History Of Osei Tutu
As the monarch of Asante from 1701 through 1717, Osei Tutu is widely regarded as one of the most influential rulers in the country’s history. He successfully completed the lengthy process of nation-building started by Twum and Antwi, Asante’s first two rulers.Osei Tutu provided the Asante with a capital, a constitution, a military machine that ensured a lengthy period of political stability, and a unifying element in the form of the Golden Stool.
His companion and lieutenant, Okomfo Anokye, was instrumental in helping him accomplish these goals. The fact that Osei Tutu’s passing is commemorated in the Asante great oath, known as memeneda kromante, is a testament to both his brilliance and the role he played in the growth of the Asante country. Tradition from the early Asante people describes Osei Tutu’s sojourn in Denkyira and later in Akwapim. It was in Akwapim that he met and became friends with Okomfo Anokye, a native of Awukugua.
Okomfo Anokye went on to become Osei Tutu’s most trusted counselor and lieutenant. Tradition from the early Asante people describes Osei Tutu. Not only did Osei Tutu’s stay in Denkyira and Akwamu give him an introduction to the politics of the two great powers of the day, but it also drove home for him the significance of the Atlantic trade in firearms down the coast.
After the passing of his uncle, Obiri Yeboa, Osei Tutu, with the assistance and support of Okomfo Anokye, returned to Asante and made significant contributions to the growth of Asante in five main ways: he completed the union of Akan states that were within a twenty-five mile radius of Kumasi; he provided the Asante union with a new capital, Kumasi; he introduced a new military organization; and he expanded the boundaries of Asante.
Before Osei Tutu became the monarch of Asante, the components necessary for a union were already in place. With the exception of the chief of Mampon, all of the chiefs of the original Amantoo, which served as the core of the Asante empire, were members of the Oyoko clan. As a result, the concept of brotherhood that is consistent with the Akan family system was amplified. Osei Tutu took advantage of this connection, and by appealing to the Amantoo chiefs’ shared anxieties and hopes, he was able to persuade them to acknowledge the Golden Stool as the heart, mind, and spirit of the Asante nation.
To this day, the Golden Stool continues to serve as a representation of Asante national identity. It was believed that the spirit of the Asante nation could be found within the Golden Stool, which was said to have been conjured from the sky by Okomfo Anokye. The smart statesmanship of Osei Tutu and Okomfo Anokye, along with their manipulation of the religious beliefs of the Asante people, allowed them to instill a sense of collective destiny in the consciousness of the nation.
Because of this, the numerous clans were connected to one another through a spiritual and religious relationship, the physical expression of which was embodied by the Golden Stool, which was shown during celebrations. In addition, the songs and recitals associated with the traditional history of Asante were framed in ways that were designed to develop and maintain the idea of a community of beginnings and a shared collective destiny.
The Asante army, the Golden Stool, the Odwira Festival, and the Asante Constitution were, however, the most powerful of these instruments. Following the formation of the union, Osei Tutu and Okomfo Anokye were certain that the Asante state should endure. This was especially the case considering that Osei Tutu was aware of the internal strife that plagued Akwamu and Denkyira during his time there.
In order to achieve this goal, a variety of state-building tools—some of which were inherited and some of which were developed—were utilized to ensure this unity. The city of Kwaman was renamed Kumasi after Osei Tutu after he moved the capital there. This was accomplished through the use of diplomacy and religious rites that were intended to show that the ancestor spirits approved of the plan.
In addition to this, Osei Tutu is credited with drafting a constitution for the country of Asante. This established the order of authority within the administrative structure of the Asante nation. The Asantehene, who served as both the political and spiritual leader of Kumasi, was positioned at the very top of the edifice.
The leaders of the Amantoo states served as subordinates to the Asantehene. These chiefs gave up the right to declare war, participated in the yearly Odwira celebration, swore an oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, contributed troops during times of war or emergency, and pledged their allegiance to the Asantehene. In addition to this, they acknowledged the court of the Asantehene as the court of appeal and contributed to the apeatuo, which is a national charge that is imposed for certain tasks.
On the other hand, the Amanhene was able to have a role in the development of foreign policy and held the rights to lands that were conquered prior to the formation of the union. Osei Tutu is credited with crystallizing the spirit of the aristocratic ranks by employing various symbols and emblems in line with the levels of clan-family positions and dignities of the many chiefs. This helped Osei Tutu to distinguish between the various degrees of clan-family positions. As a result, Dwaben, Kumawu, Bekwae, and Mampon were placed on a level that was nearly equivalent to that of the Asanthene himself.
The efficient use of the Asante in rapid territorial expansion demonstrates the presence of a well-established military organization system. A body of scouts known as the nkwansrafo, an advance guard known as the twafo, a main body known as the adonten, a personal bodyguard known as the gyase, a rear-guard known as the kyidom, and left (benkum) and right (nifa) wings, respectively, made up the Asante national army. Asante’s military victories can be attributed, in part, to the successful coordination of these components. Each individual state that makes up the Union (Amantoo) was given a specific location inside the military configuration.
The Mamponghehe served as the commander-in-chief, the Essumengyahene commanded the left wing, and the Krontihene commanded the right wing. The Krontihene was in charge of the defense of the capital. Osei Tutu was able to achieve a lethal level of success through the utilization of this capable military organization. Between the years 1699 and 1701, he fought and vanquished Denkyira, and he also conquered Akyem and Offinso.
He avenged the Asante for their loss at the hands of the Dormaa. He brought previously captured states into the union, including Amakom, Tafo, and Ofinso, among others. Amankwa Tia led the Asante warriors that made the crossing of the Pra and began their campaign in the Begho region. Osei Tutu passed away in the year 1717 while engaged in combat with the Akyem, who had not yet been completely subjugated. Osei Tutu was successful in completing the mission of expanding the empire and constructing an efficient administrative structure by the time his reign came to an end. Both of these endeavors had been started by Osei Tutu’s predecessor.
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