Akanland
Akanland
| |
|---|---|
| Motto(s): Akofena "Courage, valor, and heroism" | |
| Anthem: Yεn Ara Asase Ni "This Is Our Own Land" | |
| Location of Akanland on the world map. Location of Akanland on the world map.
| |
| Location of Akanland within Ghana. Location of Akanland within Ghana. | |
| Part of | Ghana |
| Capital | Kumasi 6°40′N 1°37′W / 6.667°N 1.617°W Cape Coasta 5°06′N 1°15′W / 5.100°N 1.250°W |
| Regions | Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central Akanland, Eastern Akanland, Western Akanland |
| Government | |
| • President | Akufo-Addo (NPP) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 117,036 km2 (45,188 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 11,439,993 |
| • Density | 98/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| • Ethnic groups |
|
| Demonym(s) | Akan Akanfo (ak) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (GMT) |
| ISO 3166 code | AK
|
| Calling code | +233- (Akanland) +032 20 (Kumasi) |
| GDP (PPP) - Total - Per capita |  $618.984 billion[1] $48,828.957[1]
|
| Date formats | yyyyAfe mmBosome ddAfeda yyyy/mm/dd (CE) |
| Drives on the | right
|
| Water (%) | 3.2
|
| Internet TLD[a] | .akl
|
| Independence | None¹ |
| Official languages | Akan
|
| Patron saint | Nyame |
| 1. Mobile phone system CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, WiBro and LTE. 2. Domestic power supply 240V/60 Hz, CEE 7/7 sockets. | |
Akanland (pronunciation: English language pronunciation /ˈækænlənd/), Akanman (Akan: pronunciation: Akan language pronunciation /ˈækænˈmæn/), is a cultural region within Ghana in Africa. It is bordered by the Ivory Coast to the west, the Black Volta River to the north, the Volta River to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. Akanland has a total area of 117,036 square kilometres (45,188 sq mi) and a population of 11.4 million. The capital city largest city of Akanland is Kumasi. Akanland's eastern border, is home to its famous Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world by surface area.[2]
In the 10th and 11th centuries AD, the Akans founded Bonoman, then moved southward between the 12th and 13th centuries AD, and founded a number of Akan kingdoms, including the inland Ashanti Empire, the Akwamu, the Akyem, the Bonoman, the Denkyira, the Aowin, the Ahanta and the Wassa. Prior to Akanland having contact with Europeans, trade between the Akans and various African states flourished due to the Akans gold wealth. Akanland trade with European states began after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century AD.[3] By the 12th century, the Akan Kingdom of Bonoman (Bono State) was established.[4] During the 13th century, when the gold mines in the Sahel started to dry up, Bonoman and later other Akan states began to rise to prominence as the major players in the gold trade.[4] It was Bonoman and other Akan kingdoms of Denkyira, Akyem and Akwamu which were the predecessors to what became the all-powerful Empire of Ashanti. By the 17th century there were Akans identified as living in a state called Kwaaman. The location of the state was north of Lake Bosomtwe. The state's revenue was mainly derived from trading in gold and kola nuts and clearing forest to plant yams.[4] Akans built towns between the Pra and Ofin rivers. Akans formed alliances for defense and paid tribute to Denkyira one of the more powerful Akan states at that time along with Adansi and Akwamu. During the 16th century AD, Akan society experienced sudden changes, including a population growth because of cultivation of New World plants such as cassava and maize and an increase in the gold trade between the coast and the north of Akanland.[4]
By the 17th century AD, Akan king Osei Kofi Tutu I (c. 1695 – 1717), with help of Okomfo Anokye, unified Akan states to what became Akanland into a confederation with the Golden Stool as a symbol of their unity and spirit. King Osei Tutu Kofi Tutu I, engaged in a massive Akan territorial expansion.[5] King Osei Tutu Kofi Tutu I, built up the Akan army based on the Akan state of Akwamu, introducing new organization and turning a disciplined Akan militia into an effective fighting machine.[5] In 1701, the Akan army conquered Denkyira, giving them access to the coastal trade with Europeans notably the Dutch. King Opoku Ware I (1720 – 1745) engaged in further Akan territorial expansion, adding other southern Akan states to the growing Akan empire. King Opoku Ware I, turned north adding Gyaaman state on the Black Volta. Akan king Kusi Obodom (1750 – 1764) succeeded king Opoku Ware I.[5] King Kusi Obodom solidified all the newly won Akan territories. Akan king Osei Kwadwo (1777 – 1803) imposed administrative reforms that allowed the Akan empire to be governed effectively and to continue its military expansion. Akan king Osei Kwame Panyin (1777 – 1803), and Akan king Osei Tutu Kwame (1804–1824), continued territorial consolidation and expansion. The Akan Empire of Ashanti included all of present-day Akanland.[5]
