OSEADEEYO ADDO DANKWA III -King of Akropong-Akuapem [From ‘African Kings” by Daniel LAINÉ]

A graduate from the University of London and an economic advisor for the Ghanaian administration, The King of Akropong holds for the last sixteen years the “sacred seat” of the Akuapem-Asona, one of the seven major Akan clans.


To his right, his “spokesman” carries the royal emblem, the elephant, a remembrance that his kingdom was founded by force.

In 1733, Akwamu launched his army against the city-State of Akropong, which had been spared from the Ashanti conquests. To defend itself, the city called upon soldiers who liked war, the Akim, and who are also the hereditary enemies of the Ashanti. Akropong was saved, and as a reward, the chief of the Akim was enthroned as the King of Akropong.

At the feet of the king sits a young child, his “okra”, meaning his soul. Protected by fetishs, the Okra plays the role of a human shield, who has to defend the King from evil spirits, sickness and death. The King is the Nation. He should never be wounded or sick, or the entire nation will weaken. The Okra diverts all evil forces upon himself. He, therefore, must die with his master.

During battles, the Okra would ring the small bells suspended on his neck, to show the king’s presence and to stimulate the warriors’ bravery. If the king was frightened and did not want to attract the enemy’s attention he would stifle the ringing bells; his soldiers interpreted this as desertion and would abandon the battle. [Credit: http://www.livefromthecoast.com/blog/]

Object of Desire: Akua'ba Doll Pendant

“Among the Akan people of Ghana, the Akua’ba (fertility) figure has quite an interesting story. Legend reveals that a woman named Akua had difficulty conceiving a child. She commissioned a wooden figure called Akuaba and cared for it like a real baby. The women of the village called the figure "Akua’s child" but subsequently Akua indeed became pregnant. Since she bore a daughter, Akuaba primarily represents the female. Even today, women in Ghana who desire a child will carry an Akuaba sculptural figure to encourage conception.” www.sankofaworldpublishers.com

I love it…I don’t know if it’s made from real gold…but it looks fabulous. I would replace the black cord with my gold chain –and strut… $25.00 www.sankofaworldpublishers.com

People of Ghana

The people of modern Ghana are generally divided into four main regional groupings, each of which shares a similar language and culture. The Mole-Dagbani of the Northern Region were the first to establish their approximate modern territory, migrating from the Lake Chad region in the thirteenth century to establish the Mamprusi kingdom at Gambaga. The area to the east of lake Volta is inhabited by the Ewe, fifteenth century migrants from eastern Nigeria. Ewe society is the least centralized of any in modern Ghana and each of the roughly 130 small Ewe chieftaincies is entirely autonomous. The other important grouping of the east is the Ga-Adangbe, made up of the Ga people of the Accra coastal plain and the Adangbe of Ada and Somanya. Like the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe are originally from eastern Nigeria.
The most significant population group in modern Ghana, territorially and numerically is the Akan. The Akans of the southern and central part of the country embrace several dozen culturally similar and historically allied peoples, the best known of which are the Ashanti of the Kumasi area and the Fante of the central coast. The Akan comprise more than half of modern Ghana’s population and inhabit five of its ten administrative regions: Western, Central, Eastern, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo. Although every Akan village has its own chief, political centralization into larger kingdoms has been a recurrent feature of Akan history, from the fourteenth century Bono kingdom of Techiman to recent entities such as Ashanti and Fante. The Akan are thought to have migrated to modern Ghana from the Sahel.
[Credit: http://www.ikando.org/country.html]

Art: Akan Terracotta Funerary Head at African Art

"Most Akan terracotta images were made by women. The people of most areas recognises these terracotta heads as portraits. Until recently, many ethnic groups in the southern parts of this area commemorated deceased family members and royals with terracotta figural sculpture. Heads such as these, often broken from full figures, or from vessels with figurative elements, all had funerary contexts."(African art .com)

For serious collectors of Ghanaian Art [like Zetha Annan -a tireless promoter and collector, -and myself...very soon!!] -why not visit African art .com. They have a unique collection of Akan Terracotta Funerary Heads -and prices start from £295.00 [for newer pieces]. Please visit: www.forafricanart.com

Please note, these Terracotta Funerary Head were not randomly created -but were made in the image of the deceased, -and are therefore -accurate depictions of our ancestors,-and so very important, -historically. I just hope that we have enough of these beautiful, delicate, historic pieces in our museums [in Ghana] -before we start selling 'the family Silver' to foreign private buyers....................xx