| Martin
Luther King Addo comes from the country
of Ghana in West Africa. Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) takes its name
from the ancient Ghana Empire and was the first country in colonial Africa
to attain independence in 1957. |
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high profile area of Ghana is the Ashanti Region, the seat of the Ashanti
kingdom and an ancient African culture as famous as the Zulu of South Africa
and the Maasai of Kenya. |
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| With
roots going back to the 17th century, Kumasi is the ancient capital of
the Ashanti kingdom, the largest ethnic group in Ghana and one of the few
matrilineal societies left in Africa. Today Kumasi is Ghana’s second largest
city, with a population nearing 1.5 million – located in the south-central
part of the country. Known as the “Garden City”, Kumasi is a commercial
centre, famous for its arts and crafts. It features one of the largest
markets in Africa and is the seat of the powerful Ashanti (Asante) Kingdom. |
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The
Asante Kingdom was founded by King Opemsuo Osei Tutu I (1695-1731)
and his mystic friend and sage, Okomfo Anokye, who unified the Asante states
through allegiance to a Golden
Stool - which legend has, miraculously descended from heaven. Asante
was the most powerful of a number of states formed in the forest region
of southern Ghana by people known as the Akan. Among many factors which
led the Akan to become unified, was the wealth derived from the presence
of vast gold deposits. The current Asante king is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
His official residence is at Manhyia Palace which also houses the Prempeh
II Jubilee Museum. |
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Though
Gold was mined in the Ashanti region for several centuries,
it wasn't until the late 19th century that it began on a large scale. The
commercial mining operations with origins in those days evolved into the
Ashanti Goldfields Company. It was the birth of an enterprise that 100
years later, is a flagship African Company and Ghana's second leading earner
of foreign exchange. Over the past century, 25 million ounces of gold have
been derived from its efforts, equaling $10 billion dollars if valued at
today's price. No wonder the Ashanti Region is called the 'Kingdom of Gold'. |
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| The
Ashanti Region's wealth is not limited to gold. It is also measured
in the rich history of the kingdom which is manifested in numerous festivals
that take place throughout the year. The most famous is the Akwasidae
which
is held every six weeks. It is marked by a procession of royals and their
entourages through Kumasi streets to the palace, where the king holds a
public audience – giving his subjects an opportunity to see and greet him
in person. Another measure of Ashanti cultural wealth is the high quality
of arts and crafts produced locally. Several villages surround Kumasi,
each with its own specialty. Ahwiaa is famous for woodcarving and the crafting
of royal stools, fertility dolls, walking sticks and figurines. Nearby
is Ntonso where adinkra funeral cloth is produced. Another weaving
village is Bonwire which produces the famous kente cloth worn by
royals. Pankronu is known for its hand-fashioned pottery, while Ampabame
Krofrom is synonomous with artisans who make brass castings. Asuofia and
Asamang are villages that specialise in beadmaking. |
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The
Ashanti Region is also blessed with an abundance of Nature's
gifts. Lake
Bosomtwe is a pristine crater lake formed by a meteor impact about
one million years ago. It has recently been designated a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The local people believe the lake is inhabited by spirit forces and
observe a number of strict taboos. With recent improvements for visitors,
it's become popular with both locals and tourists alike. Bromfobini Wild
Sanctuary is a forest reserve with savannah and has a waterfall as an added
attraction. Bobin Forest Reserve at Kubease has large populations of butterflies.
The region is also home to the Owabi Bird Sanctuary, a protected national
park. |
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More
Photos of Ghana
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