The ashantehene inherited his position from his mother. He was assisted at the capital, Kumasi, by a civil service of men talented in trade, diplomacy, and the military, with a head called the Gyaasehene.[6] Men from the Arabian Peninsula, Sudan, and Europe were employed in Akan civil service, all of them appointed by the ashantehene.[6] At the capital, Kumasi and in other towns, the ankobia or special police were used as bodyguards to the ashantehene, as sources of intelligence, and to suppress rebellion.[6] Communication throughout Akanland was maintained via a network of well-kept roads from the coast of Akanland to the middle Niger and linking together other trade cities.[6][7] For most of the 19th century AD, the Akan Empire of Ashanti remained powerful. It was later disbanded in the 20th century by British superior weaponry and organization following the four Akan-British wars.[8]
Akanland has one of the few large economies in Africa, and had the fastest GDP growth rate on the Africa continent and the second fastest GDP growth rate in the world in 2011.[9] Akanland is the second largest gold producer on the Africa continent and one of the top-ten gold producers in the world,[10] as well as the second largest cocoa producer on the Africa continent and in the world, and Akanland is among the top-five highest standard of living in Africa.[11]
Etymology
c. 18th – 19th century
Between the 10th and 12th centuries AD, the Akans settled in the forest belt of present-day Akanland and established several states. At the beginning of the 18th and in the 19th century the Akans became wealthy through the trading of gold mined from their territory, Akanland.[12][13]
The identity of an Akan nation is expressed by the term Akanman. The Akan word ɔman (plural aman) which forms the second element in this expression has a meaning much of "community, town; nation, state". It has been translated as "Akanland".[14]
History
Early history
Akans settled to their current location from the Sahel and Savannah region into the forested region between the 10th and 12th centuries AD. Akan history is said to have started in the forested region as this is where the ethnogenesis of the Akans as is known today happened.[12][13]
The kingdom of Bonoman was established as early as the 11th century AD, as a trading state between the Akans and their neighboring nations. By the end of the 16th century AD, the Akans had established much of present-day Akanland. Archaeological remains found in the coastal zone indicate that the Akanland area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age (c. 2000 BC), but these societies, based on fishing in the extensive lagoons and rivers, left few traces. Archaeological work also suggests that northern Akanland (Brong Ahafo) in the forest zone was inhabited as early as 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. Oral history and other sources suggest that the ancestors of Akans entered the area of Akanland as early as the 10th century AD.[14][15]
Akanland states: 11th–15th century
From the 13th century AD, Akans emerged from the Bonoman state (Brong Ahafo), to create several Akan States, mainly based on gold trading. These states included Ashanti, Denkyira (Central and Western Akanland), Akwamu and Akyem (Eastern Akanland), Aowin, Ahanta and Wassa (Western Akanland). By the 19th century, most of modern Akanland territory was included in the Akan Empire of Ashanti, one of the most influential states in sub-Saharan Africa. The Empire's government operated first as a loose network, and eventually as a centralized kingdom with an advanced, highly specialized bureaucracy centred in Kumasi. It is said that at its peak, the Asantehene could field 500,000 troops, and it had some degree of military influence over all of its neighbours.[16]
Trading era: 15th–19th century
Akanland and Akans came into early European contact by the Portuguese, who came to Akanland in the 15th century, and they were interested by Akanland's extensive availability of gold. The Portuguese landed at a town on the coast of Central Akanland, and named the place Elmina.[17] In 1481, King John II of Portugal commissioned Diogo d'Azambuja to build Elmina Castle, which was completed in three years.[18]
By 1598, the Dutch had joined them, building forts at Komeda and Kormantsi.[18] In 1617, they captured the Olnini Castle from the Portuguese, and Axim in 1642 (Fort St Anthony). Other European traders had joined in by the mid-17th century, largely English, Danes and Swedes. More than thirty forts and castles were built in Akanland by the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Spanish merchants.[19]
