Osei Kofi Tutu I was one of the co founders of the Empire of Ashanti, him and his chief priest, Okomfo Anokye. The Ashanti were a powerful, warlike, and highly disciplined people of West Africa, whose history goes back more than 2000 years. The Ashanti are said to be the descendants of those Ethiopians mentioned by Diodorus Siculus and Herodotus who were driven southward by a conquering Egyptian army. Osei Tutu led an alliance of Ashanti states against the regional hegemon, the Denkyira, completely defeating them. Then, through force of arms and diplomacy, he induced the rulers of the other Ashanti city-states to declare allegiance to Kumasi, his capital. Through his career he was closely advised by Okomfo Anokye, his chief Priest. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Ashanti. ... Okomfo Anokye was a traditional priest who occupies a Merlin like position in Ashanti history. ... For other uses, see Ashanti (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ashanti (disambiguation). ... Diodorus Siculus (c. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Ashanti (disambiguation). ... Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ... For other uses, see Ashanti (disambiguation). ... Kumasi is the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana. ... Okomfo Anokye was a traditional priest who occupies a Merlin like position in Ashanti history. ...

The Founding of Ashanti Confederacy

The Empire of Ashanti was officially formed in 1701 and Osei Tutu was crowned Asantehene (King of all Ashanti). He would hold that position until his death in 1717 in a battle against the Akyem.Osei Tutu was the fourth ruler in Asante royal history, succeeding his uncle Obiri Yeoba. The Asante comprise the largest contingent of the Akan or Twi-speaking peoples. Akan societies are matrilineal, with a person belonging to the abusua of his mother. Inheritance, succession and status are lineally determined. Osei Tutu belonged to the Oyoko Abusua. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Ashanti. ... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people. ... Akyem Bosome is a traditional geopolitical entity with a non-contiguous land mass in todays the Eastern and Ashanti / Asante region of Ghana. ... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... The Ashanti (cf Asante) are a major ethnic group from Africa. ... The Ashanti (cf Asante) are a major ethnic group from Africa. ... Akan may be: Akan people, an ethnic group from western Africa Akan States, any of several states organized in the 16th or 17th century by the Akan people Akan languages, a stock of dialects spoken by the Akan people Akan District, Hokkaido Akan, Hokkaido, a town in Akan District, Hokkaido... Twi (pronounced chwee ) is a language spoken in Ghana by about 7 million people. ... Akan may be: Akan people, an ethnic group from western Africa Akan States, any of several states organized in the 16th or 17th century by the Akan people Akan languages, a stock of dialects spoken by the Akan people Akan District, Hokkaido Akan, Hokkaido, a town in Akan District, Hokkaido... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ...

Background

By the middle of the sixteenth century, previous migrations of Abusua groups resulted in the development of a number of Akan states within a thirty mile radius of modern-day Kumasi, Ghana. The dense concentration of states in this limited area was primarily due to the region being a known source of gold and kola; two important trade routes—one from Jenne and Timbuktu in the western Sudanand the other from Hausaland—entered the area. These states were all dominated by the Denkyira. In the middle of the seventeenth century the last of the Abusua groups, the Oyoko Abusua, arrived. Akan may be: Akan people, an ethnic group from western Africa Akan States, any of several states organized in the 16th or 17th century by the Akan people Akan languages, a stock of dialects spoken by the Akan people Akan District, Hokkaido Akan, Hokkaido, a town in Akan District, Hokkaido... Kumasi is the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana. ... Timbuktu (Archaic English: Timbuctoo; Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu; French: Tombouctou) is a city in Tombouctou Region, Mali. ... Motto Al-Nasr Lana(Arabic) Victory is Ours Anthem نحن جند للہ جند الوطن  (Arabic) We are the Army of God and of Our Land Capital Khartoum Largest city Omdurman Official languages Arabic,English Government Government of National Unity  -  President Omar al-Bashir  -  First Vice President Salva Kiir  -  Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha Independence... Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ...

Exploiting the Abusua's mutual hatred for their oppressor, Osei Tutu and his priest-counselor Okomfo Anokye succeeded in merging these states into the Asante Union. This was a carefully orchestrated political and cultural process, which was implemented in successive stages. Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... Okomfo Anokye was a traditional priest who occupies a Merlin like position in Ashanti history. ... The Ashanti (cf Asante) are a major ethnic group from Africa. ...

The Golden Stool

First, the union was spiritually brought into being through the Golden Stool, invoked by Okomfo Anokye, and explained as the embodiment of the soul of the Asante Union. The ruler—in essence the religious and political leader—and the occupant of the Golden stool was to be known as the Asantehene and to be subsequently selected from the lineage of Osei Tutu and Obiri Yeoba. Okomfo Anokye was a traditional priest who occupies a Merlin like position in Ashanti history. ... The Ashanti (cf Asante) are a major ethnic group from Africa. ... According to legend, Okomfo Anokye (a great fetish priest in Ghana) caused the famous Golden Stool (Asante: Sika dwa) to descend from the heavens and land on the lap of the first Asante king. ... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ...

