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Okyenhene is the title of the Tribal King of
Okyenhene is the title of the Tribal King of Akyem Abuakwa
Akyem Abuakwa is one of the four states of Akyem in 14th century Africa. Currently, it is part of Ghana. Historically, the Akyem were part of the Adansi Kingdom, which was the first nation to build buildings out of mud. They were therefore were n ...
(also styled Okyeman), an old powerful traditional kingdom in the Eastern 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 Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
. The Okyenhene is also referred to as the Kwaebibiremhene as his traditional territory is an area of a dense forest. Again, the Okyenhene is considered the head of the Asona clan (Asona Piesie). Asona is the largest of the clans of the Akans which includes the Oyoko, Aduana, Agona, Asakyire, Bretuo, Ekuona among others.
The role of Okyenhene is not hereditary, as a new Okeynhene is elected by a council.
On the death of an Okyenhene, it is mandatory for all Asona Chiefs in Ghana to partake in the royal burial dubbed "doteyie" and funeral
A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect th ...
also called "Odupon ayie". These ceremonies normally lasts seven days each. The Okyenhene's stool is called the Ofori Panin stool. He presides over his territory through his divisional chiefs as well as other chiefs.
The current Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II ascended the Okyeman Ofori Panin stool on October 4, 1999 after the death of his predecessor Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II. He is the 35th Paramount Chief to ascend the stool.
List of Okyenhenes
{{Main, List of rulers of the Akan state of Akyem AbuakwaReferences