Akan Akan may refer to:
People and languages
*Akan people, an ethnic group in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
*Akan language, a language spoken by the Akan people
*Kwa languages, a language group which includes Akan
* Central Tano languages, a language group ...
culture for a group of people that share common maternal ancestry governed by seven major ancient female abosom (deities).Changing Funeral Celebrations in Asanteman ''books.google.com''. 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).
Abusua types
Agona or Anona
People of the
Agona
Agona is a small town in Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivo ...
are predominant in Denkyira and therefore in Asante, Nkawie. The symbol of the Agona is the parrot. When greeted by a person from the Agona or Anona, the reply should be "Yaa ako nana". Some towns of the Agona are
Tafo
Tafo is a town in Kumasi Metropolitan District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana near the regional capital Kumasi.Bodwesango,
Fumesua
Fumesua is a town in Ghana. It is 15 kilometres from the centre Kumasi. It is a dormitory town. It serves mainly as a residential areas for workers in various companies in Kumasi. The town also host the Building and Road Research Institute of Gh ...
Aduana believe that at the time of creation, their ancestors descended from the skies on a golden chain. Others believe that they originally came from Asumanya and they were led by a dog with a flame in his mouth and gold in his cheeks. They proceeded to Dormaa where they believe the flame is still kept alight. Still others believe that from Asumanya a section of the Aduana headed for
Akwamu
Akwamu was a state set up by the Akwamu people in present-day Ghana. After migrating from Bono state, the Akan founders of Akwamu settled in Twifo-Heman. The Akwamu led an expansionist empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the peak of their ...
. Some of the principal towns of the Aduana are Dormaa and most of the Bono people, Akwamu and Twifo Heman. In Asante the principal towns for the Aduana are
Kumawu
Kumawu is a small town and is the capital of Sekyere Kumawu, a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.Agogo, Banso, Obo-Kwahu, Apromaase, Akyem Apapam, Tikurom, Kaase, Apagya,
Bompata
Bompata is a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The town is known for the Bompata Presby Secondary School. The school is a second cycle
The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically def ...
, Kwaso, Akyease, Manso Agroyesum, Manso-Mmem, Manso-Abodom, Gomoa Ohua and Nyinahen. The symbol of the Aduana is the Lion and Dog.
Asenie
The symbol of the Asenie is the bat and its main towns are Kumasi Amakom and Dompoase. When greeted by a person from the Asenie, the reply should be "Yaa adu nana". Other towns of the Asenie are Antoa,
Agona
Agona is a small town in Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivo ...
Wenchi
Wenchi is a town and is the capital of Wenchi Municipal of the Bono Region in middle-belt of Ghana. Wenchi is located at 7.73333 atitude in decimal degrees -2.1 ongitude in decimal degreesat an average elevation/altitude of 304 meters. We ...
, Atwoma, Kofiase, Abira, Baman, Denyase and Boanim. In Adansi Dompoase, members of the Asenie family are the crowned royals of the land and their leaders possesses special leadership skills endowed by their great ancestors.
Asakyiri
Asakyiri claim that they were the first to be created by God. They are to be found in the Adanse area and their main towns are Akorokyere (Akrokere), Asakyiri Amansie, Ayaase, Obogu Nkwanta and Asokore. When greeted by a person from the Asakyiri, the reply should be "Yaa Ofori nana". Other towns of the Asakyiri are ''Abofuo, Aduanede, Abrenkese, and Apeadu''.Their symbol is the vulture and eagle.
They are the oldest but smallest clan in Akan kingdom.
Asona
The symbol of the Asona is the crow or wild boar. It is said that more people generally, belong to the Asona than to any other abusua. The principal towns are Adansi Akrofuom, Kyebi, Edweso and Offinso. When greeted by a member of the Asona, the reply should be "Yaa Ofori nana". Other towns of the Asona are Akyem Begoro, Akyem Asiakwa, New Juaben, Akyem Wenchi, Kukurantumi, Akyem Tafo,
Akuapem-Akropong
Akuapem-Akropong is a town in the Eastern region of Ghana. The town is known for the Okuapeman Secondary School. The political system used in this town is the institution of Chieftaincy. The school is a second cycle
The second (symbol: s) ...
, Akuapem Amanokrom, Akyem Kwarbeng,
Ejura
Ejura is a town and the capital of Ejura/Sekyedumase, a district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Ejura has settlement population of 70,807 people. Ejura is the largest maize producing district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It is in the far no ...
, Feyiase, Manso-Nkwanta, Bonwire, Atwima-Agogo, Abrakaso, Trabuom, Beposo, Toase, and Odumase Ahanta Ntaakrom, Gomoa Asin The head of all Asona towns is Adansi Akrofuom.
Bretuo
Bretuo are found mainly in Adansi Ayaase, Mampong, Kwahu, Adankranya, Amprofi Tanoso
(Tanoso - near Akumadan) Amoafo, Asiwa, and Afigyaase/ Effiduase. Its symbol is the leopard. It is worth noting that the commander of the Asante army against Denkyira was the Mamponhene and in the past, generally, matters relating to war in Asante was the domain of the Mamponhene. When greeted by a person from the Bretuo, the reply should be "Yaa etwie nana". Towns of the Bretuo are Jamase, Apaa, Domeabra, Agogo-Hwidiem, Adankranya, Suhum-Kwahyia, Asiwa (capital of Bosome Freho District) and Abuotem, Ofoase, Brodekwano, Bosomtwe Beposo.
Ekuona
Ekuona are not found in great numbers in Asante. They are mainly found among the Fante but in Asante, their main towns are Adanse Fomena and Asokore. The symbol of the Ekuona is the buffalo. When greeted, the reply should be "Yaa Doku nana". Other towns of the family are Banko, Mprim, Kona, Asokore-Mampon, Berekum, Kokofu-Abuoso, Adumasa, Heman, Abenkyem, Cape Coast, Jukwaa, and Duayaw-Nkwanta.
Oyoko
The falcon is the symbol of the Oyoko. It is also the family from which the current Asantehene comes. Its main towns are Kokofu, Kumasi, Dwaben and Nsuta. When greeted, the reply should be "Yaa Obiri nana". Other towns are Bekwae, Mamponten, Bogyae, Dadieso, Obogu, Asaaman Adubiase, Pampaso, Kontanase, Kenyase, and Ntonso.
In some part of the western region, the symbol of the Oyoko clan is rat. Some people call it 'Ekusi ebusua' therefore members of this clan are called "Ekusifo" in some part in the Western region.
References
*Asante, Molefi, ''African Intellectual Heritage'', 1996
*Gyekye, Kwame, An essay on African philosophical thought: the Akan conceptual scheme, 1995