Juaben | |
|---|---|
  Juaben | |
| Coordinates: 6°49′N1°26′W / 6.817°N 1.433°W | |
| Country |  Ghana |
| Region | Ashanti Region |
| District | -Juaben Municipal |
| Elevation | 1,066 ft (325 m) |
| Time zone | GMT |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT |
Juaben is a small town in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal District, a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. [1]
Not only had all the royals of Dwabeng been of the Oyoko clan, but the king of Dwabeng is also the Oyokohene or the family head of all Oyoko clan members of the Akan. Juaben (correctly: Dwabeng) is one of the five principal towns of the Asante nation or the Asante Amantuo Num, that originally came together against the then reigning empire of Denkyira. The 1st Dwabenhene is believed to be from Asumegya Asantemanso and the ancestress of this stool is called Aberewa Ampim. It was Aberewa Ampim who came with her own retinue of advisors and elders from Asumegya Asantemanso. At this time it is said that there is no stool whatsoever attached to the Dwabeng state. Whilst coming she settled at Otikurom Dwabeng Mma a term for all of Dwabeng, she stayed in Dwabeng for about four or five years. She had lots of children -many which migrated- and one son called Aketewa(meaning the youngest) was considered the handsome son of all. As a hunter, he discovered the present area Dwabeng and he meet a certain man in the area by the name Boama Kokoo Se Bota - another hunter-, along with his family. It turned out that the two men are both of the same Oyoko clan and Aketewa was welcomed in Boama's home. After his stay, he went back and informed his mother.
Among the Asante Amantuo Num, before becoming Asanteman and still subservient to the Denkyira Empire: Dwabeng was responsible for the firewood of Denkyerahene; Nsuta is responsible for the red clay; Mampong was responsible for the cotton fibers for cloth making; Kwamanhene(Kwaman now Kumasi) had to send one of His maidservant annually to the Denkyerahene to nurse his nieces and nephew(future heirs to the Denkyera stool). The messenger of Denkyerahene Ntim Gyakari was sent to collect these various tributes from these five towns. Kwamanhene Obiri Yeboah was an uncle of Osei Tutu, Osei Tutu was sent to Denkyera for training. During the battle of Feyiase in 1701 between the newly formed Asante state, it was the Dwabenhene who caught Ntim Gyakari on the battlefield while the Commander-in-Chief of this war was Nana Boahene Anantuo, the Mamponhene. But Ntim Gyakari was captured alive by Dwabenhene Nana Adaakwaa Yiadom. After the battle, he was sent to Kumasi, where he was beheaded. His head was taken by the Asantehene, his legs by the Mamponhene, and his fingers by the Juabenhene. Ntim Gyakari's fingers or Kwadumasa in Twi can still be found today on the Dwabenhene's umbrella.
After Nana Adaakwaa Yiadom's death, his Stool was smoked or blackened by his brother (an Akan tradition when a royal had deceased), Osei Hwidie, during the reign of Nana Opoku Ware. Nana Osei Hwidie, wanting to expand his boundaries sort out by Abuasohene Ntiamoah Amankuo to kill him and gain his control of said lands. Nana Osei took possession of his towns, drums, villages. This was only the beginning of his expansion of Dwabeng rulership. At a later date, Nana Dwabenhene questioned Boama Kokoo about whether there were any other people or Chiefs who shared a common boundary with him. Boama Kokoo told him that there is one chief, by name Ofinam, the Nkuokromhene, his lands too were taken after his death. So was the lands of the Adumanhene, to which was the ancestor of Nsutahene and the lands of the Brebemo, Nsusohene; the Kyekewerehene; Bomfahene Mmonh Diawuo and of Hemanhene Owusu Biremprong, whilst driving him away from Sekyere. [2]
Osei Kwame Panyin, to fought with Basahene Kwabena Sabre at Basahene (Krachihene). The Basahene was defeated and sent to Dwabeng, carrying the truthful stone (Nnokware Buo). The cause of the war was some valuable gold trinkets in the possession of the Basahene, which were coveted by the Asante. There is a certain Fetish, by name Denteh, now at Dwaben, which was captured from Krachi as a result of this war. It is said that this Fetish predicted that the Krachi Chief could not fight with the powerful Chief Akraase after the war the Fetish announced that he had seen that Juabenhene was a powerful Chief; whenever he went to the war he would follow him. It is said there is a horn attached to the Stool which was captured by Akraase. It is blown when Juabenhene is taking the field for war, in the Abeng language (Asante horn communication a pattern of tonal shifts similar to Morse code, says: Okrakye Dente Okrakye Dente) It is said that only Nana Juabenhene has this horn, and no other chief in Asante. Nana Akraase was succeeded on the Stool by Nana Akuamoah Panyin, his brother, during the reign of Bonsu Panyin. [2]
