African Kingdoms

Akwamu (Akan Clan State) (Africa)

West African States All Modern States All African States Early Africa (Intro) Egypt

It would seem that Akan people in Africa migrated into the southern edges of the forests of what is now Ghana. They came from a broad band of territory on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Their migration took place around the eleventh century AD, during a period in which the kingdom of Old Ghana was dramatically weakened by a devastating conflict with the Almorivids.

When Old Ghana fell in AD 1237, the trading state of Bonoman (Bono Manso) was established by the Abron people. In various waves, Akan groups migrated away from the increasingly wealthy Bonoman state to found their own settlement areas. Farming prospered, producing wealth in food, and some of the Akan communities in time coalesced into small states and minor kingdoms.

At least two of these new states became prominent: those of Akwamu in the south and Denkyira in the central western area of Akan territory. A third state - Kwaaman - was the product of continued conflict between the other two. The origins of Akwamu are almost entirely obscure, just like those of the far greater kingdom which it would help to found: Asante.

The small clan state of Akwamu (otherwise known as Akuambo) was founded by the Abrade (Aduana) clan of the Akan people, along the southern edges of Ghana's forests. For around a century and-a-half Denkyira held the upper hand in central Ghana because it had the best gold reserves, and gold meant power. Akwamu concentrated mainly on expanding its own territory eastwards, towards southern Togoland and into Benin.

The Akan people of this and the other kingdoms found they needed more labour to clear additional areas of forest, so they took slaves to help. Farming prospered, producing wealth in food, and that drove on the Akan to achieve more. The state achieved its height in the early eighteenth century, shortly before its destruction. It stretched more than four hundred kilometres along the coast from Whydah (now Ouidah in Benin) in the east to beyond Winneba (now in Ghana) in the west.

Little more is known than a list of names of Akwamu's rulers. They ruled as the akwamuhene, the king of all Akwamu, and they used their wealth to ensure prominent displays of gold as a symbol of their grip on power. However, anything else about them is largely the product of oral tradition and should be viewed with suspicion. Even the existence of the great Akan king of Asante, Osei Tutu, who was supported by Akwamu, cannot be confirmed by historical evidence.

What is clear is that support which was given by Akwamu aided the prosperity of another minor clan state, one by the name of Kwaaman. This act also unwittingly planted the seeds of Akwamu's own eventual destruction.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Akwamu 1640-1750 - A Study of the Rise and Fall of a West African Empire, Ivor Willks, 2001, from History of West Africa, J F Ade Ajayi & Michael Crowder (Longman, 1985), from Encyclopaedia Britannica (Eleventh Edition, Cambridge (England), 1910), from English Chief Factors on the Gold Coast 1632-1753, R Porter, from Ghana: A Country Study, Berry La Verle (Ed), 1994, and from External Links: Ghana Web, and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Ghana (Country Studies), and World Statesmen, and The Rise of the Akwamu Empire, 1650-1710, Ivor Wilks (Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol 3, No 2, 1957, pp 25-62, and available for download as a PDF from JSTOR).)

c.1480 - 1520

Various clan states are formed in Old Ghana's territory by the immigrant Akan communities, with Denkyira becoming prominent in what is now central Ghana and Akwamu in central southern Ghana. Another state which starts off small and insignificant is that of Kwaaman.

Akan people - photographed here around the beginning of the twentieth century - migrated into regions of modern Ghana from around the eleventh century AD, but probably in smaller family groups rather than as a single mass movement of people

c.1505 - 1520

First ruler of the Akwamu tribal state.

c.1520 - 1535

Successor, but relationship unknown.

c.1535 - 1550

Successor, but relationship unknown.

c.1550 - 1565

Drew Akwamu further inland to avoid Akan conflicts.

c.1565 - 1580

Successor, but relationship unknown.

c.1580 - 1595

Successor, but relationship unknown.

c.1595 - 1610

Successor, but relationship unknown.

c.1610 - 1625

Successor, but relationship unknown.

1621

The English trading base of English Gold Coast is created with Kormantin as its chief post, under the 'Company of Merchants Trading to Guinea' (known as the Company of London Merchants from 1651).

English and later British interest in their Gold Coast trading centre saw it turn into an imperial colonial formation which frequently challenged the Asante in battle

Akwamu is largely separated from this coastal strip by the Fante people, so that the first effects of its creation are not felt this far inland (but this also means that Akwamu itself is not properly recorded for posterity).