Akan war era: 19th–20th century
Akans were engaged in many wars between European powers and various nation-states as Akanland came under attack, from 1806 to the 20th century, the Akans fought wars against the British to defend Akanland. The Akan army defeated the British in 1823, 1864 and 1874, but eventually succumbed with the Akan-British War in the early 1900s.[21][22][23][24]
Modern era: 21st century and Akanland independence
The 21st century has seen Akanland gain advances in healthcare, education and become economically and politically developed. In 2000, the major Akanland political party, the New Patriotic Party nominated John Agyekum Kufuor as its president. Kufuor was again nominated as the president of the New Patriotic Party in 2004.[25]
Mampanin Kufuor na mampanin Lula ma Brasil, mu ban ɔman apontow
Presidente John Kufuor e o presidente do Brasil Lula, durante banquete de Estado
The New Patriotic Party has been the most popular Akan political party of Akanland, since the turn of the 21st century to present, with John Agyekum Kufuor serving as president of Akanland until 2008.[25] Along with the process and call of the Akans for their independence (sovereign state) of Akanland, the New Patriotic Party and Kufuor founded Akanland's oil reserves and established universities, schools, science and technology, universal healthcare, transportation services, infrastructure and renewable energy in Akanland between 2000 and 2008.[25] Following Kufuor serving his term as president of Akanland, the New Patriotic Party nominated Nana Akufo-Addo as its president.[26] The New Patriotic Party nominated Akufo-Addo as its president again in 2010, with Akufo-Addo serving as the president of Akanland since 2008,[25] and during Akufo-Addo's term as president, Akanland has seen significant rise in GDP growth rate as well as having the title of the world's second largest cocoa producer,[11] one of the world's largest gold producer,[10] and Akanland is consistently rated high in the Global Peace Index, ranking as the 5th most peaceful in Africa and ranking 42nd out of 153 nations for peacefulness in 2011.[27]
Geography
Akanland is located on the Gulf of Guinea, only a few degrees north of the Equator, giving Akanland a warm climate. Akanland spans an area of 117,036 km2 (45,188 sq mi). Akanland is surrounded by the Volta River to the east, the Ivory Coast to the west, the Black Volta River to the north and the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) to the south. The Prime Meridian passes through Akanland. Akanland is geographically closer to the "centre" of the world than any other country even though the notional centre (0°, 0°) is located in the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.[28]
Geology and terrain
Akanland encompasses flat plains, low hills and a few rivers. Akanland can be divided into four different geographical regions. The coastline of Akanland is mostly a low, sandy shore backed by plains and scrub and intersected by several rivers and streams. Western Akanland and Central Akanland is made up of a forested plateau region consisting of the Ashanti uplands and the Kwahu Plateau; the hilly Atiwa-Atwaredu ranges are found along Eastern Akanland's eastern border. The Volta Basin also takes up most of Brong Ahafo and Central Akanland. Akanland's highest point is Atewa Range which is 850 m (2,789 ft) and is found in the Akyem Abuakwa in Eastern Akanland.
Climate
Akanland's climate is tropical. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, the northern Akanland (Brong Ahafo) and Western Akanland corners are hot and humid. Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, extends through Eastern Akanland's border and many tributary rivers such as the Oti and Afram rivers flow into the lake.
Akanland has two main seasons: the wet and the dry seasons. Akanland experiences its rainy season from April to mid-November.
| Climate data for Akanland (records) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.5 (81.5) |
27.5 (81.5) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.0 (82.4) |
27.0 (80.6) |
26.0 (78.8) |
25.0 (77.0) |
24.0 (75.2) |
25.0 (77.0) |
26.0 (78.8) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23 (−9) |
−23 (−9) |
−24 (−11) |
−24 (−11) |
−23 (−9) |
−23 (−9) |
−22 (−8) |
−21 (−6) |
−22 (−8) |
−22 (−8) |
−23 (−9) |
−23 (−9) |
−21 (−6) |
| Source: Climatemps.com[29] | |||||||||||||
Flora & fauna and Biodiversity
Akanland contains evergreen and semi-deciduous forests consisting of trees such as mahogany, odum, ebony, oil palms, mangroves, shea trees, baobabs and acacias.
