Asantehene

List of rulers of Asante

List of rulers of Asante

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The Asantehene is the title for the monarch of the historical Ashanti Empire as well as the ceremonial ruler of the Ashanti people today. The Ashanti royal house traces its line to the Oyoko (an Abusua, or "clan") Abohyen Dynasty of Nana Twum and the Bretuo Dynasty of Osei Tutu Opemsoo, who formed the Empire of Ashanti in 1701 and was crowned Asantehene (King of all Asante).[1] Osei Tutu held the throne until his death in battle in 1717, and was the sixth king in Ashanti royal history.[2]

Quick Facts King of Asante, Incumbent ...

The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people. The Asantehene is traditionally enthroned on a golden stool known as the Sika 'dwa, and the office is sometimes referred to by this name.[3] The Asantehene is also the titular ruler of Kumasi, which served as the capital of the Ashanti Empire and today, the Ashanti Region. The Ashanti Empire comprised parts of present-day southern Ghana and portions of present-day eastern Côte d'Ivoire between the 17th and 20th centuries.[3][4]

The current Asantehene is Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, born Nana Kwaku Dua, who ascended as the 16th Asante king in April 1999. Osei Tutu II was one of seven descendants who were eligible to the heir presumptive.[5]

Elections and regents

During the period between the death of an Asantehene and the election of a successor, the Mamponghene, the Asantehene's deputy, acts as a regent.[1] This policy was only changed during a time of civil war in the late 19th century, when the Kwasafomanhyiamu or governing council itself ruled as regent.[1] The succession is decided by a series of councils of Asante nobles and other royal family members.[1]

The colonial era and Asante independence

Map of Ashantiland (1st left) and the Kingdom of Ashanti (2nd left) and Ashanti Region (2nd right) with its administrative districts (1st right)

The Ashanti Confederacy was made a British protectorate in 1902, and the office of Asantehene was discontinued. In 1926, the British permitted the repatriation of Prempeh I – whom they had exiled to the Seychelles in 1896[6][7] – and allowed him to adopt the title Kumasehene, but not Asantehene. However, in 1935, the British finally granted the Ashanti moderated self-rule as the Kingdom of Ashanti, and the title of Asantehene was revived.[8]

On 6 March 1957, the Kingdom of Ashanti and the Northern Territories, the Gold Coast Crown Colony and the British Mandate of Togoland to form the modern state of Ghana. The office of Asantehene is now a sub-national constitutional monarchy, and is protected by the Ghanaian constitution.[further explanation needed]

List of rulers

All rulers in the lists below were members of the Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty.

Kwaamanhene of the Kwaaman State

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Kumasehene of the Kumaseman State

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Asantehene of the Kingdom of Ashanti (Ashanti Empire)

All regents were members of the Bretuo Dynasty who were and still are the holders of the title Mamponghene.

Upon the death of the Asantehene, it is the task of the Mamponghene to act as the regent, or Awisiahene.[9]

More information Name, Reign ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Shillington, History of Africa, p. 195.
  2. [2]
    Collins and Burns (2007), p. 140.
  3. [3]
    Asante empire, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  4. [4]
    History of the Asante Empire Archived 13 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Ashanti Australia. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  5. [5]
    Kingdom of Asante Kings And Queens Of Asante Archived 30 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. GhanaToGhana. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  6. [6]
    "The Exile of Prempeh in the Seychelles" Archived 23 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Kreol International Magazine. 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  7. [7]
    "Asantehene to visit Seychelles", Modern Ghana, 5 July 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  8. [8]
    Ashanti.com.au Archived 13 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  9. [9]
    Ashanti knowledge. GhanaWeb. Retrieved 12 November 2012.

Further reading

  • Robert B. Edgerton, 1995, The Fall of the Asante Empire. The Hundred-Year War for Africa's Gold Coast. New York: The Free Press. ISBN 0-02-908926-3
  • Alan Lloyd, 1964, The Drums of Kumasi, London: Panther.
  • Ernest E. Obeng, 1986, Ancient Ashanti Chieftaincy, Ghana Publishing Corporation. ISBN 9964-1-0329-8
  • Kevin Shillington, 1995 (1989), History of Africa, New York: St. Martin's Press.
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