List of rulers of Asante

Asantehene is the title of the King of Ashanti. Traditionally, the Asantehene is provided by Oyoko family clan and were to this day and are all descendants of the first Asantehene Osei Asantehenes Tutu in matrilineal bloodline.

The residence of the Asantehene is the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. There is also a mausoleum of the Ashanti kings, which is located in the nearby town of Bantama. In the past, however, a dethroned ( " entstuhlten ") was the Asantehene after his death, a burial in Bantama denied, such as in the case of Kofi Karikari ( dethroned 1874), as well as in the case of his brother and successor Mensa Bonsu ( dethroned 1883 ).

The Office associated with the title

The first Asantehene was Tutu, who was awarded as Oyokohene this item directly to the founding of the state of Asante. The introduction of this at the same time political and religious title was essentially the work of two men: Tutus, he was at this time as the head of the Oyokohene Amantuo Confederation, and the priest ( Okomfo ) from Otutu Shrine ( in Akwamu ) and close friend Tutus Anokye. The still living founding myth of Aschantireiches states that Okomfo Anokye of Nyame ( the supreme god of the Akan ), was commissioned to make the Ashanti a mighty people. The Asantehene Osei Tutu called then a large gathering to spread this message. At this meeting Okomfo Anokye brought before the eyes of a covered with gold, wooden stool from heaven, then sat down on Osei Tutu's knees. Okomfo Anokye declared that this golden chair ( Twi: Asikadwa ) contained the spirit or the soul of all Aschantivolkes. This founding myth played a key future and in its effect very real role in maintaining the unity of the Ashanti.

Even if the Aschantireich in the 18th and 19th centuries, one of the most powerful states in West Africa was, yet the Asantehene was never an absolute ruler as it first seems. The aschantische government was primarily an instrument of power and power guarantor of the two powerful noble clans Oyoko and Bretuo, which was reserved only access to the offices of the state administration. Only after the Kwadwo'schen administrative reform (reigned 1764-1777 ), other family clans were able to occupy certain offices of public administration.

Even today, the Asantehene, the real head of the aschantischen people dar. Formally, in Ghana, although the office of Asantehene limited to purely ritual function but that his authority is still a political factor in modern Ghana. In contrast to earlier times, today's Asantehene is identical neither with the political chief of Asante ( the Regional Minister of the Ashanti Region ), nor with that of the Mayor of Kumasi ( the Kumasihene ).

Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Today Tutu II was chosen from the series of seven eligible descendants from the Oyoko family. The determination of the succession takes place over a series of meetings attended by certain members of the Aschantiadels and the royal family.

List of Asantehenes

Official ruler Title: Asantehene ( leader of the people of the Ashanti ), Osei (Name) and Nana ( clan elder, in this case the Oyoko clan ), besides also: Oyokohene ( head of the Oyoko family clan) and Kumasihene ( head of the city Kumasi )

Another title of Asantehene Otumfuo is, which literally means something like " powerful / strong / large in Battle " means. This is the title for the person who exercises the office of Commander in Chief of the Army aschantischen. As in the Asante king was commander of his army at the same time, Otumfuo is also one of the titles of the aschantischen king, who was, however, precedes all other titles. Only in the case that the king was represented in the war by another commander, the title Otumfuo went over on the real commander.