Politics
Akanland has three political parties.[30] The major Akan political party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) was founded in 1992, and its first president was John Agyekum Kufuor. Kufuor was nominated as the New Patriotic Party's president in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2004.[30] In 2008, the New Patriotic Party nominated Nana Akufo-Addo as its second and new president, winning 48% of the votes in the first round of the poll, and given a unanimous endorsement in the second round.[30] The second major Akan political party, Convention People's Party (CPP), in 2011 nominated Samia Yaba Nkrumah as its chairperson and president, winning the poll with 1,191 votes, and her nearest contender, the incumbent, polled 353 votes.[30] Nkrumah thus became the first woman to ever head one of the three Akanland political parties and a major political party in Akanland. Akanland's third political party, Progressive People (PPP), nominated Paa Kwesi Nduom as its chairperson and president in January 2012.[30]
| Akanland Political Parties | ||||
| Party | President | Chairperson | Foundation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Patriotic Party logo | New Patriotic Party (NPP) | Nana Akufo-Addo | Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey | 1992 |
| Convention People's Party logo | Convention People's Party (CPP) | Samia Yaaba Nkrumah | 1949 | |
|
Progressive People's Party (PPP) | Paa Kwesi Nduom | 2012 | |
Regions
Akanland consists of five regions called ɔman (aman) in Akan, the regions represent dialectal, cultural and economic variations, historically, regions are divisions of the Akan ɔman (plural aman), areas which represent dialects and culture more accurately.
Foreign relations
Akanland has many diplomats and politicians that hold positions in international organisations.
These diplomats and politicians include Akanland's Diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations – Kofi Annan, and John Kufuor who has served as Chairman of the African Union.[30]
Economy
Akanland is one of the fastest growing and few large economies of Africa and also one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Akanland has more than twice the per capita output of the other countries in Africa,[31] and has the highest top-five standard of living in Africa along with Libya, Mauritius, Tunisia and Algeria.[31]
In 2011, Akanland's economy grew by 14%, the highest in Africa, and the GDP of Akanland was $71.216 billion (CNY¥463.631 billion), the tenth highest in Africa, and per capita GDP was $8,300 (CNY¥51,846). Akanland had the ninth per capita GDP in Africa in 2011, with Tunisia ($9,400), South Africa ($10,700), Botswana ($14,000), Mauritius ($14,000) and Equatorial Guinea ($34,824), then a quintuple growth in per capita GDP of Akanland to $49,000 (CNY¥305,524) as well as an octuple growth in the GDP of Akanland.[32]
Akanland’s labour force in 2011 totaled 9.5 million people.[33] Akanland's domestic economy revolves around services, which accounts for 48.5% of GDP and employs 56% of the Akan work force. Manufacturing accounts for 25.9% of GDP and provides employment for 40% of the Akan work force.[33] Agriculture accounts for 25.6% of GDP and provides employment for 4% of the Akan work force.[33]
Gold
Akanland is known for its gold reserves, Akanland is one of the world's top-ten gold producers and second largest producer of gold in Africa, behind South Africa.[10] Gold is mined and produced predominantly in the Akanland region of Ashanti, followed by Western Akanland, Brong Ahafo and Central Akanland.[10]
Cocoa
Akanland is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world.[11] Cocoa in Akanland is produced in all of the five Akanland regions; Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central Akanland, Eastern Akanland and Western Akanland. Brong Ahafo is the primary processor of cocoa beans into cocoa butter and cocoa powder in Akanland.[34]
Mineral resources
Akanland's other mineral exports apart from gold such as, diamond, timber, bauxite,[35] and manganese which are all located and produced in Akanland's five regions; Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central Akanland, Eastern Akanland and Western Akanland, are also major sources of foreign exchange for Akanland's rapidly growing and expanding economy.[35]
Tourism
Akanland's tourism economic sector is rapidly growing. Akanland's rapid economic growth, strength and stability, low crime rate and wide use of English makes Akanland an attractive tourist destination and stop over to Sub-Saharan Africa for South Americans, East Asians, and Europeans. Akanland's UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, national parks such as Kakum National Park and Digya National Park, as well as Akan cultural celebrations are major centers of tourist activity.[36]
