Akan Cultural Symbols Project 

 

AKAN OHENE - THE AKAN CHIEF (KING)


Mpomponsu sword bearer. This sword (in the bearer's left hand) is used by Asantehene to swear the oath of office and it used by the other Asante chiefs to swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene

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The Asante Golden Stool (Sika Adwa)

 

 

In Akan political organization, there are the abusua panyin (head of the family/clan), odekuro (village or town chief), the ohene (a sub-chief), and the omanhene (chief of the state).  A quick review of the literature reflects the importance of the stool in the indigenous Akan political system. There is abusua adwa (family stool) as well as ohene adwa (king's stool). The stool is the most important of the king's regalia; as matter of fact, the term "stool" means chieftancy. When a person becomes a king, he is said to be enstooled in the office and he is the one "who sits on the stool" and when he dies in office, it is said the "stool has fallen."


This stool symbol - akokobaatan (mother hen) depicts the role of the king as a parent that provides sustenance, care and protection and security for his children.

 

The stools of kings who proved to be great leaders are blackened as a method of preserving the stools. These blackened stools are kept in the temple of stools (nkonnuafieso - Twi or nkonguadan - Fantse) as symbolic memorial and shrine of the great ancestors.


 

 

 

AKAN CULTURAL SYMBOLS PROJECT

Date last edited: 02/27/2004