Denkyira
Denkyira | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 (16th century)–1701 (18th century) | |||||||||
 Location of Denkyira (bottom-left of map); The core area of theAshantiNation (green marking) and Denkyira (bottom-left of map) at the beginning of the 1890s. | |||||||||
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| Capital | Dunkwa-on-Offin | ||||||||
| Common languages | Twi dialect of Akan | ||||||||
| Religion | Asante Ancestor worship religion and mythology | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
• 1637 to 1695 | Boa Amponsem I | ||||||||
• 1695 to 1701(last of indep. Denkyira) | Ntim Gyakari | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1500 (16th century) | ||||||||
• RenamedUpper DenkyiraandTwifo/Heman/Lower DenkyiraofCentral Ashantilandon theAshantiland Peninsula | 1957 | ||||||||
| 1701 (18th century) | |||||||||
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| Akan people |
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DenkyiraorDenkyerawas a powerful nation ofAkan peoplethat existed before the 1620s, in what is now modern-dayGhana.Like all Akans, they originated fromBono state.Before 1620, Denkyira was calledAgona.The ruler of the Denkyira was calledDenkyiraheneand the capital wasJukwaa.The first Denkyirahene wasMumunumfi.[1]
History[edit]
The capital was initially Jukwaa, but it was later moved toAbankeseso.[2]The Denkyira state capital is now Dunkwa-on-Offin. Denkyira became powerful through gold production and trade with Europe.
In the 1690s, wars took place between Denkyira and theAsenandTwifo-Heman.The goal of these struggles was to keep open the trade routes to the coast and trade with the Fante State and Europeans.[3]
The Denkyira state together with the Fante states dominated the trade with Europeans inWestern Ghanawhile theAkwamudominated trade with Europeans inEastern Ghana.
The Denkyira state dominated the neighboring states apart from the Fante,AkwamuandAkyem.[4]TheAshantiwere subjects and tributary to Denkyira Kingdom until 1701, when with the help of Okomfo Anokye, the Ashanti defeated Denkyira at theBattle of Feyiase,and Denkyira became a tributary to theAshanti Empire.[5]This was led byNtim Gyakarithe then Denkyirahene.
In 1868 Denkyira entered theFante Confederacyto align with the powerful Fante Union. The Fante Confederacy had also at this time become allies of the British. The Ashanti Empire also were allies of the Dutch.
The present-day ruler of the Denkyira wasOdeefuo Boa Amponsem IIIuntil his death was announced on 2 December 2016.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt; Michel Abitbol; Naomi Chazan (1988).The Early State in African Perspective: Culture, Power and Division of Labor.Brill Academic Publishers.ISBN90-04-08355-3.
- ^McCaskie, T. C. "Denkyira in the Making of Asante" inJournal of African HistoryVol 48 (2007) no. 1, p. 1
- ^McCaskie. "Denkyira". p. 1.
- ^Akan Laws and Customs.Taylor & Francis.
- ^Dickson, Kwamina B. (1969).A Historical Geography of Ghana.CUP Archive.ISBN9780521071024.
- ^https://web.archive.org/web/20161220073817/http:// atlfmonline /component/k2/item/7341-denkyirahene-reported-deadDenkyirahene reported dead
External links[edit]
- DenkyiraArchived22 September 2020 at theWayback Machine
- Tribes of Ghana
