List of Asantehene: From 1680 to the 16th King
About 340 years ago, the Asante state was born and its founder, Otumfuo Osei Tutu Opemsuo becomes the King. The present king, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who happen to be name-sake to the founder is the 16th king.
Here is a list of Asante Kings since its founding in 1680.
1st: Otumfuo Osei Tutu Opemsuo | 1680–1717 | 37 years.
From 1680–95, Osei Tutu was the chief of Kumasi state. He realized following his escape from from Denkyira as a prisoner to Akwamu a fusion of small separate states of Asante was necessary to resist the powerful Denkyira. It was at Akwamu he met Komfo Anokye, a powerful priest who eventually became his “lieutenant” and a wise sage and is credited for descending the stool which is symbolic of the newly created Asante Kingdom. The kingdom eventually became a formidable force in trade and war.
The maiden Asante king eventually defeated Denkyira with the help of Komfo Anokye. He quickly expanded the kingdom in three folds through wars, battles though, some was to consolidate with other states. Osei Tutu’s army was unmatched by the neighboring states. They were very active in the slave and gun trade down the coast with Europeans.
King Osei Tutu ‘Opemsuo’ did not only founded the present-day kingdom, but also expanded it’s territories towards the coast. A path his successors throne.
2nd: Otumfuo Opoku Ware “Katakyie” | 1720–50 | 30 years
Expansion of the newly formed kingdom was the top most priority of Katakyie Opoku Ware’s three decades on the Golden Stool. The kingdom expanded to its full extent reaching the coast, which happen to be the “wall street” of the day. Everything happen at the coast nowhere else. Trade in slaves in exchange for guns and ammunition was the order of the day between Asante and European powers.
3rd: Otumfuo Kusi Obodum | 1750–64| 14 years
He is the third Asantehene and reigned for 14 years succeeding Otumfuo Katakyie Opoku Ware.
4th: Otumfuo Osei Kwadwo | 1764–77| 37 years
The kingdom of Asante saw a massive expansion of its territory during the three and half decade rule of this king. Merit-based bureaucracy and potent system of communication was instituted in Kumasi during his reign. This made the kingdom even stronger and formal.
5th: Otumfuo Osei Kwame Payin |1777–1803| 26 years
For the next two and half decade, the kingdom’s strive on bureaucracy and the efficient communication system will continue under King Osei Kwame Payin.
6th: Otumfuo Opoku Fofie | Apr-May 1803 | 2 Months
Nana Opoku Fofie passed away after only two months on the throne. It was the shortest reign back then. He’s the first Asantehene then to spend less than a year on Sika Dwa.
7th: Otumfuo Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba |1804–24| 20 years
Nana Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba was a warrior and dominated Asante-Fante war (1806–7) and also Asante-Abron Gyaman War (modern day Northern Cote D’Iviore).
He built the Kumasi fort. He intended to replicate the coastal forts with limestone and granite imported from the coast for this venture.
He defended and expanded the kingdom during his 20 years stay on the Golden Stool.
8th: Otumfuo Osei Yaw Akoto | 1824–34 | 10 years
He was a young man when enstooled but, remained for only 10 years.
9th: Otumfuo Kwaku Duah | 1834–67 | 33 years
Born Agyeman Fredua, the king from the Bretuo dynasty was a man of vision. Expansion and defense of the kingdom marked his reign as the ninth Otumfuo. On March 1837 he brokered a deal with the Netherlands to supply Asante recruits to the Dutch Army in exchange for arms. This was during King Williems III reign as Dutch King. A recruitment office was set up in Kumasi for this purpose supplying Dutch East Indies Army.
He fought Dagomba and Gonja between 1841–44. Furthermore, the Battle of Katamanso and the British forces.
10th: Otumfuo Kofi Karikari |1867–74 | 7 years
Grand nephew of Otumfuo Kwaku Duah (1834–67) and son of Nana Afia Kobi (1857–80, Asatehemaa). Nana Kofi Karikari became king by electoral majority. Democracy existed here even in the 1860’s. He was forced to abdicate in 1874 and died 10 years later.
11th: Otumfuo Mensah Bonsu | 1874–83 |9 years
Nana Mensah Bonsu succeeded his elder brother Kofi Karikari after his abduction in 1874 and was immediately confronted with the restoration of Kumasi after losing against Britain in a war in 1874.
He was born to Nana Afia Kobi of course, and abdicated the throne following mass irregularities. His impeachment was authorized by his sister Asantehemaa Yaa Akyiaa (1880–1917) who had succeeded his mother.