Akanland Oil reserves and production
An Akanland oilfield which is reported to contain up to 3 billion barrels (480,000,000 m3) of light sweet crude oil was discovered off the Western coast of Akanland by Akanland's political party the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2007.[37] Sweet crude oil and gas exploration is ongoing, and the amount of Akanland's both oil and gas resources and reserves continues to increase.[38] Tremendous inflow of capital into the Akan economy is expected from the beginning of the first quarter of 2011 when Akanland starts producing petroleum in commercial quantities. Akanland's oil is expected to account for 6% of Akanland's revenue for 2011.[39]
Akanland is believed to have up to 5 billion barrels (790,000,000 m3) of oil in reserves,[40] which is the sixth largest in Africa and the 25th largest proven reserves in the world.[41]
Seaport
Takordai harbour receives and exports high volumes of cargo, cargo ships and entrepot trade.[42] The harbour serves as the main export port for Akanland.[43] Takoradi harbour handles 99% of Akanland's total export with about 600 vessels visiting a day.[43] Takoradi harbour handles 97% of Akanland's seabourn traffic and 99% of national exports. It receives 90% of all the imports that Akanland receives.[43]
Takoradi harbour also serves the international trade purposes of land locked countries in the Sahel region of Africa. Some of the countries are Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The harbour transits large volumes of cargo for these countries.[43]
Energy, Science and Technology
Third image: Solar panels in Ashanti.
The Akosombo Dam in Eastern Akanland, built on the Volta River in 1965, provides hydro-electricity for Akanland and its neighbouring countries.[44] The Bui Dam in Brong Ahafo and the Kpong Dam in Eastern Akanland also contribute to Akanland's electricity generation economical sector.[44] Solar power energy is produced and used in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Akanland and gas is produced in Western Akanland along with petroleum.[44] The Akanland Institute of Science and Technology (AKLIST) and the Akanland National Space Administration (AKLNSA) provides Akanland with incite on the use of further renewable energy.[44]
Transport
The strategic geographical location of Akanland to the Lake Volta and many rivers that provide inland transport makes Akanland a very transited territory for freighters.
Road
The main backbones of road transport in Akanland are the – N4 and N6 that links capitals such as Kumasi to Koforidua – and a few regional highways that serve the five Akanland regions; Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central Akanland, Eastern and Western Akanland.
Rail
The major rail routes in Akanland – the Eastern Akanland rail line connects Kumasi to Koforidua, the Western Akanland rail line connects Kumasi to Sekondi-Takoradi, Sunyani and Cape Coast. A US$60 billion (CNY¥374 billion) rail project, Akanland High Speed Rail (abbreviated AHSR or HSR), to upgrade all of Akanland's railways to High-speed rail as Taiwan's Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR), has been planned, with construction managed by the Taiwan private company, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC).[45]
Airports
The three capitals have airports:
- Kumasi Airport (KMS) International.
- Sekondi-Takoradi Airport (TKD).
- Sunyani Airport (NYI).
Of the three, the most important Airline hub and entry point to Akanland is Kumasi Airport, offering international connections, and there is planned major reconstruction and expansion to Kumasi International Airport, that is scheduled to be completed in December 2013.[46][47]
Ferries and waterways
Aknland's Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 kilometres of arterial and feeder waterway.
There are ferries in Akanland on Lake Volta at Yeji and Kwadjokrom.
Demographics
Akanland's population is at 11.4 million people as of 2012. Akanland's first population census, in 1960, counted 3 million inhabitants.[49]
Ethnicity and language
The native ethnic group is Akans. As of 2012, 11 million (99.6%) of the population are Akans. Akan is the official language of Akanland, and is the standard language used for business and educational instruction.[50]
Foreign workers and immigrants
Foreigners and other minority nationalities currently in Akanland (0.4%) are: South American nationals; Asians – Chinese nationals (Han Chinese), and Indian nationals (descendants of Tamils, Gujaratis and Sindhis); Syrian nationals; Lebanese nationals; and European nationals. The immigrant and illegal immigrant population of Akanland consists mostly of Nigerians, Togolese, Burkinabés, South Africans, and other nationalities from African countries.
