Colonial invasion in Africa seems to have steered significant impacts that, to date, most states have not recovered from. Ahanta, a state in present-day Ghana, is one such example. Inhabitants from the region say that they lost their value and sense of identity since colonial encroachment and are regarded as a minority ethnic group.
They have lost their social, political, and economic relevance in Ghana. Matters on the development in Ghana are inclusive of everyone else except them. It is like they have nothing to offer on the table socially, politically, and economically. The Ahantas have even lost their identity in Sekondi-Takoradi, relegated and left to feed on leftovers as if they are some second-class citizens.
It is rather unfortunate that they no longer have control of their culture, let alone the rejection. However, despite the unending challenges, some Ahantas are optimistic there is still room for change. They can still undo what has been done. And although colonial invasion may be the current cause of the mystery in Ahanta, the people are partly to blame.
A ten-year survey on the Ahanta, trying to fill the missing links, tracing their roots, unveils some mysteries that seem not to add up. Some of the findings are entirely mind-blowing, especially when comparing the ancient and present state of Ahanta. Clearly, the present Ahantas seem to fail their fore-fathers, and so will the future generations.
Who Are the Ahanta?
Sources believe that the Ahanta were part of the Akan waves, believed to have migrated from old Ghana through Bono around 1229. They crossed the Pra river during their journey with their leader, who many believed possed whimsical powers. They decided to settle between Pra and Ankobra rivers and organized themselves into chiefdoms. Besides, they had a king who lived at Owulosua, which changed to Owusua.
Between 1300 and 1400, the Ahantas had mobilized themselves into a mighty army. They had built a territory along with Pra and Ankobra, stretching down the Atlantic Ocean, from Shama to Axim and beyond. The people lived so happily and worked together, promoting the growth of their territory and popularity.
How Did Ahanta Become So Poor?
The downfall of the Ahantas is quite a sensitive topic. In the days, Ahantas lived in glory and riches, enjoying lifestyles many could only wish for but not achieve. Nevertheless, things took a turn when the Europeans arrived in their land, encroaching it to their advantage, completely disintegrating it, and leaving them to suffer in poverty.
However, other African tribes which underwent the same fate seemed to have recovered and moved on. They reunited, formed allies, strengthened their political, social, and economic ties. To date, their collective responsibility contributes to their well-being. Meanwhile, the Ahantas are still soaked in tears, nursing the fractures left by the colonial invaders. As the colonial error is no more, it’s time for the Ahantas to recollect themselves and rebuild their tribe. Time awaits no man, as before one realizes, so much happens.
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How Did it All Start?
It all started in the early 1600s when the Ahantas interacted with the Dutch colonials. At that time, the Dutch appeared harmless, seeking friendship ties with the people of Ahanta. Convinced that the white man had pure intentions, the Ahanta established friendly relations with the Dutch, teaching them their culture and showing them their land and resources. However, they did not know that the Europeans came to Africa searching for riches to salvage their collapsing nations.
Driven by greed and desire to own the Ahanta, the Dutch started plotting ways to eliminate the people. It was not long before the ally parties became enemies. The Ahanta chiefs and the Dutch started attacking each other. The Dutch were well-armed, as they carried with them riffles. During one of the attacks, Badu Bonso II, an Ahanta chief, succumbed. He was among the Ahanta royals that the Dutch assassinated. Several other Ahanta royals were taken to the Dutch Indies, where they were enslaved and made to work in the sugar plantations.
The Dutch took control of the entire Ahanta, ferried their troops to the land, completely laying it under siege. As such, for over ten years, Ahanta had no King. The Dutch military was the sovereign body. The events which preceded the death of Badu Bonso II remain historical to the people of Ahanta. The Dutch colonials raided his palace, killed him and his forces, stole the gold dust stored in the palace, treasures, chieftaincy regalias, precious stones, and jewelry belonging to the King and the queen.
Badu’s death was instigated y the rumors that his palace held so much gold dust. Verveer, a Dutch general, was in charge of the Dutch soldiers the day Bado died. After stealing everything, the colonials destroyed Apemenyim. The latter was the primary source of gold and the Kingdom’s wealth during those times. The invaders also lit towns like Busua and Takoradi, reducing them to reins.
What Did the European Explorers Think of Ahanta?
While recent day Ahantas continue to reminisce their forefathers’ pains and agonies in the colonials’ hands, their status in the community continues to deteriorate. However, despite the damage, the Ahantas credit the Dutch for living behind the pieces of literature and records of the actual state of Ahanta before their invasion. The records remind the current Ahanta generations that their land was once filled with milk and honey.
As such, the facts are an affirmation of what the Ahanta forefathers kept saying about Ahanta. Bosman, a Dutch explorer, is one of the Europeans who recorded his encounter with Ahanta during his expedition. Bosman had toured Ahanta around the 17th century. Douchez, F. (1839), Tengbergen, H.F. (1839), and Van Dantzig, Albert (2013) are some of the recent European sources on their encounter with Ahanta.
The early European explorers who came to Ahanta described their King as a man who wore gold clothes and sat on gold. They also said that the King was a man of honor and attended only special occasions, festivals, and gatherings. He seldom presented himself to the public. They also stated that the King lived in a palace near the sea, which had many whales.
To date, the King’s palace is still in Busua, and the Ahantas tend to believe they came into existence from the whale’s mouth. Although the theory is mythical, it shows why the titles of the Ahanta kings suffice with Bonso. The latter means a whale, known to be an enormous creature in both sea and land.
The Europeans also described the King as the giver of life, i.e., he had the power to grant life and death. For instance, if the King forgave you, you would serve in the palace for many years, and on the grand day of the festival, you would return to your people. And if the King condemned you to death, then you would be executed in an execution square, then bring your head to the King as proof.
The act of decapitating was to ensure that the executioners strictly abide by the King’s orders. Alternatively, when the King spoke, no one would dare challenge him, for it was a taboo. Hence anyone who disrespected the King was put to death.
The Dutch explorers also mentioned that the Ahanta had a unique way of celebrating their festivals. Occasionally they would dance and sound their drums at night, which during the day, the people were prohibited from making noise. They believed that their ancestors visited them during the day with fortunes to have a good harvest in the coming years.
Within the year, the Ahanta made numerous sacrifices to appease their gods and ancestors. They also organized grand festivals where chiefs and the people from all villages would gather at the King’s palace’s square to pay tribute. Their King would then sit in public and receive gifts brought to him from all the villages. The grand festival would last for a month, accompanied by endless celebrations. After the end of the celebrations, the people would return to their respective villages.
In terms of beauty, Ahanta had one of the best sceneries. The explorers described the Ahanta rivers and streams as being covered with gold dust. The Europeans referred to all Akan states as having gold in abundance.
The Akan states’ history and gold are traced to the golden Kingdom of Kush through the Old Ghana empire, where the Akans were famous gold traders. Therefore, Ahanta couldn’t be any distinct from the other Akan states. Ahanta was a state rich in gold until the European colonialists showed up, stole everything leaving the Kingdom in tattered penury.
Currently, Ahanta is left in shambles, with rifted chieftaincy and political fronts. The misery in Ahanta continues to surge as the people fail to figure suitable resolutions. Nevertheless, it is not too late as Ahanta can still come back when the people reunite and focus on rebuilding their territory.
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