Kumasi Travel Guide

Browse 4 travel reviews, 14 travel blogs and 262 travel photos from real travelers to Kumasi.

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Kumasi Overview

Kumasi is the capital of the Ashanti region in the southern central part of Ghana. The name Kumasi and the city establishment are much older than the Ashanti people.

A Brief History

Ashanti culture belongs to the Akan linguistic group which has many dialects. The Akan language is older than the city of Kumasi. It was one of the major languages spoken in Ghana Civilization near Old Mali between 300 and 600 AD. When Ghana Civilization fell the Akan people began a slow migration along the Niger and Volta rivers until they reached their present location. The Ashanti speak Twi. Akan speaking people are the largest Linguistic group in the Republic of Ghana. Some of the other ethnic groups connected with this language are Brong (to the north of Ashanti), Anyi and Fanti (who live on the Ghanaian Coast next to the Atlantic Ocean). The Ashanti nation evolved about 1700 AD, through a scheme developed by King Obiri Yeboah Manu and a relative Okonfo Anokye. The king and his subjects were controlled by a much large ethnic group known as Denkyra. Obiri had a nephew Osei Tutu who was to become his successor if the scheme worked. He offered his nephew as hostage to the Denkyira Court. His plan was to have his nephew learn the political systems of Denkyia. Then he put Okonfo Anokye in charge of watching over and coaching the child’s development as his spiritual counselor. After Obiri Yeboah Manu death the young nephew and Okonfo Anokye developed a bond which enabled the two individuals to work as one man rather than two. Together they were able to conquer the Denkyra Kingdom and many other ethnic groups of the surrounding area. The dual leadership of Ashanti king (known as Asantahene) and spiritual counselor still exist today. The founders contributed three things. First there was a confederacy government established with its central government in Kumasi. Second they instituted many Ashanti festivals and third they developed a new military system.

Kumasi is a great place to start exploring Ghanaian Culture. Kumasi is the second largest city in the country and the home of Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General. Some of the attractions in Kumasi are the Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology, Kumasi Central Market, the Kumasi National Cultural Centre, the Kumasi Hat Museum, Asantahene's Palace, and a zoo.