Asante Nation Under Otumfoɔ Mensa Bonsu (1874-1883)

ABAKƆSƐM BRƐ: ASANTE NATION UNDER OTUMFOƆ MENSA BONSU (1874 - 1883).

(11th Occupant of The Golden Stool)

Otumfoɔ Kofi Kaakari was succeeded by Otumfoɔ Osei Mensa Bonsu in the year (1874). Probably, this is the first ever photo taken of an Asantehene.

His main objective on his enstoolment was to restore the Asante Nation to its former glory and status. To do this he planned first to get the states which had broken back to the fold.

His first target was to get Dwaben (Juaben) back to back into the fold. He discovered that Dwaben had been joined by Asokore, Nsuta, Effiduase and Oyoko. He therefore explored all avenues at his disposal to get them back in a peaceful way. After all such efforts had failed, he took arms. 

States like Kokofu, Bekwai, and Asumegya joined Kumase state to subdue Dwaben. According to W. Claridge, the war was fierce but Dwaben ran out of gun powder after three days of heavy fighting and was defeated. This was on 3rd November, 1875.

Asafo Agyei, the chief of Dwaben and his men broke away and found refuge with the Akyems where they founded New Dwaben, Asokore, Oyoko, Effiduase and Dwumaapo (Jumapo) in Koforidua. He and his people were told to live there peacefully, but in 1877 the government detected that Asafo Agyei and some coastal chiefs had planned to fight the Asante Nation to pave way for Dwabens in exile to come back to their own land. 

The Governor, Sandford Freeling heard of of the plan and sent messengers to warn Asafo Agyei to desist from those threats. When the Governor found out that Asafo Agyei did not heed to his warning, he deported him to Lagos.

Nana Mensa Bonsu reigned from 1874 to 1883. Because of what happened to Asante Nation as a result of the war in 1874 war, Nana Mensa Bonsu resolved never to have any open confrontation with the British. He also decided to find peaceful ways of winning back the states which had broken away from the Asante Nation.

He realised that his moves to get the other states back to the Kingdom was supported by the other Asante States. After the Dwaben war he made Gyaman and other states his next target. However, his dislike for war created annoyance among a section of the Kumase people who were warlike.

They realised that the British were victorious in the 1874 war because they used a superior so they procured some of the superior rifles and engaged a German adventurer named Neilson to train them and a corps of Hausa troops they had engaged. Their main aim was to wait for a chance when they could sort it out with the British.

It was at that particular time that a neighboring tribe attacked Banda people. They sought protection from the Gyaman state. The Gyamans gave them land on which to stay. However, the Bandas realised their mistake in bargaining their independence for protection and wanted to transfer their allegiance to Asante even though they were still occupying the Gyaman land.

This led to trouble between the two states and gave the war party in Kumase a chance to bring both Banda and Gyaman states back into the kingdom through the might of the gun. However, Nana Mensa Bonsu,insisting on his vow of no confrontation with the British sent to ask for the Governor's advice. 

This latest move by him made the war party and some of the chiefs angry and therefore they destooled him. They were disappointed that he couldn't be a warrior like Otumfoɔ Osei Asibe Bonsu whom he was named after. Other charges levelled against him were imposing heavy fines for small offences and also being lustful.

Piawwwww!!!

This is how we wrap up tonight's class.

However, tomorrow we will bring to you the detailed history between the Kumasi State and Dwaben State. And what brought the feud between the two that brought about their migration to the Eastern Region.

Our next class comes off on Wednesday.

All your questions are warmly welcome.

Goodnight Abusuafoɔ.

Piawwwww!!

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