to the initiates to glorify their "kra" (soul).
Apart from this initiation rite,Akwamu exactly similar all Akans also have got festivals they celebrate. These include Odwira,Akwasidae but the greatest 1 which the Akwamu are noted for is their ain Adae festival.
Adae Festival
The Akwamu people initiated many of the traditional festivals celebrated past times the Akan peoples of Ghana. As a outcome of the prominent role they played inward the political as well as economical developments inward the early on European contact with the peoples of West Africa, many ethnic groups inward the coastal as well as wood regions, adopted closed to of the essential elements of Akwamu cultural festivals as well as adapted them to suit their ain political as well as spiritual needs. In his volume Festivals of Ghana, Professor A.A. Opoku presents a detailed concern human relationship of many festivals celebrated past times the Akan people as well as other ethnic groups. Two of such festivals relevant to Akwamu history as well as civilisation are extracted from Professor Opoku’s volume for the purpose of deepening noesis well-nigh the pivotal role played past times the Akwamu people inward the history of Ghana. He
emphasizes the importance of celebration of festivals as thus:
“At a fourth dimension when the demand for coin is forcing Ghanaians
to go out their towns as well as villages to expression for piece of work elsewhere,
the festivals offering the best chance to go dorsum to our heritage,
renew old ties as well as describe inspiration for the future”
Opoku A.A.’ Festivals of Ghana,Ghana Publishing Corporation, Accra,1970
The next are excerpts from Prof. Opoku’s book.
The Akan calendar twelvemonth is divided into nine cycles of twoscore days called Adae. The adae, however, does non only grade a menses inward time, but it is also observed as a special 24-hour interval of worship. It is the 24-hour interval on which the primary as well as his elders go to the identify where the sacred stools are kept.The spirits of the departed chiefs, it is believed, relaxation inward the stools kept for them after their death. These stools are blackened with soot as well as the yolk of eggs to brand them finally long. They are sometimes wrapped inward camel-hair blankets as well as set on their sides inward the dark room called nkonguafieso or stool-house. Only chiefs who do good inward business office are honoured inward this way because the Akan say "it is the adept spirit that deserves the feast of sheep".
The sacred stool has ii uses. It is the shrine into which the spirit, or soul, of adept chiefs may 1 time again live on called upon to acquire into on special occasions such as the Adae. It is also a agency past times which nosotros tin tell the issue of chiefs that have got ruled over the tribe. Perhaps yous know someone called Adae. The give-and-take agency a resting-place. It is the call of the special 24-hour interval on which nosotros are allowed to go into the room where the spirits of our forefathers rest. We shall before long consider what the primary as well as his elders go to do at the nkonguafieso. In the meantime allow us expose out how the Adae is reckoned.
There are ii types of Adae observed inward every 1 of the nine cycles mentioned before on. These are the Dominicus Adae, known as Akwasidae as well as the Midweek Adae called Awukudae.
The menses betwixt 1 Dominicus adae as well as the side past times side is 40 days. The Awukudae or Midweek adaes are also separated past times the same period. The Midweek cidcies come upwards betwixt the Dominicus ones. There are 23 days betwixt a Dominicus adae as well as the Midweek adae that comes after it, but the gap betwixt a Midweek adae as well as the Dominicus 1 next it is 17 days.
We have got already mentioned that adae agency a resting or sleeping place. The main rites inward the adae festival are observed inward the stool-house or room.
The Akan live on with the spirits of their dead. They believe that the souls of their dead relatives are silent close to them as well as they telephone outcry upwards upon them inward times of trouble. They enquire for their guidance as well as brand them offers of drinks as well as eggs, chicken as well as sheep.
On adae days, water, food, meat as well as rum are taken to the shrines. The dead are so invited to hold to aid those over whom they ruled when they were alive. Not all people are allowed into the stool-house. Only those who perform the rites as well as a few who are related to the primary go there. Of those who go in, alone the primary as well as the royal princes vesture their sandals. We shall render to the rites that are performed inward the stool house, but allow us go dorsum to the preparations for the Adae.
The 24-hour interval right away before the adae is called Dapaa. There is the Sat that comes before the Dominicus adae, called Memeneda Dapaa. The Tuesdaypreceding the Midweek adae is also called Benada Dapaa. Children born on the dapaa days are called Dapaa exactly as those born on adae days are called Adae. The Dapaa is the 24-hour interval of grooming for the Adae.
Foodstuffs, firewood, water, drinks, chicken, sheep, eggs as well as all the articles required for the celebration of the Adae are brought habitation on the Dapaa. On Adae days, no piece of work or go may live on done except duties connected with the celebration.
The Dapaa is also the fourth dimension for tidying upwards the theater as well as its surroundings. Villages as well as towns as well as wells as well as footpaths leading to them are also cleaned.
There is much activity at the chief's house. Attendants as well as stool-carriers scrub the white stools as well as calabashes needed for the Adae celebration. The hornblowers as well as province drummers also busy themselves tuning the instruments which they volition usage to usher inward the Adae inward the eventide of the Dapac. At sundown, when all the preparations are complete, the drummers gather at the chief's theater as well as drum till belatedly inward the night,
Only a few people are allowed to acquire into the stool theater with their sandals on.
On the adae day, the "Divine Drummer", that is the chief's principal drummer, rises early on inward the forenoon as well as drums the next piece, (the words vary from identify to place):
Cheng, cheng, cheng, heng, heng, heng,
Ofuruntum tree, tweneboa tree,
Tall drummer Amponua the Gunpowder.
Great Dwora as well as Nnummire Akurampn String,
Obua Kwaku, the drummer's wedge as well as prop,
Divine Drummer says: I have got bestirred myself.