1625 - 1640

Expanded the state.

1629

Benefiting from improved agriculture and the creation of a growing food surplus, the Akwamu state begins to expand. Its people start to infringe upon several neighbouring states, including Akuapem. A Dutch 'Map of the Lands of the Gold Coast of Guinea' of this year describes Akwamu as 'diefachtich volck', a predatory nation.

1640 - 1674

Successor, but relationship unknown.

1646

To the east by this time, Akwamu has already extended its power far beyond the River Densu. It is described by European writers as 'running to the east of Accra as far as Aquimena', and that it includes 'Latebe, which the King of Oquy claims to be his'.

People of the Akwamu state photographed during the early or mid-twentieth century, perhaps around the time of the formation of Ghana, by which time they had formed part of the Asante state for about two hundred years

It is in this eastwards expansion that the earliest extension of Akwamu interest can be detected beyond the frontiers of Akwamu proper. Aquimena, despite the oddity of its description as being to the east of Accra, is almost certainly to be identified with the Kammana of the Dutch map of 1629, then shown as a small state to the north of Aburi.

1674 - 1689

Further expanded the state.

1677 - 1681

Hemmed in to the north and north-west by the state of Akim and other states which are in loose alliance with or subject to the powerful Denkyira, Akwamu expands south and south-east towards the Ga and Fante towns of the coast.

These they subdue between 1677 and 1681 under their akwamuhene, Ansa Sasraku II. They also extend their influence over the state of Ladoku in the east in 1679.

c.1680

From this point onwards, Denkyira's neighbours begin to band together under the leadership of Osei Tutu of Kwaaman, who is largely protected by Akwamu. The subsequent destruction of Denkyira as a leading power gives birth to the Asante kingdom under Osei Tutu. He forms a capital at Kumasi and he and his successors rule as the asantehene, the king of all Asante.

The forests of Ghana have suffered from deforestation for centuries, notably when the Akan people started clearing areas for crops but even today, with organisations such as Client Earth trying to repair the problems it has caused

1689 - 1699

Expanded the state.

1689 - 1701

The Asante use their newfound wealth to ensure prominent displays of gold as a symbol of their grip on power. Previously independent neighbouring states are gradually integrated into the expanding kingdom. Their chiefs are made subjects, and their territories are made regions of the new kingdom.

Captive enemy warriors are enslaved and put to work in feeding the economy and helping to further expand the kingdom. Akwamu to the south remains an honoured friend and supporter, and one which is still expanding its own territory. Ansa Sasraku III conquers the Fante state of Agona to the west of Akwamu in 1689.

1699 - 1702

Successor, but relationship unknown.

1702 - 1725

Expanded the state.

1702 & 1710

The Akwamu cross the River Volta to occupy Whydah, a coastal state which is normally subservient to Dahomey (now in southern Benin). In 1710 the Ewe people of the Ho region are also subjugated.

Dahomey tribespeople were photographed for Hubert Howe Bancroft's The Book of the Fair, published in Chicago in 1893, by which time Dahomey was the subject of extreme interest by the French, and its former status as a regional power was eroded

Akwamu is now a powerful state, but this power generates a rift between them and the Asante. Pressured by the Asante, the Akyem peoples begin to retreat upon Akwamu's borders, and they are ready to fight their way into Akwamu's territory.

1707

The English 'Gold Coast' territory becomes British Gold Coast on 1 May 1707. The Asante use their trading networks to sell slaves for profit to the British and other European nations who trade along the coast (see feature link, right). In return, they buy European weapons which they use to further increase the size of the kingdom.

1725 - 1730

Last ruler of a full-independent Akwamu state.

1730 - 1731

After perhaps a generation of increasing pressure from the Akyem peoples and much fighting, the akwamuhene is forced to flee. By 1731 the state of Akwamu has been reduced in size and survives, essentially, as an addendum to Asante.

The British probably met up with the Asante leaders at an early point in the expansion of Gold Coast, although this 1819 illustrates a meeting of its own time, as confirmed by the headgear worn by the British soldiers at the back

Otumfuo Akonno Kuma becomes regent for the lost Akwamu throne until 1744, when he is able to succeed as titular ruler. His successors continue to provide leadership for the Akwamu people within the Asante kingdom and into modern Ghana.