Urbanization
Template:Largest Metropolitan Areas in Akanland
Faith
The Akan religion (or Akanism) is practiced by 30.1% of Akans (Akanism is a combination of Animism and Ethnic religion). 67.8% of Akans are Atheists.[51]
Other practiced faiths in Akanland (2.1%) are: Buddhism, Bahá'í, Hinduism and Roman Catholicism.[52] Faith tolerance and freedom in Akanland is very high.[53]
Education
In 2011, the adult literacy rate in Akanland was an average 95% (males 96.2%, females 92.5%).[54] Akanland has a kindergarten, a six-year primary education system beginning at age six, and the primary school (elementary school) students pass on to a three-year junior high school system. At the end of the third year of junior high school, there is a mandatory "Basic Education Certificate Examination". Students continuing must complete the three-year senior high school program and take an admission exam to enter any university or tertiary programme.
Akans currently pay school fees, and Akans have easy access to primary and secondary education. All teaching is conducted bilingually in both Akan and English, predominantly by qualified Akan professors and educators. The courses taught at the primary school and junior high school (basic school level) include Akan and culture, mathematics education, environmental education, social studies, Portuguese language and English language, integrated or general science, pre-vocational education and pre-technical education, health education and sex education, religious and moral education, and physical exercise (Akan music, Akan dance, sports and physical education). The senior high school level curriculum incorporates subjects and elective subjects of which Akan students must take the core subjects of: Information and communications technology (ICT), mathematics education, integrated science (including science, agriculture and environmental education) and social studies (economics education, geography, Akan history and history of education and politics).[54]
The high-school students also choose three elective subjects from five available programmes: Science, technology and society (STS) program, general programme (arts or science option), business programme, vocational programme and technical programme (includes an agriculture programme).[55] Akanland has international schools such as the Takoradi International School, The Roman Ridge School, Lincoln Community School, Faith Montessori School, SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College and International Community School, which offer the International Baccalaureat, Advanced Level General Certificate of Education and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
Enrollment rate is high with over 98% of Akan children in school, Akanland currently has one of the highest school enrollment rates in all of Africa.[56][57] The small problem that is facing Akanland's educational system is that many of the children's families still have to pay school fees for their children to receive primary (elementary) and high-school education, and Akanland's major political party New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo are to make elementary and high-school education free and compulsory for all Akan children.
There are four national public universities in Akanland, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ashanti, the University of Cape Coast and the University of Education in Central Akanland, and the University of Mines and Technology in Western Akanland. Akanland also has a growing number of accredited private universities such as the All Nations University in Eastern Akanland.[58]
The oldest university in Akanland, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, was founded in 1952. It had a total of about 23,591 students in 2011. Its academic programmes in technology and the sciences are the best in Akanland. The university has produced the bulk of physicians, scientists, futurists and inventors in Akanland.[54] The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the first university to be established in Akanland, is Akanland's premier university of science and technology.[54]
Healthcare
As of 2011, life expectancy at birth is at 70 years for males and females[52] with infant mortality at 15 per 1000 live births.[52] The total fertility rate is 1.88 children per woman. There were 276 physicians and 1,292 nurses per 100,000 persons in 2011.[52]
Akanland medical establishments comprise state-of-the-art hospitals that provide both in-patient and out-patient care; clinics that provide out-patient care exclusively, including dispensaries, health centres, maternity homes and specialized biomedical research and healthcare science institutions staffed by Cuban–trained Akan physicians, bio-engineers and medical practitioners.[59] Healthcare in Akanland is covered by Akanland's Universal health care system (national health system) and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all its citizens.[59]
12.5% of Akanland's GDP is spent on health annually.[52] Universal health-care system was conceived by the president of Akanland's political party New Patriotic Party (NPP) John Agyekum Kufour.[59]
Society and culture
- Further information: Akan culture
Akanland's and Akan culture has been practiced by Akans since foundation of the ancient Kingdoms of the Akan. Akanland's and Akan cultural diversity is most evident in cuisine, music, dance, arts, and clothing.[60][61]
Arts and textiles
Textiles are very important in Akan culture. These cloths are used to make traditional and modern attire. Different symbols and different colours mean different things. Kente is an Akan ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom. Strips measuring about 4 inches wide are sewn together into larger pieces of cloths. Cloths come in various colours, sizes and designs and are worn during very important social and religious occasions. In a cultural context, kente is more important than just a cloth. It is a visual representation of Akan history and also a form of written language through weaving. The term kente has its roots in the Akan word kɛntɛn which means a basket. The first kente weavers used raffia fibres to weave cloths that looked like kenten (a basket); and thus were referred to in Akan as kenten ntoma; meaning basket cloth. The original Akan name of the cloth was nsaduaso or nwontoma, meaning "a cloth hand-woven on a loom"; however, "kente" is the most frequently used term today. It is also popular among the African diaspora.