Mighty as well as Valiant Ofori,
When the Creator created things What did he create?
He created the Ohene,
He created the court-crier,
He created the drummer,
He created Okyere Kwawuo,
the Mighty one
That feeds on human heads.
He found two, iii petty birds; Which percentage of me would yous have got for meat?
Dwamena volition have got my middle part. Oboama Dwamena Antwi the fearful one,
Mighty King of Okyere Kwawuo, the
Mighty one,
I salute-you sir,
I bid yous "Good adae dawn." Great Nyankomago volition render the Divine Drummer;
Great Nyankomago came inward fellowship of the Divine Drummer:
Okotommirifa Gyanadu the fair coloured one,
Ampasakyi that swallows the phant,
Elephant that breaks the axe,
Elephant, the Divine Drummer says
He has bestirred himself at dawn,
This early, early, early on morn
The hooked stick that bends as well as pulls
The thicket as well as thorny climbers;
Won't yous come upwards as well as bring together with me inward play?
King that captures kings,
Go fetch me drink,
Fetch me rum that I may drink.
An hr or so after this awakening call, the drummer 1 time again calls the primary inward the next message:
Great as well as Valiant Ofori,
I am off to Abirem Akyem,
I am going to the stool theater Where room encloses room.
King of hosts
Who is always sought for an ally inward battle
Benevolent peachy killer
Vanguard alongside equals
Unconquerable one,
Dread of the old as well as the young
Grandson of Ofori of the Asona Clan
He that balances the keg of gunpowder upon his head
And somersaults over the flames, He that bends the sword with ease Out, as well as come upwards with me!
Out, as well as come upwards with me!
This before long brings the primary as well as those of his people who are to acquire into the stool house. The ritual inward this "Holy of Holies" begins with the pouring of a calabashful of H2O at the entrance to the room past times the primary stool attendant. By this, he invites the spirits to come upwards out as well as launder their hands to prepare for the feast to which they volition presently live on invited.
Ritual nutrient of mashed yam or plantain is so brought into the room. The primary stool attendant or steward takes ladlefuls of this as well as hands it to the chief. The primary inward plough moves from 1 sacred stool to the other as well as places portions of the nutrient upon them. He begins with the firstly stool of the dynasty as well as ends with the 1 right away preceding him inward office. While performing this rite, the primary slips off his sandals as well as tucks his cloth circular his waist as a sign of honor for his lords. For the same reason, he dresses inward an old cloth, unremarkably adinkra or kuntunkuni.
While placing the nutrient upon the stools, the primary says:
Spirits of my grandsires,
Today is Adae;
Come as well as have this food
And catch Us with prosperity;
Permit the bearers of children to deport children;
Grant wellness to your servant;
Grant wellness to the Queen Mother; Grant wellness to the Nation.
Let no evil come upwards upon the town; To him who wishes evil
Let evil autumn upon himself.
At the cease of each line of piece of work of the prayer,
the hornblower blows his horn inward praise of the ancestors. He recalls their peachy deeds to remind the ruling primary of what is expected of him.
When the spirits of the departed chiefs have got had their meal, the residuum of the ritual nutrient is taken exterior the stool room as well as sprinkled inward the courtyard for the spirits of the dead courtiers as well as attendants.
At this stage, 1 attendant carries inward a sheep upon his shoulders. On sure enough special occasions, say on the Adae K€se or Big Adae, the sheep is carried before the stools past times the primary himself as a sign of high respect. This is the most impressive percentage of the ceremony.
The sheep is slaughtered, that is to say the pharynx is cutting as well as the blood collected into a wooden bowl. This is smeared on the Seats of the stools. Meanwhile the primary as well as his elders retire to the courtyard of the stool house. The attendants follow them afterwards with what remains of the sheep's blood as well as usage it to grade the breast as well as brow of the primary as well as all present.
The sheep is so flayed as well as alternative parts are cutting up, skewered as well as roasted on a dismiss made inward the courtyard. Pieces of the fatty from the entrails are pasted on the centre props of the sacred stools as well as the caput as well as parts of the intestines are placed before the stools. The skewered meat is placed Upon the stools. This, however, does non consummate the courses of this ritual feast. The Queen Mother prepares fufu with the relaxation of the meat as well as places it before the stools. No tabular array salt is pose into the food. I suppose yous know why. The belief is that spirits do non swallow salt. They prefer their nutrient to live on saltless.
When the concluding course of didactics of the repast is set before the stools, an attendant rings a bell to signify that the spirits are eating. Rum is at nowadays poured upon all the stools past times the primary stool attendant as well as the relaxation is passed circular to all present. The offerings remain upon the stools till belatedly inward the eventide when all but the pieces of fatty are removed.
Akwamu sub-chief Nana Gyansare as well as his elders
The ritual inward the stool theater over, the primary retires finally to the main courtyard. By at nowadays all the lesser chiefs as well as those of his subjects who have got come upwards to wishing him "adae morn" have got assembled. The drums crunch as well as the horns flourish till dusk when the celebration comes to an end.
In most Akan states the 9th or concluding Adae, unremarkably referred to as Adae Kese, is observed as the province festival or Odwira. This festival, which covers an entire calendar week marks the cease of the old twelvemonth as well as the commencement of the new.
Source:http://www.akuapem.com/akwamu.html
wikipedia.org/wiki/1733_slave_insurrection_on_St._John
http://akwamuman.org/
King of the Akwamu people
Akwamu King Nana Kwafo Akoto III existence given the staff of business office during his enstoolment as the King of Akwamu state
Akwamu King existence carried inward a palanquin
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