Emblem of His Majesty the King of Ashanti

Emblem of His Majesty the Emperor of Ashanti
Armiger	Asante Empire
Adopted	December 30, 1701
Shield	Red porcupine displaying its quills in a warning manner
Motto	"Kum apem a, apem beba" (Kill a thousand, a thousand will come)

The Emblem of His Majesty the King of the Asante is the national emblem of the Asante nation, adopted by the Asante King Asantehene Osei Tutu I in 1701, and depicts a porcupine, which has been the Asante national animal since the early-eighteenth century AD. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Emblem origin

The porcupine, as the Asante national emblem has been used by the Asantehene, the king of the Asante people, since 1701. ^{[1] [2]} The porcupine is the designated national animal of the Asante . ^{[1] [2]} The national emblem was created by Asantehene Nana Osei Kofi Tutu I (r. 1695–1717). ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Emblem description

The Asante national emblem is a red porcupine (or in Asante: Kotoko) on a gold background that symbolizes gold which has been a source of Asante wealth. The porcupine has been the designated national animal of the Asante since 1701 right through to the 21st century and stems from the Asante proverb:"The porcupine fights from all angles" and the readiness of the Asante nation to wage war on its enemies with the motto "Kum apem a, apem beba" (Kill a thousand, a thousand will rise) in reference to the porcupine's quills as symbols of Asante warriors, is still quoted. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

See also

• Political systems of the Asante Empire

References

1. "Ashanti Gold Weights" (PDF). arts-are-essential.org (PDF). pp. 3–4.
2. "Ashanti carving representing the proverb "The porcupine fights from all angles" A symbol of the Ashanti kingdom"". aluka.org.
3. Citlalli López Binnqüist, Patricia Shanley (January 2004). Ashanti Animal Porcupine. CIFOR. ISBN   9789793361369.