Katamanso War

Last updated
Battle of Dodowa
Part of Anglo-Ashanti wars
Aschanti Gefecht 11 july 1824 300dpi.jpg
Ashanti encounter on 11 July 1824
Date7 August 1826 -
Location
Near Accra
Result Anglo-Danish-Dutch Victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Ashanti Empire Emblem.svg Ashanti Empire
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Denmark.svg Richter Aarestrup [1]  (WIA) Ashanti Empire Emblem.svg Osei Yaw Akoto
Strength
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 6.500 men [2]
Flag of Denmark.svg 5.000 men [3]
30.000
Reserves:8.000
Royal guard:2.000
Casualties and losses
Minor 5-6.000 killed [4]

[5] The Katamanso War, also known as the Battle of Dodowa, was a war that several tribes united with the British, fought and prevented Ashantis from dominating the coast in 1826. Numerous tribes in the Gold Coast such as the Fantes, Ga, Akyems, Adas were led by the British army to fight the Ashantis. [6] [7] It is classified as one of the "Anglo-Ashanti Wars" [8] according to historical evidence at the National Archives. [7]

Contents

History

The Ashanti King or Asantehene (Osei Yaw Akoto) at that time, furious at the Ga-Adangbe for aiding the Fantes in the Battle of Nsamankow of 1824, proposed to punish them. He decided to pursue them, even if they escape into the belly of kanfra (a small flat fish).

On 7 August 1826, the war began also known as the "Battle of Dodowa". [9] However he met a coalition of other indigenous forces allied with the Ga-Adangbe of Prampram, Ningo and Ada people under their Monarch King Tackie Kome. British, Dutch and Danish forces all together not more than 60, aided in the war with new weapons after an attack on Cape Coast in July 1824. The Asantehene amassed an army of 40,000. An alliance of British with Ga-Adangbe, Fanti, Denkyira, Akwamu and Akyems at Katamanso near Dodowa faced the Ashanti army. The Akyems were led by the Okyenhene, Nana Afia Dokuaa, the only woman ruler of a major state. [10] [11] But the allied forces fought gallantly and overcame the Ashanti Army with a devastating victory which paralyzed the Ashanti Empire and was a factor in the loss of its former glory. This contributed to the British power and prestige rise on the coast. The Ashantis held their position for nine hours (6 AM to 3 PM). [12]

Effects of the war

The effects of the war included:

Historical facts

The King was made to swear an oath as the 'ka ntam' (Akan for swear), 'na su' (Akan for cry) = Corrupted into Katamanso.

The hair style worn by the Asante women called 'Gyese Nkran', (except Akra), vulgarized as Densinkran, was introduced to mourn the Asante dead in the Katamanso war.

Related Research Articles

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References

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