Akan Akan may refer to:
People and languages
*Akan people, an ethnic group in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
*Akan language, a language spoken by the Akan people
*Kwa languages, a language group which includes Akan
*Central Tano languages, a language group w ...
culture for a group of people that share common maternal ancestry governed by seven major ancient female abosom (deities).Changing Funeral Celebrations in Asanteman ''books.google.com''. The Abusua line is considered to be passed through the mother's blood ().
There are several Abusua that transcend the different ethnic subgroups outside of the ancient seven. People of the same Abusua share a common ancestor somewhere within their bloodline, which may go back as far as thousands of years. It is a taboo to marry someone from the same Abusua.
The different Abusua are the Agona (parrot), the Aduana (dog), the Asenie (bat), Oyoko (falcon/hawk), the Asakyiri (vulture), the Asona (crow), the Bretuo (leopard), and the Ekuona (bull).
Abusua types
Agona or Anona
People of the
Agona
Agona is a small town in Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivo ...
are predominant in Denkyira and therefore in Asante, Nkawie. The symbol of the Agona is the parrot. When greeted by a person from the Agona or Anona, the reply should be "Yaa ako nana". Some towns of the Agona are
Tafo
Tafo is a town in Kumasi Metropolitan District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana near the regional capital Kumasi.Bodwesango,
Fumesua
Fumesua is a town in Ghana. It is 15 kilometres from the centre Kumasi. It is a dormitory town. It serves mainly as a residential areas for workers in various companies in Kumasi. The town also host the Building and Road Research Institute of G ...
Aduana
Aduana is one of the seven major Akan clans of Ghana. It is also the largest clan in terms of population.
The totem of the Aduana clan is a dog. According to legend, a dog led the clan during their migration
Migration, migratory, or migrate ...
believe that at the time of creation, their ancestors descended from the skies on a golden chain. Others believe that they originally came from Asumanya and they were led by a dog with a flame in his mouth and gold in his cheeks. They proceeded to Dormaa where they believe the flame is still kept alight. Still others believe that from Asumanya a section of the Aduana headed for
Akwamu
Akwamu was a state set up by the Akwamu people in present-day Ghana. After migrating from Bono state, the Akan founders of Akwamu settled in Twifo-Heman. The Akwamu led an expansionist empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the peak of their ...
. Some of the principal towns of the Aduana are Dormaa and most of the Bono people, Akwamu and Twifo Heman. In Asante the principal towns for the Aduana are
Kumawu
Kumawu is a small town and is the capital of Sekyere Afram Plains District, Sekyere Kumawu, a Districts of Ghana, district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Bompata
Bompata is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is known for the Bompata Presby Secondary School. The school is a second cycle institution. Nana Effah-Apenteng
Nana Effah-Apenteng was the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the Uni ...
, Kwaso, Akyease, Manso Agroyesum, Manso-Mmem, Manso-Abodom, Gomoa Ohua and Nyinahen. The symbol of the Aduana is the Lion and Dog.
Asenie
The symbol of the
Asenie
Asenie is one of the eight Akan people, Akan major clans.
Totem
The totem of the Asenie people is the bat Major towns
The major towns of the Asenie include Amakom, Wenchi etc.
References
{{reflist
Akan people ...
is the bat and its main towns are Kumasi Amakom and Dompoase. When greeted by a person from the Asenie, the reply should be "Yaa adu nana". Other towns of the Asenie are
Antoa
Antoa is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is known for the Antoa Secondary School. The school is a second cycle institution. This is also where the deity river Antoa Nyamaa, Antoa Nyama is found.
References
Populated plac ...
,
Agona
Agona is a small town in Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivo ...
,
Nkoranza
Nkoranza (or Nkoransa) is a town located in the mid-north of Ghana. It is the district capital of the Nkoranza District in the Bono East Region.
A leading Brong town, the town led the 1892-93 Brong rebellion against the Ashanti.
Nkoranza is ...
,
Wenchi
Wenchi is a town and is the capital of Wenchi Municipal of the Bono Region in middle-belt of Ghana. Wenchi is located at 7.73333 atitude in decimal degrees -2.1 ongitude in decimal degreesat an average elevation/altitude of 304 meters. We ...
, Atwoma, Kofiase, Abira, Baman, Denyase and Boanim. In Adansi Dompoase, members of the Asenie family are the crowned royals of the land and their leaders possesses special leadership skills endowed by their great ancestors.
Asakyiri
Asakyiri Asakyiri is one of the major eight major Akan people, Akan clans. These clans are derived along the matrilineal lines.
Totem
The totem of the Asakyiri people is the vulture
Origin
It is claimed that the Asona and Asakyiri clans are brothers and si ...
claim that they were the first to be created by God. They are to be found in the Adanse area and their main towns are Akorokyere (Akrokere), Asakyiri Amansie, Ayaase, Obogu Nkwanta and Asokore. When greeted by a person from the Asakyiri, the reply should be "Yaa Ofori nana". Other towns of the Asakyiri are ''Abofuo, Aduanede, Abrenkese, and Apeadu''.Their symbol is the vulture and eagle.
They are the oldest but smallest clan in Akan kingdom.
Asona
The symbol of the
Asona
Asona is one of the eight main Akan people, Akan clans.
Totem
The totem of the Asona people is the crow or snake.