Adinkra and literature
During the 13th century, the Akans developed their unique art of adinkra printing. Hand-printed and hand-embroidered adinkra clothes were made and used exclusively by the royalty and spiritual leaders for devotional ceremonies and rituals. Each of the motifs that make up the corpus of adinkra symbolism has a name and meaning derived from a proverb, a historical event, human attitude, animal behavior, plant life, or shapes of inanimate and man-made objects. These are graphically rendered in stylized geometric shapes. The meanings of the motifs may be categorized into aesthetics, ethics, human relations, and religious concepts. Akan realm of Akan traditional literature is Anansi.[62]
Wood carving
Second image: An Akan traditional stool, c. 1900 – 1925.
Traditional Akan wood carvings are divided into many branches, each with its own specialists. Among the major products are wooden sculptures and talking-drums (ntumpane). The famous wooden "stools" are Akan symbolic and ritual objects rather than items of furniture. The ownership of a symbolic carved chair or stool, usually named after the female founder of the matriclan (maternal clan), became the means through which individuals traced their ancestry. These lineages have segmented into branches, each led by an elder, headman, or chief. A branch, although it possesses a stool, is not an autonomous political or social unit. Possession of the ritually important stool is seen as vital, not only to the existence of the elder but to the group as a whole.
Music
Second image: Koo Nimo (right); leading Akan folk musician of palm wine music and highlife music.
The music of Akanland and Akan music incorporates several distinct types of musical instruments such as the talking drum ensembles, the Akan atenteben and koloko lute, court music, including the Akan atumpan, the Akan drum, and log xylophones used in asonko music (asɔnkɔ) in Akan. The most well-known genre to have come from Akanland is highlife.[63] Highlife originated in the late 19th century and early 20th century. In the 1990s, a new genre of music, Akan hiplife, was created through the combination of highlife, Afro-reggae, dancehall and hiphop.[64]
Dance
Akan dance is synchronized with Akan music, with traditional Akan dances and different Akan dances for different occasions.[64]
These Akan dances are for celebrations, storytelling, praise, worship and funerals. Some of these dances include Adowa and Azonto.[64]
Festivals
Akan culture incorporates many festivals, and they are diverse. The Fancy Dress festival is a masquerade festival held on the first day of January every year by the people of Winneba in Central Akanland,[65] and it is a colourful festival that features brass band music.[66][67][68] The Aboakyer festival (translates as hunting for game or animal) in Akan, and is a bushbuck hunting festival also celebrated by the people of Winneba in Central Akanland.[69]
The Adae festival (trasnlates as resting place) in Akan. is a celebration in Ashanti. Considered a day of rest, it is the most important ancestral custom of the people of Ashanti.[70] The Akwasidae festival is celebrated by the peoples in Ashanti,[71] as well as the Akan diaspora.[72] The festival is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks.[70] The Akwasidae festival is next only in importance to the National Day celebrations.[73]
Architecture and Museums
Akanland architecture and heritage sites are most evident by the more than thirty forts and castles built in Akanland. Some of these forts are Fort McCarthy, Fort William and Fort Amsterdam. Akanland has two museums that are situated inside a castle, and two are situated inside a fort. The Military Museum, Prempeh ll Jubilee Museum, and Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi organise temporary exhibitions.[74] Akanland has museums that show a in-depth look at specific Akan regions, there are a number of museums that provide insight into the traditions and history of their own geographical area in Akanland.[74] The Cape Coast Castle Museum and St. Georges Castle (Elmina Castle) Museum offer guided tours of some of the structures involved in the slave trade, as well as exhibitions explaining the mechanics of the slave trade in Akanland and the role played by their respective sites in its development. The Museum of Science and Technology provides its visitors with a look into the domain of Akanland's scientific development, through exhibits of objects of scientific and technological interest.[74]