After Asanteman had been established in the late 1800s, a portion of Dwabeng had separated from Asanteman and found asylum in Okyeman, the Akyem nation and created New Juabeng also called Koforidua. To this day, they had been independent from the golden stool. When Nana Kofi Karikari (King of Ashantis) and his Kumasi forces (now in the Ashanti Region) attacked Dwabeng and its allies in October 1875, the Sekyere towns of Effiduase and Asokore formed an alliance. Whilst Effiduase and Asokore were led by their chiefs during the sojourn, Oyoko and their king Nana Adjei Bohyen, was one of the Sekyere towns which migrated to present day New Juaben in the now Eastern Region under the leadership of Nana Kwaku Boateng and killed Kofi Karikari. It was his nephew Kwadwo Kesse who led the migrants from Asante - Oyoko to present day New Juaben in the Eastern Region and they came with their sacred stool (Kro and Dabo Stool) [3]
The town is close to the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal district's capital, Ejisu. [1] Its geographical coordinates are 6° 49' 0" North, 1° 26' 0" West. [4]
Juaben is known for the Juaben Secondary School. [5] [6] The school is a second cycle institution. [7]
Three types of soil are predominantly found in the area which support cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, oil palm and citrus; dry season vegetables such as sweet potatoes, sugarcane and rice; and annual and semi-perennial crops such as plantain, cocoyam and bananas. [8]
The Juaben Hospital is the town's primary healthcare institution. [1]
A large number of residents in the town are supporters of the English professional football club, inspired by the childhood support of resident Owusu Boakye Amando. Aston Villa F.C. [9]
According to Amy Ashwood-Garvey, 1st wife of Jamaican Pan-Africanist founder Marcus Garvey, her grandmother told her that she descended from Dwaben (pronounced "Juaben") and that her grandmother (known as "Granny Dabas") was a captive from Juaben. Granny Dabas's name was Boahemaa. In 1924 she met J. B. Danquah in London and told him her grandmother's story and Danquah confirmed to her that Dwaben is in fact an Asante city-state. Fifteen years later she also met another Ghanaian Barrister Kwabena Kese. In 1946, Barrister Kese took Mrs Garvey to Juaben leading to the verification of her Granny Dabas' account and would later adopt the name Akosua Boahemaa. She would also meet Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II. The Asante people are commonly known to Jamaicans as the freedom fighters that fought against slavery and oppression. The Jamaican national heroine Nanny of the Maroons was also an Asante royal. Many Jamaicans, even non-maroons, can also make accounts of having family of Asante descent.
Yaa Asantewaa I was the Queen Mother of Ejisu in the Ashanti Empire, now part of modern-day Ghana. She was appointed by her brother Nana Akwasi Afrane Okese, the Edwesuhene, or ruler, of Edwesu. In 1900, she led the Ashanti war also known as the War of the Golden Stool, or the Yaa Asantewaa War of Independence, against the British Empire.
Osei Kofi Tutu I was one of the founders of the Ashanti Empire, assisted by Okomfo Anokye, his chief priest and a distant relative from the town of Awukugua–Akuapem. The Asante comes from the Akan ethnic group of West Africa. Osei Tutu I led an alliance of Asante states against the regional hegemony, the Denkyira, completely defeating them. He ruled the Kwaman State between c.1680/c.1695 and 1701 and he ruled the Ashanti Empire from late 1701 to around 1717.
Osei Tutu II is the 16th Asantahene, enstooled on 26 April 1999. By name, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is in direct succession to the 17th-century founder of the Ashanti Empire, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I. He is also the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. A Freemason, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has served as the Grand Patron of the Grand Lodge of Ghana, the Sword Bearer of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Patron of the Grand Lodge of Liberia.
Okomfo Anokye was the first priest (Okomfo) of the Ashanti Empire. Anokye is known for his participation in the expansion of the empire. He was also the codifier of the constitution and laws of the Ashanti Empire.
The Akyem are an Akan people. The term Akyem is used to describe a group of four states: Asante Akyem, Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku, and Akyem Bosome. These nations are located primarily in the eastern region in south Ghana. The term is also used to describe the general area where the Akyem ethnic group clusters. The Akyem ethnic group make up between 3-4 percent of Ghana's population depending on how one defines the group and are very prominent in all aspects of Ghanaian life. The Akyem are a matrilineal people. The history of this ethnic group is that of brave warriors who managed to create a thriving often influential and relatively independent state within modern-day Ghana. When one talks of Ghanaian history, there is often mention of The Big Six. These were six individuals who played a big role in the independence of Ghana. Of the big six, people of Akyem descent made up the majority.
