Sɛ Yɛ (Yɛn) Duru Amanfoso a (old settlement, or even old Abusua Fie), Na Yɛkae Nananom.
When Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa was chosen as Abenehene, by Nana Abenehemaa; the choice was vehemently opposed, led by Abetifihene (Kwawu Adonten) with threats of violence. Professor Akosa is of course, eminently qualified. The main resentment was that he was wrongly characterised as being “Asantenii.”
Abetifi, the Kwawu Adontehene later welcomed the choice of a Royal who at the time lived in Los Angeles, California.
We all know how that ended in October 2024. And how a renegade Royal, claiming to be “Ɔhemaa” caused unspeakable disgrace to Abetifihene, in what was essentially an attempted coup d’etat to reverse the destoolment of the Kwawumanhene. These event in October 2024, made Nana Kwawumanhemaa’s decision regarding the choice of of Professor Akosa in May 2017, seem prescient.
A new Abenehene, was enstooled. He is the new Kwawumanhene Daaseberɛ Akuamoa Boaten III, beloved.
For the first time, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa has publicly explained how the events of May 2017 came about.
Here is the historical antecedents to the ABENE-MANPON Brotherhood:
In the Great Migration of the Akan People from Adansi and Amanseɛ areas, the Bretuo were led by Baafoɔ Antiedu, while his brother Ampon Agyei Kwafo led the Etena Bretuo branch. Like other Akan Abusua groups in the 15th and 16th Centuries, the Tena Bretuo were in search of Land for settlement.
However, when they reached Tokwaboɔho in the vicinity of today’s Afigyase (Efiduase) and Manpon Akrofoso, Nana Ampon Agyei took a right turn. That is how the two Etena Bretuo brothers got separated.
Ampon Agyei eventually crossed the heavily forested River Afram (today’s Afram Plains), and established the town of Abene on the Kwawu mountains. He ruled as the Chief of Abene, which became the Ahenkro, and Seat of Kwawuman. The Chief of Abene reigns as Kwawumanhene. The Etena Bretuo Abusua is the Royal Family of Kwawu.
Meanwhile, Baafoɔ Antiedu and his Bretuo turned left, and he and his successors established Akrofoso and Kodiekrom. One of their greatest rulers was Amanin Ampon (Amaniampon). His successors included Ɔsɛe Adu Boahen Anantuo, and Akuamoa Boaten Panin. Atakora Panin succeeded Akuamoa Boaten Panin. It was Atakora Panin who moved the Ahenkro from Akrofoso to the new settlement called Manpon. Though the process had started during the reign of Boahen Anantuo.
The town of Manpon is surrounded by Mountains, the Manpon Scarp, which is part of the Kwawu Scarp.
A Bretuo Royal from Manpon can contest the Abene Stool and become Kwawumanhene. Just as an Etena Royal from Abene can contest the Manpon Stool, and become Manponmanhene.
Let’s avoid the divisive terms “Asantenii wants to serve as Kwawumanhene;” and vice versa. Abrewa nim ne Mma ne Nananom.
I wish Ɔdehyepon Agyeman Badu Akosa well.
Credit: Sankofa
