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HISTORY OF AKYEM STATE:
NANA OSEI
TUTU was succeeded by his nephew, NANA
OPOKU WARE I, who vowed to avenge his uncle's death by
renewing the war against the Akyems. The Akyems, knowing too well
what the Ashantis intend to do after the death of King Osei Tutu,
moved southeastwards. As a result of this movement, some of the Akyems,
especially the Kotokus, settled in the present day Ashanti-Akyem area.
The majority of the Akyems, however, continued to move southeastwards
and settled in several areas along the the way until they came into
contact with the AKWAMUS, who
were a powerful nation inhabiting and ruling the tribes from Asamankese
to Nyanawase (which was then their capital and part of Akwapim).
The Akyems, especially
the Abuakwas, had to fight the Akwamus and got settled in the areas
evacuated by the Akwamus. However, the Akwamus left some of their
people at Anum Asamankese and Sakyikrom which are today part of
Akyem Abuakwa; as well as Adoagyiri, now inhabited by the Kotokus.
The Akyem Abuakwas made their temporary capitals in several areas,
including Praso, until they finally settled at Pameng. However,
it was during the reign of NANA OFORI PANIN
that the capital of Akyem Abuakwa was finally moved to "Kyebirie"
(named after a black hat used by a hunter using the area as his
hunting grounds). It is now known as KYEBI
, where the Aduana clan had already settled.
Meanwhile, the Akyem Kotoku settled
at Nsutam-Bososo area with their capital at Gyadam. During the reign
of the great warrior king of the Akyems, Nana
Owusu Akyem Tenten, the Guans and Dawus appealed to him
for help to drive the Akwamus out of their area for them to enjoy
peace. He agreed to send his nephew, Odehyee Safori, with an army
made up mostly of the people of Akyem Akropong (the Twafo section
of the Adonten Division) to go to the aid of the the Dawus, the
Guans and others. Odehyee Safori succeeded in driving the Akwamus
out of what is today known as Akwapim, with its capital called Akropong,
named after Akyem Akropong. Safori pursued the Akwamus across the
River Volta, where they settled up to this day, with their capital
at Akwamufie.
On the return to Akwapim by the
victorious Akyem Abuakwa army from the banks of the Volta river,
Odehyee Safori and his army, with the consent of the Okyehene, Nana
Owusu Akyem Tenten, his uncle, agreed to stay in Akwapim to protect
the Akwapims from any further attacks by the Akwamus. To signify
this agreement, a stone was "buried" and that the Akyems were to
return to Akyem Abuakwa only when that stone had "grown". Odehyee
Safori became the Paramount Chief (Akuapimhene) with Akropong Akwapim
as his capital of the newly founded Akwapim State. His nephew also
became the Amanokromhene and the Gyasehene of the Akwapim state.
CONTINUE
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