The Asante Empire, also known as the Ashanti Empire, was an Akan state that lasted from 1701 to 1901, in what is now modern-day Ghana. It expanded from the Ashanti Region to include most of Ghana and also parts of Ivory Coast and Togo. Due to the empire's military prowess, wealth, architecture, sophisticated hierarchy and culture, the Asante Empire has been extensively studied and has more historic records written by European, primarily British, authors than any other indigenous culture of sub-Saharan Africa.
Abusua is the name in Akan culture for a group of people that share common maternal ancestry governed by seven major ancient female abosom (deities). The Abusua line is considered to be passed through the mother's blood . There are several Abusua that transcend the different ethnic subgroups outside of the ancient seven. People of the same Abusua share a common ancestor somewhere within their bloodline, which may go back as far as thousands of years. It is a taboo to marry someone from the same Abusua. The different Abusua are the Agona (parrot), the Aduana (dog), the Asenie (bat), Oyoko (falcon/hawk), the Asakyiri (vulture), the Asona (crow), the Bretuo (leopard), and the Ekuona (bull).
In several Akan nations of Ghana, the Omanhene is the title of the supreme traditional ruler ('king') in a region or a larger town. The omanhene is the central figure and institution of the nation. Officially, he has no function in the current Ghanaian political setup, but, has enormous influence on the people that constitute it. Today 'Hene' can be found in titles of other rulers in Ghanaian nations. For example, the chief of the Dagomba in the north of Ghana is known as the 'Dagombahene'.
The Asante, also known as Ashanti in English, are part of the Akan ethnic group and are native to the Ashanti Region of modern-day Ghana. Asantes are the last group to emerge out of the various Akan civilisations. Twi is spoken by over nine million Asante people as their native language.
Juaben Senior High School, also known as Juaben SHS, formerly Juaben Secondary School, is a co-educational senior high school in Juaben, a town in the Ejisu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region in Ghana.
The Manhyia Palace is the seat of the Asantehene, as well as his official residence. It is located in Menshyia, Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The first palace is now a museum. Otumfuor Opoku Ware II built the new palace, which is close to the old one and is where the current Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, resides.
Bonwire is a town in Ghana, located in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipal district within the Ashanti Region. The town is located about 18 km on the Kumasi-Mampong road. According to Akan oral tradition, Kente originates from Bonwire.
An Akrafena is an Ashanti sword, originally meant for warfare but also forming part of Ashanti heraldry. The foremost example of an akrafena is the Mponponsuo, which belonged to Opoku Ware II. It has survived to the present day because it is still occasionally used in ceremonies, such as the Akwasidae Festival.
Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II was the Queen mother (Ohemaa) of the Ashanti Kingdom and mother of the current Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, who is the youngest son of her five children. She was the 13th Queen mother of the Ashanti Kingdom.
Nana Dokua was the queen mother of Akyem Abuakwa. She was the one who welcomed the King of the Dwabens called Nana Kwaku Boateng and his army. A civil war broke out between the Ashantis and the Dwabens in 1832, six years after the battle of Akatamansu. In 1824, during her regime, she also provided refuge for the Kotokus who had also assisted Abuakwa in some wars against the Ashantis. During her reign, part of the Juabens revolted against the Ashantis. Nana Kwaku Boateng was the leader of the rebels who was their chief. They were forced to leave Juaben in Ashanti for the south.
Nana Kwaku Boateng I was a former Omanhene of New Juaben. He led the revolt against the Golden Stool of Ashanti during the reign of Nana Dokua. He ruled the New Juabens from 1913 to 1930. Nana Kwaku had a son called Asafo Adjei who married the Queen of Juaben called Sapoma. He usurped the stool of Juaben after her death which contradicts the traditional usage of the matrilineal system of succession.
Nana Obiri Yeboa was the Kumasehene during his era and the occupant of the Aban Dwa Stool. He reigned from 1660 to 1680. He was succeeded by Nana Osei Tutu as the chief of Kwaman state which was later known as Kumasi state. He was the uncle of Osei Tutu. Nana Obiri Yeboa's uncle was Nana Oti Akenten.
Konadu Yaadom, also Kwadu Yaadom was the fourth Asantehemaa of the Ashanti Empire, whose multiple marriages and spiritual influence meant that she became an important and powerful ruler in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
The Asantehemaa is the queen mother according to West African custom, who rules the Asante people alongside the Asantehene. African queen mothers generally play an important role in local government; they exercise both political and social power. Their power and influence have declined considerably since pre-colonial times, but still persist in the 21st century.