Akan chieftaincy

Insyd chaw parts of West Africa, der be an old chieftaincy tradition, wey de Akan people develop dema own hierarchy, wich dey exist alongside de democratic structure of de country. De Akan word give de ruler, anaa one of ein various courtiers, be "Nana" (English pronunciation /ˈnænə/). Insyd colonial times, Europeans translate am as "chief", buh dat no be an exact equivalent. Oda sources dey speak of "kings", wich sanso no be entirely correct, especially insyd de case of de said courtiers. De term "chief" cam be common even among modern Ghanaians, though e go be more correct to use de expression "Nana" widout translation wer ever possible.

 History 
De roots of Akan chieftaincy be unknown, den written sources be scarce. Wen na de Akan dey settle insyd Bonoman, insyd de period before 1300, na Bonos already long use de chieftaincy system. De paramount chief hold a position wey fi be compared to dat of an absolutist king.

Wen na dem found de Republic of Ghana insyd 1957, na dem gree say de chieftaincy system for be respected.

 Present time 
Chieftaincy officially be accepted. Politicians dey biz chiefs for advice secof usually dem be closer to de people. De highest committee be de National House of Chiefs insyd Kumasi. Der sanso be Regional Houses of Chiefs. In case of problems between de chiefs, de House of Chiefs get a legal function to adjudicate insyd such matters.

 Hierarchy 
Within de Akan ethnic group der be different kin groups, such as de Ashanti, Bono, Akyem, Kwahu, Akwapim, Assin, anaa de Fante, [Denkyira]. De highest ranked of de entire Akan chieftaincy institution be de paramount chief.

Dem rank below de Paramount chief be de sub-chiefs. A sub-chief fi be compared to de mayor of a town, except dat ein office be hereditary as opposed to elective. De chiefs get dema own territories, den apart from overseeing them, dem get a function at de courts of dema paramount chiefs as dema ministers. Chaw of de functions be traditional, while sam be created recently:

 Ahenfo 

 Ohemaa 

 Omanhene/Ohenpong 

 Krontihene 

 Ankobeahene 

 Obaatan 

 Tufohene 

 Asafohene 

 Manwerehene 

 Sanaahene 

 Fekuo 

 Adontenhene 

 Kyidomhene 

 Nifahene 

 Benkumhene 

 Recent Titles insyd Akan Chieftaincy per 

 Akyempimhene 

 Mankrado 

 Guantuahene 

 Nsumankwahene 

 Nkosuohene 

 Entourage 

 Okomfo 

 Stool Wife 

 Okyeame 

 Queen Mother 

 Regalia 

 Personal ornaments 

 Fly-whisk (Bodua) 

 Sword (Afena) 

 Palanquin (Apakan) 

 Stool (Dwa) 

 Umbrella (Bamkyim) 

 References 

 Sources 
As der no be much written information, oral sources for be quoted:

 Mr. Anthony Alick Eghan, Yamoransa (Central Region, Ghana)
 Kofi Owusu Yeboah, Ejisu-Onwe (Ashanti Region)

 Literature 

 Antubam, Kofi, Ghana's Heritage of Culture, Leipzig, 1963
 Kyerematen, A. A. Y., Panoply of Ghana, London, 1964
 Meyerowitz, Eva L. R., Akan Traditions of Origin, London, 1952
 Meyerowitz, Eva L. R., At the Court of an African King, London, 1962
 Obeng, Ernest E., Ancient Ashanti Chieftaincy, Tema, Ghana, 1986

 External links 
 Basel Mission Pictures
 Phil Bartle
Category:Culture of Ghana
Category:Akan culture
Category:Tribal chiefs