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