ASANTE NATION UNDER OTUMFOƆ KOFI KAKARI -(1867-1874).

ABAKƆSƐM BRƐ: ASANTE NATION UNDER OTUMFOƆ KOFI KAKARI - (1867-1874)
(10th Occupant of the Golden Stool)
Otumfoɔ Kofi Kakari succeeded Otumfoɔ Kwaku Dua l. During his installation he swore to his people that his main objective was war. It was therefore interesting that there was war throughout his reign. 

According to oral tradition the Asante Nation had renewed their old alliance with the Akwamu before he was enstooled, therefore when trouble broke out between the Akwamu people and the Krepis, he was called by his friends the Akwamu people to come to their help.

This happened in 1868. He had not been on the stool for even one year when he was called to undertake the assignment, yet he did. It was in the war that the Asantes captured Rev. Ramseyer and his wife and took them to Kumase. The help given to the people of Akwamu, cemented the ties between the two nations.
After the Krepi war, Otumfoɔ Kofi Kakari decided to subdue the coastal states. He therefore took arms for his expedition in December, 1872. His forces attacked the forces of Assin in February, 1873 at Assin Nyankomase. The Assin forces found the going very hard and they retreated to Fante Nyankomase where the combined forces of the coast made up principally of Fantes, Denkyiras and British forces at the coast had gathered. 

The combined forces were defeated by the Asante forces. They reassembled at Jukwa where another fierce battle was fought. The Asante forces again took the day.

That was the fifth battle between the coastal forces backed by the British and Asante Nation.
This defeat was a big blow to the British because apart from diminishing the confidence the coastal states had in the government, constant raids by the Asantes were regarding progress in trade and administration.

The Governor and his men decided that to quell the Asante menace once and for all, they had to get trained soldiers who could meet the Asante forces on Asante soil and defeat them there. The British government endorsed the idea and appointed Sir Garnet Wolseley to undertake the expedition. 

According to Ward, when Sir Garnet Wolseley arrived in the Gold Coast, he immediately called Soldiers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia for the Assignment. The number of Soldiers sent to him was not sufficient so he called for more men from Britain.

The Asante forces were still at the Coast and had defeated the coastal forces five times. When Sir Garnet Wolseley asked the Fantes to give him some men for the assignment, they reluctantly agreed to offer some men because they realised that in 1863 they relied on the British for defence but they were totally defeated by the Asantes. In their current war too, despite the help by the British, they had been defeated again, therefore there was no hope.

Rather, they would prefer to leave the Asante forces alone till they returned to their homes rather than engage them in another encounter. Such an encounter might claim many more casualties.

According to W.E Ward, two thousand, five hundred men volunteered to join the forces from Sierra Leone, Gambia and Jamaica, the total was four thousand men. He realised that the number must be increased so he again appealed to the British government and three batallions of men were sent to him.

To restore confidence in the Fantes and to prove that they were then on the offensive, Sir Garnet Wolseley sent some troops to Elmina to fight the Asante forces occupying the town. They made a surprise attack on them and defeated them.

The Asante forces, after defeating the coastal coastal forces five times, had remained at the Coast. Though they had wanted to return to their homes, they had not been giving the order to return. The rainy season had started and many of them had been attack by small pox. 

When at last the order for their return came, they were attacked on their return journey by some forces from Sir Garnet Wolseley's camp and if their great and experienced warrior, Asamoa Nkwanta, had not arrive on the scene, the returning forces would have suffered a great defeat. 

Oral tradition has it that he led the returning troops to drive Sir Garnet Wolseley's troops away. He was therefore honoured with the title, 'Srafo Kra' (Soldiers' soul deliverer).

According to Claridge, the Asante forces finally reached their homeland but lost as many as 20,000 men through sickness and fighting.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II. The Pillar Behind the Africa Home Coming. THE YEAR OR RETURN 2019 GHANA. Many hundred years ago, there was in Africa Enslavement of people onto other parts of the world. The great ancestors of Africa descents who became victims of the then inhuman atrocities have lived on physically and spiritual till today at all the places they were brought. Most of them decided not to forget their roots and worked strenuously toward their repatriation back to AFRICA. There are great men whose names were made mentioned towards fighting for exploitations, freedom, and justice during the enslavement . The slavery caused a lot of divisions among the Black People home and abroad and till today there are sometimes misunderstandings and blame games. Our great Grandfathers and Mothers who stood above blames and pointing fingers, fought relentlessly to foster unity among fellow black people to hold on to their integrity. There are many of such great people in Jamaica like; •Paul Bogle (...
Read more
Isn’t it sad, how some Ghanaians will go and form queues as early as 2am to 5pm to vote for NPP and NDC only to come and complain of lack of development when they see Otumfuo as if they saw Otumfuo’s picture on the ballot paper? Isn’t it funny how these Ghanaians will shower praises on their politicians, hailing them “honourable honourable” and after they’ve given powers to these politicians, they will use their taxes to buy huge mansions and palaces for their girlfriends, takes them for shopping at Dubai and save in Swiss banks, they won’t complain, they will keep quiet only to complain when they see Otumfuo performing his ceremonial duties as if Manhyia Palace is the headquarters of Ghana Revenue Authority? Isn’t it laughable, that these party foot-soldiers and party defenders will defend their non-performing political parties and politicians only to come and complain of lack of skyscrapers when they see the image of Otumfuo as if they pay their taxes to Manhyia Palace? Isn’t this a ...
Read more

ASANTE JUABEN AND NEW JUABEN (Koforidua) RELATION.

ASANTE DWABEN AND NEW DWABEN (Koforidua) RELATION. Asante Dwaben (Juaben) is one of the five Asanteman Piesie Nnum (Amantuonum of Asante): Kokofu, Nsuta, Kwaeman/Kumase, Mampon, and Dwaben. These are viewed as the core of Asanteman.  Asumenya, Bekwai and Offinso receive very honourable mention. It was these states and their people who joined together in a Confederation to form ASANTEMAN in 1701. Their unity was cemented by the defeat of their common foe and overlord, Ntim Gyakari and the Dankyira nation at Feyiase. Osei Tutu Opemsuo became the first Asantehene (Monarch of Asante). Prophet Okomfo Anokye provided the religious and spiritual underpinning/glue of the new Asante nation by commanding the SIKADWA (Golden Stool) from [the sky] to serve as the unifying agent and symbol of authority for the new Nation. Thus, was born the Three (3) Asante Trinity: SIKADWA; OTUMFUO ASANTEHENE; and ASANTEMAN. Dwaben is a member of the Asante matri-clan called Oyoko, members of which also incl...
Read more