THE BEGINNING OF ASANTE NATION (2)


Nana Obiri Yeboah, Chief of Kwaman revealed his dream to Okomfo Yamoa of Agona

According to oral tradition, Okomfo Yamoa interpreted the dream to Nana Obiri Yeboah that his ancestors had come to compare Asante States to a broom ...Which when bound together was difficult to break but when the sticks were taken apart one by one were breakable.

He, therefore, advised him to call a meeting of all Asante States Chiefs, and put the message of unity as he saw in the dream to them. Nana Obiri Yeboah called the meeting and put the message across.

All the Chiefs agreed that they were being treated badly by their master, King of Denkyira. They were not happy with the way they were being  treated.

Serving Denkyira as slaves and paying tributes every year States around Mampong and Nsuta were sending red clay to Denkyira every Akwasidae.

States around Dwaben were sending plantain fibre and the remaining states were sending firewood, every six weeks.

Young men and women were the carriers of the commodities to Denkyira States around Mampong and Nsuta were sending red clay to Denkyira every Akwasidae.

States around Dwaben were sending plantain fibre and the remaining states were sending firewood, every six weeks.

Young men and women were the carriers of the commodities to Denkyira At Denkyira, the young men were made to weed round the outskirts of the capital, Abankeseso, to keep the area clean.

The young women were made to sweep the streets of the capital.

In addition, the men of Denkyira could have sex with the young women of Asante sent to serve Whether they were married to other men or not.  It was no crime because the people of Denkyira were the masters of the land and the people of Asante were their servants.

Therefore they thought it a blessing if the Asante girls became pregnant with the men of Denkyira Since they were going to give birth to babies with Royal blood, who would be fit to occupy the stools in Asante.

These were the grievances of all the Asante States Chiefs who were at the meeting called by Nana Obiri Yeboah, Chief of Kwaman. Some of the Chiefs supported the idea of unity among Asante States, some expressed problems and fear

The first of the problems was the question of the one to be head. Most of them were of the same status, commanding number of towns and people. WHO THEN WAS TO BE THE OVERLORD?

The next point was; "Giving power to one person to Lord it over the". They were not prepared to kow-tow to others.

The third point was, how their ancestors who would come to them on the solemn days like Akwasidae, would be served. Here the debate was the type of food to be served if all their tools were sent to the Paramount Chief elect.

After a lengthy discussion, they agreed to form a loose confederation in which each state would be independent in all matters except defence. 

Yɛnhwɛ deɛ ɛbɛsi ɛɛ


They decided to appoint a war leader who would gather them together to fight to defend themselves if any of the other Akan states around them invaded any of their towns.

Nana Obiri Yeboah, Chief of Kwaman was chosen to be the war leader. Who will gather them in case of war. The confederation had hardly gained roots when Dormaa Bono State which was living at Suntreso at that time,  on hearing the impending unity, took arms and defeated them state by state.

Nana Obiri Yeboah met his death as a result of sword wounds inflicted on him during the war. According to oral tradition,  other Chiefs who met their death in the same war were: Dwamena Akenten of Offinso and Okomfo Yamoa.

This defeat taught the Asante  States a great lesson; they therefore decided to form a stronger union to enable them stand any future aggression. 



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