Was Asante Slave traders?

Was ASANTE Slave traders?

Well, I'm aware of the propaganda, but that of the British (European) didn't specify Asante, they presented it as "your own people sold you to us, so don't blame us". And considering the fact that, slaves were being assembled and transported along the African coast, from Mauritania to Angola, no one ethnic group could be specified as the sole perpetrator.
This, Asante being the perpetrators of slave trade, is an indigenous Ghanaian creation, when in the 1970s, some people started their attempt to rewrite the history of Ghana, where Asante would be, at best insignificant, but preferably subdued. It gained traction in the 1980s and 90s when those people were the authorities on all issues in Ghana. For some of us in the diaspora since the beginning of the 1980s, we were sometimes rudely shocked when in Pan-African settings we were confronted with such nonsense (excuse my Swahili), and on top of it all, the source was supposed to have come from Ghana. Instead of getting angry or feeling guilty, we engaged in discussions and debates to analytically prove how silly it would be, for anybody to single out one ethnic group in Africa as the slave traders. 
1. No ethnic group existing at that time could claim innocence, because most slaves were captured during wars and it was a situation of eat or be eaten.
2. The transatlantic slave trade started somewhere in the 1400s, but came into full force around 1526 and ended between 1845 and 1859. Asante, on the other hand, was founded in 1701, so who was plying that trade for the over 175 years before Asante came into existence?
3. There were no motor vehicles at that time, and Asantes are not known for any equestrian expertise, so how were they able walk all the way to places like Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, etc, singlehandedly round up the strong men, march them all the way to the coast and sell them to the Europeans? Is this plausible?
4. Were the Asantes so powerful that, they were able to walk all the way southeast to Angola and northwest to Mauritania to capture slaves to sell to the Europeans?
5. The Europeans lived in their forts and castles along the coast, and Asantes didn't live there, but inland, so does it mean those Africans living on the coast at that time with the Europeans didn't do anything, and were just spectators?
6. Bottomline, all existing ethnic groups at that time were in one way or another, and at one time or another involved, by selling war captives and sometimes some unwanted social miscreants to the Europeans. 

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