474:(or vice-king) has to do it. He is the first son of the king. He also protects the king, his father, with each king deciding whether to give the title to his literal son or to a close favourite. He also enjoys the authority of arriving in a palanquin after the Asantehene is seated; he alone has that authority to do so. He is also the head of all the Kumasi royals. Otumfuo Opoku Ware (Katakyie) created this title. Usually the first sons of the kings are the ones that ascend this stool. He is also the head of the Kyidom clan (Fekuo). Due to the matrilineal system of inheritance, sons do not automatically succeed their fathers as kings. Kings are by and large selected from among the sons of the deceased king's close female relations. This title is therefore a convenient means of ennobling a king's son without upsetting the royal succession.
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malcontents from the town.When the chief and the sub chiefs decide that the a particular resident should no longer live in the when the town. It is the
Tufohene who enforces that decision. The Tufohene is therefore is linked to the Police Commander or the state attorney in his duties.He procecuites all those who fail to participate communal labour;the general welfare of the town is his responsibility.ln time of war,he keeps all war plans implemented. Tufohene is the chief of the gunners. Tufohene's position is very common among Akuapem and Fanti's. In Ashanti the full word is Atuntufouhene.Nana Boakye Dankwa,the father of Otumfuo Osei Tutu l,was the first Tufuhene of Ashanti Confederacy.
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royal descent and their contribution to the royal family. Mostly the lineage and order of birth is given a paramount consideration in the selection process. Although found in other traditions, the position of
Obaatan does not fit into the Akan chieftaincy structure proper. The one who suggests and nominates the Omanhene amongst the Akans is the Obaahemaa (or Queen mother).
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of a town, except that his office is hereditary as opposed to elective. The chiefs have their own territories, and apart from overseeing them, they have a function at the courts of their paramount chiefs as their ministers. Most of the functions are traditional, while some have been created recently:
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Obaatan means "parent" and is a female role. Her symbol is the egg, out of which all other chiefs came. She is
Omanhene's counsellor. When Omanhene's stool is vacant, Obaatan suggests the next incumbent. She is expected to consider all factors such as the character of the available candidates, their
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The jewellery is very ample and used to be made of gold. Nowadays, most chiefs wear imitation gold. The head-dress usually takes the form of a crown. It can be made of metal or of black velvet, ornamented with metal. Chiefs have traditional sandals, and the wearing of sandals is symbolic for them.
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can relate to the rank of a paramount queen, a queen or a sub-queen. The Akan honorific is the same as for the men, "Nana". When using
English, Ghanaians often say "queen mother". This woman is not necessarily the respective chief's mother, although she is usually related to him. Her role in the
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The
Nkosuohene is responsible for the development of the region. The Nkosuohene was created to honor someone who does not have to be a member of a royal family. Created by the Ashanti, a small number of selected foreigners have been honored with this title which appreciates the contribution of
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companies and the defense minister (or head of the gunners). Tufohene translates loosely in Akan as 'the chief of the gunners'The chief heads several activities in the town.He enforces all by-laws made by the chief and his sub chiefs.He enforces all customs and he is the chief who expels all
182:). In colonial times, Europeans translated it as "chief", but that is not an exact equivalent. Other sources speak of "kings", which is also not entirely correct, especially in the case of the said courtiers. The term "chief" has become common even among modern
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themselves would be
Custodians of the Chieftaincy until a relevant male from the Royal Household is chosen as chief. This and the position of Obaapanin or Queen are the only ones that are obtained through descent from the ruling clan.
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system is to have an eye on the social conditions, and a personally capable Queen mother has been known to equal or even surpass a reigning chief in terms of power and prestige. A good example of this happening is the case of Queen
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The
Nsumankwahene watches the oracle. This title is also a relatively recent creation. The Nsumankwahene is a spiritual head of the community/communities. In the past it was the chief priest who performed this role.
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The
Mankrado's function is purification. He puts leaves into water, then sprinkles it over the Omanhene. He also always has salt in his pocket so that he can make things taste better for the Omanhene.
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is the feminine version of Ohene and means Queen or female ruler. However
Henewaa or Heneba (with the feminine suffix wa or ba) is sometimes used for CHILD of a Chief (M or FM)..
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The ceremonial short sword is used for animal sacrifice. The chief touches the animal's throat symbolically with his sword before someone else cuts it with a sharp knife.
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There is also a stool wife. No matter whether a chief is married or not, when installed, he will be married to a very young girl. Having a stool wife is obligatory, and
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Instead of a throne, Akan chiefs traditionally sit on a stool. When they die, their stools are painted black and stored in a sacred room. This sacred room is called
229:. There are also Regional Houses of Chiefs. In case of problems between the chiefs, the House of Chiefs has a legal function to adjudicate in such matters.
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Chieftaincy is officially accepted. Politicians ask chiefs for advice because usually they are closer to the people. The highest committee is the
National
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is still legal in Ghana. Today, the symbolic act of marriage is sufficient, however. During parades, a stool wife sits in front of the chief.
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The title of the Guantuahene is a comparatively recent innovation. The Guantoahene is the one to whom people can turn for shelter and mercy.
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He collects the soldiers who are left behind and sends them back to the army. During Odambea, the Nkyidom always sits in the last palanquin.
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On special occasions, chiefs wear the traditional cloth, which is a six-yard-long piece of fabric, wrapped around the body and worn as a
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Very large umbrellas made of silk and other rich fabrics are used to shade a chief and show from afar that a chief is approaching.
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had already long used the chieftaincy system. The paramount chief held a position that can be compared to that of an
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The Benkumhene holds the left flank of the army's formation (also in modern governance known as the left wing).
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There are four positions describing military flanks. The Adontehene is the one who goes in front of the army.
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The roots of Akan chieftaincy are unknown, and written sources are scarce. When the Akan were settling in
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535:). Traditionally, the priest tells the chief when it is time to start a war or to marry, for example.
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means one who stays at home or does not go anywhere. The Ankobeahene is the caretaker of the palace.
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and decides political and economic questions in his area. When he is installed, he receives a
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Ranked below the Paramount chief are the sub-chiefs. A sub-chief can be compared to the
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An Akan stool believed to be for a Queen mother, 1940–1965, in the collection of the
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was founded in 1957, it was agreed that the chieftaincy system should be respected.
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The Krontihene is caretaker of the land and second-in-command after the Omanhene.
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is the general title for native city-state rulers in Akan culture. Historically,
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As there is not much written information, oral sources have to be quoted:
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During a durbar, which is a special parade, some chiefs are carried in a
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have developed their own hierarchy, which exists alongside the
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The Nifahene holds the right flank of the army's formation.
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Mr. Anthony Alick Eghan, Yamoransa (Central Region, Ghana)
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the most common title for the King is the singular form of
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attached. The name becomes the new chief's stool name.
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word for the ruler or one of his various courtiers is "
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The Asafohene is the head of a single Asafo company.
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in the other. The fly-whisk is made of animal hair.
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If there is anything to distribute or to share, the
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758:Kofi Owusu Yeboah, Ejisu-Onwe (Ashanti Region)
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120:Learn how and when to remove this message
735:The Akan of Ghana: Their Ancient Beliefs
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385:The "warlord" is the head of all the
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803:Ancient Ashanti Chieftancy
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588:The title of Queen mother
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805:, Tema, Ghana, 1986
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380:Tufohene
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330:Omanhene
276:A chief
110:May 2016
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