ASANTE NATION UNDER OTUMFOƆ OSEI TUTU l (1st Occupant of the Golden Stool) - Part 3

ABAKƆSƐM BRƐ: United Asante States under Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu l - 3
(1697 - 1718)

Asante have declared was on Denkyira by filling their brass basin with stones and killing their Chief warrior who accompanied the Denkyira messengers to Asante, contacted Okomfo Anokye after. Okomfo Anokye when consulted assured them that they would be victorious "provided" some men would give themselves up for sacrifices.

Three men would be needed for the sacrifice.

~ One would be buried alive. His hands would appear at the surface of the earth. ....and two brass pans full of war medicine mixed in water would be put in two palms for the warriors to bath before they left for the war front.

~ The second volunteer would be butchered to death and his flesh thrown away for vultures to take to Denkyira land. Wherever any piece of the flesh would fall the men of the place would lose their bravery and become cowards

~ The third volunteer should be a Paramount Chief. He would be armed and he would be in front of the marching soldiers. ...Leading the army he was not to fire a shot even if he met an enemy. He should look on for the enemy to shoot him.

It was "only" when he fell that the Asante Nation would be victorious. If he did not conform to that and he shot a gun, that would be the doom for Asante Nation. 

Those who volunteered were:

1. Nana Asenso Kofo, Chief of Adwumakasekese. He was buried alive.

2. Nana Dikopim l, Chief of Edweso, he gave himself up to be butchered to death.

3. Nana Tweneboah Kodua, Paramount Chief of Kumawu, also gave himself up. Though he was armed, he was forbidden to shoot.

Or else, the Ashanti will lost their most greatest war of history. Therefore he was killed. This bravery earned the Paramount Chiefs of Kumawu the title "Berimah".

After all the purifications and the necessary preparations Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu prepared to lead the Nation as a War General.

Okomfo Anokye asked Nana Osei Tutu to stay at home and ask another Chief to lead. His explanation was that though Asante Nation would win the war "But" Whoever led as the War General would not live beyond seven days after the war. 

Mpanimfoɔ se "Sotorɔ mmienu ma ani hanhanee"

Asante was not ready to loose Nana Osei Tutu l too.

Here too, Nana Boahen Anantuo, Chief of Mampong, volunteered to lead the soldiers to the war. He, however, asked that since he was taking the place of Asantehene, as War General, his stool should be next to that of Asantehene. Asantehene was occupying the Golden Stool, therefore his state should occupy a Silver Stool. This was granted.

Like Boahen Anantuo, the first three volunteers also made requests.

Nana Asenso Kofo requested that after his death, nobody from his town, Adwumakasekese, should ever be killed for sacrifices in any form nor any war to come again. His Request was granted by Asantehene.

Nana Dikopim, the Chief of Edweso, also requested that nobody from his clan, Asona, should be sacrificed in any form. Asantehene granted his request.

Nana Tweneboah Kodua also requested that nobody from his state should ever be be sacrificed in any form, also, Whenever a drummer from any of the Asante States started druming on Atumpan drum, his appellation should be sounded to remind future generations that they too should sacrifice for the Asante Nation.

When all was set, the Chiefs swore to Nana Osei Tutu that they would forever push forward for the sake of Asanteman, never would they retreat.

After the four Chiefs had swore to Asantehene never to retreat from their sacrifices, Asante went to war with Denkyira.

The Advance Guard was led by Tweneboah Kodua while Boahene Anantuo led them as War General. Obiri Komfo Anokye himself was at the war front and provided the magical antidotes.

The battle was fierce that day but with determination, the Asante Nation was victorious.

Oseeeye - yeeeye!
Awurade ee yɛda wase oo!
Atadwe ɛnnɛ yate dɛ nnɛ!
Asanteman ade ne ho ooo!

The King of Denkyira, Ntim Gyakari, was captured at Feyiase and beheaded. His head was sent to Kumasi as trophy.

Denkyera thus became subject to Asante. Asante Nation is now an independent Nation free from every bondage.

Asante Kotoko oseeyee, yeeeyee! Piawwwww.

The Chiefs who sat together to plan the Denkyera war with King Osei Tutu were:

Otumfuo Osei Tutu - King of Asante
Nana Boahen Anantuo - Chief of Mampong.
Nana Tweneboa Kodua - Chief of Kumawu.
Nana Adaakwa Yiadom - Chief of Asumegya.
Nana Kofi Dwaa Ayeboafo - Chief of Bekwai.
Nana Agyemang Ampomfi - Chief of Kokofu
Nana Oduro Panin - Chief of Nsuta
Nana Wiafe Akenten - Chief of Offinso
Nana Dikopim - Chief of Edweso
Nana Krobea - Chief of Tafo
Nana Okomfo Anokye - Chief of Agona

After the Denkyira war, Asante Nation continued the war of extension. 

According to oral tradition, Adanse was a powerful state before Denkyera subdued it and made it her vassal

When the  United Asante States decided to fight Denkyira, Adansi was contacted but she refused to join them and instead left for Akyem because she was not prepared for war.

However, after the Defeat of Denkyira, they came back to their land and agreed to form part of the Asante Kingdom.

The two most important wars waged by Nana Osei Tutu were the Dormaa war of revenge and the Denkyira war of independence. The defeat of Denkyira earned the Asante Nation the documents of the Elmina Castle which hitherto were in the possession of Denkyira.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu's reign was a great landmark in the history of Asante Kingdom. It was during his reign that Asante Nation sprang from independent small states to form a strong Union under one king and became a kingdom

He organised the Nation on military bases, grouping the states into the various war flanks

He built Kumasi as the capital of Asante Kingdom.

It was during his reign that Elmina Castle became the property of Asante Nation.

Many of the laws governing the kingdom were made during his reign.  According to oral tradition, he instituted the Odwira Festival in the kingdom after the defeat of Denkyira.

Nana Osei Tutu laid a solid foundation for the Asante Nation.

However, he gave too much freedom to the conquered states and allowed their chiefs to rule over their subjects instead of appointing ambassadors to the conquered states.

This policy gave the states freedom to organise their army to fight again for their independence

One of such rebellions was raised by Boadu Akefun, the chief of Denkyira who succeeded Ntim Gyakari

Osei Tutu send his army to conquer Denkyira again just a year after the first war.

Piawwwww 

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