Denkyira
Encyclopedia
Denkyira was a powerful nation of Akan people
that existed in southern present-day Ghana
from 1620. Like all Akans they originated from Bono state. Before 1620 Denkyira was called Agona
. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirahene and the capital was Jukwaa. The first Denkyirahene was Mumunumfi.
Later the capital of Denkyira moved to Abankeseso
.
Denkyira became powerful through gold
production and trade with Europe
.
The 1690s saw wars between Denkyira and the Asen
and Twifo. The goal of these struggles was to keep open the trade routes to the coast.
The Denkyira state dominated the trade Europeans on the Western part of what is now Ghana while the Akwamu Domuniated trade with Europeans on the Eastern part.
It dominated the neighboring states apart from the Akwamu
and Akyem
and Ashanti was a tributary to Denkyira until 1701, when it was defeated by the Ashanti in the Battle of Feyiase
, and became a tributary to the Ashanti empire.
In 1868 Denkyira entered the Fante Confederacy
to fight for Great Britain
against the Ashanti and the Dutch
. When the confederacy proved unable to defeat the Ashanti, it became a part of the British colony Gold Coast
in 1874. In 1957 Gold Coast became independent as Ghana.
The present-day ruler of the Denkyira is Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III
.
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
that existed in southern present-day Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
from 1620. Like all Akans they originated from Bono state. Before 1620 Denkyira was called Agona
Agona
Agona is a small town in Ghana. It is the capital of Sekyere South District....
. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirahene and the capital was Jukwaa. The first Denkyirahene was Mumunumfi.
Later the capital of Denkyira moved to Abankeseso
Abankeseso
Abankeseso was the capital of the state of Denkyira in part of what is today Ghana in the 1690s.In 1692 Dutch, English and Brandenburger traders traveled to Abankeseso and set up trading relations with the Denkyirahene Boamponsem.-Sources:...
.
Denkyira became powerful through gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
production and trade with Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The 1690s saw wars between Denkyira and the Asen
Asen
Asen has several different meanings:* Asen dynasty, a dynasty which ruled the Second Bulgarian Empire between 1187 and 1280* ASEN - The Australian Student Environment Network...
and Twifo. The goal of these struggles was to keep open the trade routes to the coast.
The Denkyira state dominated the trade Europeans on the Western part of what is now Ghana while the Akwamu Domuniated trade with Europeans on the Eastern part.
It dominated the neighboring states apart from the Akwamu
Akwamu
The Akwamu was a state set up by the Akan people in Ghana which existed in the 17th century and 18th century. Originally immigrating from Bono state, the founders settled in Twifo-Heman. The Akwamu created an expansionist empire in the 16th and 17th century...
and Akyem
Akyem
The Akyem are an Akan people. The term Akyem is used to describe a group of three states: Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku and Akyem Bosome. These nations are located primarily in the eastern regions of modern-day Ghana. The term is also used to describe the general area where the Akyem ethnic group...
and Ashanti was a tributary to Denkyira until 1701, when it was defeated by the Ashanti in the Battle of Feyiase
Battle of Feyiase
The Battle of Feyiase was the decisive battle in the struggle that led to the Ashanti Empire replacing Denkyira as the dominant power among the Twi-speaking Akan peoples....
, and became a tributary to the Ashanti empire.
In 1868 Denkyira entered the Fante Confederacy
Fante Confederacy
The Fante Confederacy can refer either to the loose alliance of the Fante states in existence at least since the sixteenth century, or it can refer to the briefly lived Confederation formed in 1868 and dissolved in 1874...
to fight for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
against the Ashanti and the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. When the confederacy proved unable to defeat the Ashanti, it became a part of the British colony Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
in 1874. In 1957 Gold Coast became independent as Ghana.
The present-day ruler of the Denkyira is Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III
Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III
Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III was born on 11 November 1932 in Ghana as John Kwame Amofa Appiah.He studied Public Administration in Pennsylvania. In 1955 he became Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III, King of Denkyira....
.
See also
- Rulers of the Akan state of DenkyiraRulers of the Akan state of Denkyira-List of Rulers of the Akan state of Denkyira :-See also:*Akan*Ghana*Gold Coast*Lists of Incumbents...
- Upper Denkyira DistrictUpper Denkyira DistrictThe Upper Denkyira District is a district of Ghana in the west of the Central Region. It is named after the former kingdom of Denkyira. The capital of Upper denkyira District is Dunkwa-On-Offin.-References:*...
- Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira DistrictTwifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira DistrictThe Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira District is a district in the Central Region of Ghana.Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira district is where Kakum National Park is located. The district also has the River Pra and the Twifo oil palm plantation ltd.-External links:...