Major towns
The major towns of the Asona people include;Begoro, New Juaben, Kukurantumi, Akim Tafo etc
References
{{Authorit ...
is the crow or wild boar. It is said that more people generally, belong to the Asona than to any other abusua. The principal towns are Adansi Akrofuom,
Kyebi
Kibi or ''Kyebi'' is a town and the capital of the East Akim Municipal District, a district in the Eastern Region of south Ghana, on the eastern slopes of the Atewa Range. Kibi lies at an altitude of 318 m, and, Kibi has a 2013 settl ...
, Edweso and
Offinso
Offinso, is a town in the Offinso Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is about fifteen minutes drive from Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region; due to Offinso's proximity to Kumasi, many of the Offinso natives have reloca ...
. When greeted by a member of the Asona, the reply should be "Yaa Ofori nana". Other towns of the Asona are Akyem Begoro, Akyem Asiakwa, New Juaben, Akyem Wenchi,
Kukurantumi
Kukurantumi is the capital of the Abuakwa North Municipal District of the Eastern Region (Ghana), Eastern Region of Ghana.
It is noted for Adonten Senior High School, Ofori panin High School, Only Believe Senior High Technical School, Bright Sch ...
, Akyem Tafo,
Akuapem-Akropong
Akuapem-Akropong is a town in the Eastern region of Ghana. The town is known for the Okuapeman Secondary School. The political system used in this town is the institution of Chieftaincy. The school is a second cycle
The second (symbol: s) ...
, Akuapem Amanokrom, Akyem Kwarbeng,
Ejura
Ejura is a town and the capital of Ejura/Sekyedumase, a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Ejura has settlement population of 70,807 people. Ejura is the largest maize producing district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It is in the far nor ...
Trabuom
Trabuom is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is known for the Afia Kobi Ampem Girls Secondary School. The school is a second cycle
The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historic ...
,
Beposo
Beposo is a town in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region Of Ghana.Beposo is approximately 40 kilometers west of Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region. The town boasts of its great involvement in the educational sectors with a Secondary ...
,
Toase
Toase is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is known for the Toase Secondary School. The school is a second cycle
The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as ...
, and
Odumase
Krobo Odumase is a town and capital of Lower Manya Krobo Municipal District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School was formerly located here.
Prominent sites
The town is a proposed site for the construction of ...
Ahanta Ntaakrom, Gomoa Asin The head of all Asona towns is Adansi Akrofuom.
Bretuo
Bretuo
Bretuo is one of the eight major Akan people, Akan clans.
Totem
The totem of the Bretuo people is the leopard
Major towns
Some of the towns which have a Bretuo family member as chief include;Jamasi, Apaa, Ofoase, Brodekwano and Beposo at Bosomtw ...
are found mainly in Adansi Ayaase, Mampong, Kwahu, Adankranya, Amprofi Tanoso
(Tanoso - near Akumadan) Amoafo, Asiwa, and Afigyaase/
Effiduase
Effiduase is a town and is the capital of Sekyere East, a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The Effiduase is known for the Effiduase Secondary Commercial School now Effiduase Senior High School and effiduasi senior high technical school. ...
. Its symbol is the leopard. It is worth noting that the commander of the Asante army against Denkyira was the Mamponhene and in the past, generally, matters relating to war in Asante was the domain of the Mamponhene. When greeted by a person from the Bretuo, the reply should be "Yaa etwie nana". Towns of the Bretuo are Jamase, Apaa, Domeabra, Agogo-Hwidiem, Adankranya, Suhum-Kwahyia,
Asiwa
Asiwa is a small town and is the capital of Bosome Freho, a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlant ...
(capital of Bosome Freho District) and Abuotem, Ofoase, Brodekwano, Bosomtwe Beposo.
Ekuona
Ekuona are not found in great numbers in Asante. They are mainly found among the Fante but in Asante, their main towns are Adanse Fomena and Asokore. The symbol of the Ekuona is the buffalo. When greeted, the reply should be "Yaa Doku nana". Other towns of the family are Banko, Mprim, Kona, Asokore-Mampon, Berekum, Kokofu-Abuoso, Adumasa, Heman, Abenkyem, Cape Coast, Jukwaa, and Duayaw-Nkwanta.
Oyoko
The falcon is the symbol of the
Oyoko
Oyoko is a small town in the Sekyere Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is in the Kumawu parliamentary constituency. Oyoko is near Effiduase, about northeast of Kumasi, the regional capital.
Notable places
There are two ...
. It is also the family from which the current Asantehene comes. Its main towns are Kokofu, Kumasi, Dwaben and Nsuta. When greeted, the reply should be "Yaa Obiri nana". Other towns are Bekwae, Mamponten, Bogyae, Dadieso, Obogu, Asaaman Adubiase, Pampaso, Kontanase, Kenyase, and
Ntonso
Ntonso is a town in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region noted for its Adinkra symbols, Adinkra crafts. It is located about 15 km north of Kumasi in the Ashanti region. It is also the home of Adventist Girls High School.
Home of ...
.
In some part of the western region, the symbol of the Oyoko clan is rat. Some people call it 'Ekusi ebusua' therefore members of this clan are called "Ekusifo" in some part in the Western region.
References
*Asante, Molefi, ''African Intellectual Heritage'', 1996
*Gyekye, Kwame, An essay on African philosophical thought: the Akan conceptual scheme, 1995