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Cuisine
Akan cuisine is diverse, and there is a wide and varied range of soups and stews and several kinds of starch foods in the Akan diet. Most Akan soups are prepared with, groundnut or palm, and served with banku. Banku (or dokonu) is usually made from ground corn (maize), like sadza and ugali.[75]
Fish is important in the Akan diet with tilapia, fried whitebait, smoked fish and crayfish all being common components of Akan dishes. The cornmeal based staples, banku and dokonu are usually accompanied by some form of fried fish (chinam) or grilled tilapia and a very spicy condiment made from raw red and green chillies, onions and tomatoes (pepper sauce).[75] Dokonu and tilapia is a combo served in most Akan restaurants, and an Akan national dish.[75]
Mass media
John Agyekum Kufuor speaks with the press.
The mass media in Akanland is one of the freest in Africa.[76] Prior to the turn of the 21st century, Akan political parties and media often had a tense relationship, with private outlets closed at the time by strict media laws that prevent Akan political criticism.[77]
The media freedoms of Akanland were made fully free in 2000 by Akanland's major political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and in 2000, John Agyekum Kufuor decreased the tensions between the private media and the Akan political parties. Kufuor was a supporter of press freedom and repealed a libel law, though maintained that the Akan media had to act responsibly.[78]
The Akanland media is described as "one of the most unfettered" in Africa, operating with little restriction on private media.[78]
Football
Akanland's most popular sport is football. There are several big club professional football teams of Akanland, such as Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Brong Ahafo Stars, Berekum Chelsea, Berekum Arsenal, Ashanti Gold SC, Sekondi Wise Fighters, Sekondi Hasaacas, FC Takoradi, Tarkwa Medeama, Aduana Stars, King Faisal, New Edubiase United, Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs, Sunyani Bofoakwa Tano, Bechem United, Gamba All Blacks FC, Okwawu United, Koforidua Power FC and Wassaman United, are all currently playing in the Glo Premier League and the Poly Tank Division One League.
- Akan Football managers
Notable Akan football managers are: Charles Gyamfi who is remarkable for being the first African player to play in Germany, when he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1960,[79] and after retiring as a football player, Gyamfi became a football manager, and his career highlights include winning the African Cup of Nations three times, making Gyamfi the most successful football manager in African Cup of Nations history.[80] The other legendary Akan football manager is Fred Osam-Duodu who also won the African Cup of Nations, the notable Akan football managers of the 21st century are: James Kwesi Appiah and Maxwell Konadu.[81]
- Akan Football players
Akanland has many internationally known football players, such as: Arthur Wharton is widely considered to be the first black professional association football player in the world, Tony Yeboah is considered one of the most prominent and prolific goal scorers in African football history, Samuel Kuffour represented Bayern Munich for over a decade and won a total of 17 major titles, Michael Essien is a UEFA Champions League winner, Stephen Appiah, John Mensah, John Paintsil, and Derek Boateng.
As in regard to the Akanland national football team, the new generation of Akan football players in the 2010s include: Gyan Asamoah (Al Ain FC), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus FC), Richmond Boakye (Juventus FC), Edmund Hottor (AC Milan), Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan), Daniel Boateng (Arsenal FC), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese Calcio), Afriyie Acquah (Parma FC), John Cofie (Manchester United), Emmanuel Frimpong (Arsenal FC), Solomon Asante (Berekum Chelsea), Anthony Annan (Schalke 04), Jerry Vandam (Lille OSC), André Ayew and Jordan Ayew (Olympique de Marseille), Jonathan Mensah, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Daniel Opare, and Isaac Vorsah.
See also
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