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history outline - literature - chieftaincy

 

History Outline

 

It is very difficult to find reliable information about Fante history and the history of Nkusukum Traditional area. Oral history plays an important role and written sources are rare.

The migration of the Fante people is reflected in the Odambea festival. There are a lot of myths concerning  the origin of this people. All those myths have their essence and are important for tradition, but they should be clearly separated from the facts.

This website wants to compile both myths and facts, clearly distinguished from each other. Contributions are very welcome.

 

The text is based on the literature enumerated under "literature". Information for the paragraph "Yamoransa"  comes from Mr. Anthony Eghan, Yamoransa.

     
 

Nkusukum Traditional Area

 
     
Most of the inhabitants of today's Nuksukum Area are part of the Fante people. The Fante belong together with Ashanti and others to the Akan group. In between the Fanti settlements, there are settlements of other peoples, like for example the Etsi and the Asebu.

Etsi and Asebu had been settling in that region before the Fante came.

     
     
 

Origins of the Fante

 
     
  Around 1300, the Fante had separated from the rest of the Akan people and settled in Mankessim. They came from Tekyiman, today Brong-Ahafo-Region. It is uncertain how long the Akan settled in Tekyiman and where they had come from before.

From Tekyiman to the coast, there were many different migration movements throughout the centuries.

 
     
     
 

Settlement in Nkusukum

 
     
  From Mankessim, the Fante spread to different parts of today's Central Region, defeated the peoples they found there and settled. Mankessim became seat of the Omanhene (Paramount Chief) of Nkusukum.

Today, Mankessim is split into two paramountcies: The Omanhene of Mankessim Traditional Area has his seat in Mankessim. Nkusukum Amanase-Mankessim (also part of the town of Mankessim, market area), is seat of the Nkusukum Obaatan. The seat of the Nkusukum Omanhene had been transferred to Yamoransa.

Yamoransa was not the last place of the migration. Migrants belonging to the Twidan family moved from Yamoransa into the direction of Takoradi. They are living today in a town called Aboransa, near Komenda.

 
     
     
 

Yamoransa

 
     
  The first chief in Yamoransa after the migration from Tekyiman was Okumko I, followed by Okumko II and III. The third Okumko was a very powerful chief.

With Nana Essandoh I, the first Omanhene was installed in Yamoransa. Essandoh IV alias Kojo Attah, was destooled and went to live in the north, still trying to influence Nkusukum people. Essandoh V alias Kweku Nkrumah destooled himself. The next ruler was again Kojo Attah under the stoolname of Essandoh VI. He was a very dynamic and powerful person. The seventh Essandoh alias Kobbina Otu was installed in the 1970ies. He was the one who brought Odambea back to life. After his death, their were litigations and a long vacancy.

The present Omanhene, Nana Okese Essandoh, was installed in the 1990ies.