Osei Tutu as The Asantehene

Second, Kumasi was chosen as the capital of the Asante Union, and Osei Tutu was now both the Kumasihene and the Asantehene. The Odwira Festival was inaugurated. Established as an annual and common celebration, and attended by all member states, this served as a unifying force for the nation. Kumasi is the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana. ... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people. ...

The Power of The King

Third, Osei Tutu, assisted by Okomfo Anokye, developed a new constitution for the Union. The Asantahene, who was also the Kumasihene, was at its head, with the kings of the states of the union forming the Confederacy or Union Council. While the power of the asantehene was not absolute, Osei Tutu enjoyed much despotic power. He is arguably one of the most significant black kings in history. He more than trippled the size of his empire through wars of conquest, and expansion, and he brought a sense of dignity back to West Africa. Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... Okomfo Anokye was a traditional priest who occupies a Merlin like position in Ashanti history. ... Territory comprised part of present-day southern Ghana and portions of present-day eastern Côte dIvoire. ... Confederacy may refer to: A form of government, synonymous with confederation or alliance, formed as a union of political organizations, differing from a republic in that the separate political units retain sovereignty themselves; some examples follow: Confederate States of America (commonly called The Confederacy in the USA) Confederate Ireland of...

Military

Fourth, as one of the key objectives for forming the Asante Union was to overthrow the Denkyira, Osei Tutu placed strong emphasis on the military organization of the Union. Supposedly borrowing the military organization from the Akwamu, Osei Tutu honed the Union army into an effective and efficient fighting unit. Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ... Osei is a given name or surname, and may refer to: Emmanuel Osei (born 1981), Ghanaian football player Emmanuel Osei Kuffour (born 1976), Ghanaian football player Mikki Osei Berko, Ghanaian-born actor Nana Osei Bonsu II (born 1939), regent of the Ashanti Kingdom Osei Bonsu (died 1824), Asantehene Osei Kofi... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ...

Expanding The Empire

With the Asante Union firmly established and its military organization in place, Osei Tutu embraced on wars of expansion and revenge. Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ...

After avenging his uncle's death at the hands of the Dormaa and bringing some recalcitrant states into line, Osei Tutu focused on the Denkyira. In 1701, the absolute defeat of the Denkyira and their abettors, the people of Akyem, brought the Asante to the attention of the Europeans on the coast for the first time. The victory broke the Denkyira hold on the trade path to the coast and cleared the way for the Asante to increase trade with the Europeans. Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ... Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ... Akyem Bosome is a traditional geopolitical entity with a non-contiguous land mass in todays the Eastern and Ashanti / Asante region of Ghana. ... The Ashanti (cf Asante) are a major ethnic group from Africa. ... Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ... The Ashanti (cf Asante) are a major ethnic group from Africa. ...

Death of The Asantehene

In 1717, Osei Tutu was killed in a war against the Akyem. He was strucked by bullets from snipers and sharpshooters, who were hiding in the dense forests and the trees as he crossed a river in a canoe. Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... Akyem Bosome is a traditional geopolitical entity with a non-contiguous land mass in todays the Eastern and Ashanti / Asante region of Ghana. ...

At the onset of the struggle, Osei Tutu underestimated the Akyem, because they were few in number, however this would prove to be a fatal mistake. He went into the battle, without his usual magical amulets", and even left some of his body armor back at Kumasi, his capital. Kumasi is the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana. ...

Minutes after being strucked by the bullet, Asantehene Osei Tutu I died. His last words were "ankah me nime ya" (If only I knew) in reference to underestimating the akyem.

The Legacy

Osei Kofi Tutu I and his adviser, Okomfo Anokye, forged the Asante Union from a number of different Abusua groups who submerged their old rivalries and hatred for the common good—the overthrow of their common oppressor, the Denkyira. Skillfully utilizing a combination of spiritual dogma and political skill, and ably supported by military prowess, Osei Tutu tripled the size of the small kingdom of Kumasi which he had inherited from his uncle Obiri Yeoba and laid the foundation for the Empire of Ashanti in the process. Okomfo Anokye was a traditional priest who occupies a Merlin like position in Ashanti history. ... Denkyira was a nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. ... Osei Kofi Tutu I was the founder of the Ashanti Confederacy, a loosely knit group of city states. ... Kumasi is the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Ashanti. ...

• http://www.blackhistorypages.net/pages/oseitutu.php
• http://members.tripod.com/~Abyssinia/Africa/OseiTutu.html
• http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9057534/Osei-Tutu
• http://www.swagga.com/king.htm
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• http://www.upstate88.com/blackhistory/page4.html
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• http://www.ijebu.org/conquerors/oseiTutu/ [[Category:Ashanti Kingdom]] [[de:Osei Tutu I.]] [[eo:Osei Kofi Tutu la 1-a]] [[pl:Osei Tutu]]