Asafo are traditional warrior groups in Akan culture, based on lineal descent. The word derives from , meaning war, and , meaning people. The traditional role of the Asafo companies was defence of the state. As the result of contact with European colonial powers on the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana), the Fante, who inhabit the coastal region, developed an especially complex version of the concept in terms of its social and political organization based on martial principles, and with elaborate traditions of visual art, including flag banners with figurative scenes, and designs alluding to historical events or proverbs.

Asafo societies on the Gold Coast

Elmina

In Elmina, Asafo companies emerged in the early 18th century out of the

wards Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a priso ...

of Elmina that had existed since at least the 17th century. The omission of a description of Asafo companies in Willem Bosman's (1703) leads Harvey Feinberg to the conclusion that these companies could not have been very important by that date. This changed in the first quarter of the 18th century, when the original three wards had been complemented by four new wards consisting of new immigrant groups to Elmina. In 1724, when the Dutch needed the help of the Elminese to oust

John Canoe John Canoe, also known as January Conny, (died circa 1725) was the European name given to an Akan people, Akan warrior from Axim, Ghana. He was a chief of the Ahanta people in the early 18th century, who established a stronghold in the defunct Fo ...

from

Fort Groß Friedrichsburg Princes Town or Pokesu is located 5 km east of Fort St. Antonio on Manfro Hill in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region of south Ghana. It lies between Axim to the west and Sekondi-Takoradi to the east. On 1 January 1681, a Br ...

, they organized the wards into rank order, with each ward having a number and an established military formation. It was this occasion that gave rise to the domination of Asafo companies in the socio-political life of Elmina, and of the 10 Asafo companies existing today, seven are mentioned in 1724: *No. 1 (also ) *No. 2 (also ) *No. 3 (also ) *No. 4 (previously , ) *No. 5 (also ) *No. 6 (also , ) *No. 7 All companies were headed by a , and each one of them had its own flag., Chapter 2: . The Asafo companies were ranked in reverse order of importance. Asafo company No. 7 is supposed to be the company of the founder of Elmina, Kwa Amankwaa. This company still elects the King of Elmina, who must either be from the Nsona or Anona royal family. Asafo company No. 3 elects the leader of all Asafo companies known as the Great Ensign ( nl, Groot Vaandrig). This was the case under Dutch influence. However, the commander of all the Asafo companies in Elmina is now known as the . The importance of rank is illustrated by the conflict between No. 5 and No. 6 in the late 1750s over the number six position. It was only when Governor

Jan Pieter Theodoor Huydecoper Jan Pieter Theodoor Huydecoper (2 September 1728 – 11 July 1767) was an administrator of the Dutch West India Company. He served as Director-General of the Dutch Gold Coast between 1759 and 1760 (ad interim) and from 1764 until his death i ...

threatened to fire cannon from

Fort Coenraadsburg Fort Coenraadsburg or Conraadsburg, also Fort São Tiago da Mina, is a small Portuguese chapel built in honor of Saint Jago and it is situated opposite the Elmina Castle in the Central region of Ghana, to protect Fort Elmina from attacks. Owing ...

into Elmina that the conflict was finally settled. In the 19th century, three Asafo companies were added to the existing seven: *No. 8 *No. 9 *No. 10 No. 8 consisted of refugees from Eguafo and Simbiw, who fled to Elmina during the Fante War of 1810. No. 9 consisted of the descendants of the slaves who had worked for the

Dutch West India Company The Dutch West India Company ( nl, Geoctrooieerde Westindische Compagnie, ''WIC'' or ''GWC''; ; en, Chartered West India Company) was a chartered company of Dutch merchants as well as foreign investors. Among its founders was Willem Usselincx ( ...

and who were collectively dismissed in the early 19th century. No. 10 consisted of free citizens ( nl, vrijburgers). This company comprised mulattoes who were considered equals to the European officers, and who often worked in the lower ranks of the Dutch administration. This company elected the burgomaster of Elmina.

Cape Coast

Cape Coast Cape Coast is a city, fishing port, and the capital of Cape Coast Metropolitan District and Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the country's most historic cities, a World Heritage Site, home to the Cape Coast Castle, with the Gulf of Guinea ...

(Oguaa traditional area) there are traditionally seven asafo companies: , , , , , and . Each company is headed by a superior captain ('') and under the is a captain (''). The leader of the asafo companies is the , also spelled or (master of arms), who is regarded as the General Captain with responsibility for giving orders and directing affairs if war breaks out. The asafo companies feature largely in the

Fetu Afahye The Fetu Afahye is a festival celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Cape Coast in the Central region of Ghana. The festival is celebrated on the first Saturday in the month of September every year. The Fetu Afahye is celebrated annually by the O ...

festival of Cape Coast, held annually on the first Saturday of September.

Colours

Each asafo company has designated uniform colours that have been historically established.

Esi Sutherland-Addy Esi Sutherland-Addy is a Ghanaian academician, writer, educationalist, and human rights activist. She is a professor at the Institute of African Studies, where she has been senior research fellow, head of the Language, Literature, and Drama Sect ...

identifies these in Oguaa as:Esi Sutherland-Addy
"Women and Verbal Arts in the Oguaa-Edina Area"
''Research Review (NS)'', Vol. 14, No. 2 (1998), p. 7. * No. 1. – red * No. 2. – blue and white * No. 3. – green * No. 4. – yellow * No. 5. – wine and black * No. 6. () – white * No. 7. – white and black

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

twi.bb Online dictionary for the Twi language of the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa.

Fetu Afahye Festival 2010 2/2 Chiefs arrive, YouTube.
* Brian L. Perkins
"Traditional Institution in Coastal Development: Asafo Companies in Cape Coast History"
DigitalCollections@SIT, African Diaspora Collection. Akan culture History of Ghana