Historian and legal expert Yaw Anokye Frimpong has provided insights into the origins of the illustrious Ashanti Kingdom.
In an interview with the media on October 17, 2023, Anokye Frimpong explained that the Ashanti Kingdom has its roots in the Bono tribe.
According to him, a coalition of clans within the Bono tribe joined forces to defend themselves against attacks from other clans, culminating in the formation of the Ashanti Kingdom.
“Ashanti is simply one of the many Akan states that originated from the Bono area. All Akans are Bono people to start with, and among the Bono are those who broke away and went to unite because of war,” he explained.
“Asante means ‘those who united because of war’. Ashantis is an anglicisation of Asante, which means because of war,” he said.
Anokye Frimpong clarified that the Ashanti people did not break away with the ambition of conquering other territories but rather to secure their independence.
He pointed out that the Dormaa people, now residing in the Bono Region, used to live in close proximity to the Ashanti and were also engaged in hostilities with them.
“When the Ashanti people settled in the Amansiaa area – today between Esumaja and Bekwai – they were living among the Adansi people and the Denkyira people. And we learn from history that the Dankyiras actually conquered all of them.
“And we learn from history that at any point in time, the Dankyirahene was asking them for their favourite wife and gold… the Dormaa people were as attacking them… So, the Ashantis (the Amansia people) felt they had to come together because of the many wars against them,” he said.