The Ashanti Kingdom: Past and Present.
Ghana is a land of various landscapes. Though located on the coast of West Africa, its landscapes range from coasts in the South, to savannah dry lands in the North, and forestland all in between. The country is inhabited in part by the Akan people. These people are among the most prominent and traditionally well-cultured indigenous inhabitants of Africa (Akan 1). The Akan people can be divided into different categories, and then subdivided into the Twi, the Fante, Akim, Ashanti, Juaben, and Agona. The Ashanti region of Ghana lies in the middle of the West African tropical rain forest. It's major city, Kumasi, is located inland about 150 miles inland from the Gulf of Guinea. The Ashanti people are a people of many rituals and rites. These can be seen in their every day lives, and also in important events. These people have a very rich heritage filled with honor, prestige, wealth, culture, and stability. The Ashanti are very interesting. Their history dates back to the very war that created their foundation, through the struggles of colonization, to the present aspects of their region like society, religion, culture, military, village life, and economy.
The history of the Ashanti people begins in the 18th century with the "Ashantehene," ruler, at that time who was Osei Tutu. Tutu was guided by his advisor who was the priest Okomfe Anokye. It was at this time that the tradition of the golden stool, which is still believed today, began. The legend of the Golden Stool is that it miraculously descended from heaven and landed on the knees of Osei Tutu. It became, and is still known to be the central point of the creation of the confederacy. The Ashanti believe that the stool is a representative of their Ancestors. Therefore, it inspires and is given great honor and respect. Oftentimes the Golden Stool has been called the "soul of the Nation," because it has helped the Ashanti states to remain united.
This is the old tradition their kingdom has followed for years. ... Document 2 is a response from the Ashanti leader in response to a British officer of protectorate status. Ashanti does not want to offended the white man but could never leave his fellow African out there to be treated like this from the white man....
In Africa, the kingdoms of Ghana, Benin, Mali and Songhai were all extremely powerful and prosperous and the cultures were diverse and rich. ... Most of the African words that have survived are of Ashanti origin. 'Sensey fowl' comes from the Ashanti word, 'peel neck' and 'fu-fu' derives from the Ashanti fu(white) or fu-fu (a mash of plantain and yam). Also the Ashanti name for spider is Anansi.11. ...
In describing God, Al-Ghazzali wrote: "He is the power and the kingdom and the glory and the majesty and to Him belongs creation and the rule over what He created: He alone is the Giver of life; He is omniscient, for His knowledge encompassed all things, from the deepest depths of the earth to the highest heights of the heavens. ... This is further supported by an Ashanti proverb which says 'No one shows a child the Supreme Being. ...