12th: Otumfuo Kwaku Duah II |Apr-May 1884
Nana Kwaku Duah II was installed barely a year after Nana Mensah Bonsu’s abduction. He is the 12th king and has the shortest of reigns among the sixteen kings. Spent just about a month and a half on the throne. Otumfuo Kwaku Duah II passed away after a short illness.
13th: Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I | 1888–1931| 42 years
Born Kwaku Duah Asamu III, the young man ascended the throne only 16 years old. His reign is painted with controversy, intimidation, revolts and treats of civil war. It was during his reign Asante finally became a British protectorate and he ended up in exile in the Pacific.
His ascension wouldn’t have happen without controversy as the kingdom was already in tartars. Tensions in Kumasi was at it’s boiling point. Deputes and secessionism amongst the royal family and key men to the throne led to the invitation of the British in mediating in selecting the next king. As a teenager, the young Kwaku Duah Asamu III became the 13th king of Asante.
King Prempeh I is the longest serving Asantehene spending over four decades on the Golden Stool. He was arrested after failing to give his kingdom up for ‘Colonial Protectorate’ and the demand for the Golden Stool is refused. He was exiled in Seychelles together with his subjects.
He returned to Kumasi to continue his reign but, only as Kumasihene. Present day Manhyia Palace was built to host him by the British and as compensation to the Asantes for their trouble. The palace was rather paid for which was the preference of Asante.
14th: Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II |1931–70| 39 years
The greatest achievement of this king is the restoration of the Asante Confederacy in 1935, four years into his accession. This action restored the Asantehene title and elevated him from Kumasehene. Asante lands which had been in the hands of Britain was together returned.
An insignia of Knight of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was conferred on him by the King of England. He was decorated with gold metal of his Holiness Pope John Paul II in August 1965. And again in 1968 president Tubman of Liberia decorated him with Humane Order of African Redemption. A year later, the Government of Ghana bestowed on him Order of the Volta in September, 1969.
He played active part in national politics: elected to the Council of State in 1969 and made president of the National House of Chiefs. Backed by his knowledge, Prempeh II administered customary law and justice with fairness, thoroughness and splendor. His court in Manhyia re-established itself as the great seat of learning in Akan history, tradition and culture. At Manhyia, the king hosted greats like the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, Mohammed Ali among others.
Kwame Kyiretwie, known in private life was grandson of Asantehemaa Yaa Akyiaa. He passed away in Manhyia on May 1970.
15th: Otumfuo Opoku Ware II |1970–99 | 29 years
A diplomat, lawyer and surveyor in private life, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II became Asantehene on 6th July 1970 succeeding his uncle at the age of 52 years. Mathew Kwaku Adusei Poku (private name) was born in 1919 and attended Adisadel College in Cape Coast.
After working with Kumasi Town Council, Public Works Department, Royal Air Force and Asantehene Lands Office, he moved to England to study law. Nana was called to the the British bar in Middle Temple in 1962.
In national politics, he was appointed commissioner for Transport and Communications in 1968 by National Liberation Council before becoming Ambassador-designate to Italy two years later. A post he had to abandon to take up the throne at Manhyia when his uncle died in May that year.
16th: Otumfuo Osei Tutu II | 1999- date | 21 years and counting
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reign begun on 29th April 1999 succeeding Nana Opoku Ware II. Over 250 foreign dignitaries from around the Globe descended on Kumasi during his enstoolment ceremony at Manhyia.
Twenty one years on, the 16th king on the Golden Stool has established an enviable reputation. His introduction of modernity, authority and sustainable development to the traditional chieftaincy is landmark and reveled home and away.
Educated at the Institute of Professional Studies (now University of Professional Studies, Accra) and them Polytechnic of North London (now London Metropolitan University), Barima Kwaku Duah, as known in private life, had a short career in United Kingdom and Canada working as personnel officer and senior consultant respectively. He returned to Ghana in 1989 and started his own transport business.
Asantehene after his enstoolment quickly establish an education endowment fund dubbed Otumfuo Education Fund in 1999 aimed at provided financial assistance to school goers in Asante and Ghana as a whole. By 2019, about 302,000 people have been assisted in one way or the other to pursue their education. It includes scholarships, accommodation and travelling support etc. Asantehene’s foundation is also active in HIV / AIDS and environmental protection initiatives.
He instituted Otumfuo Teachers Award in 2011 to honor teachers working in deprived areas across Ghana. 130 teachers were awarded during 2019 event at Manhyia Palace. Over 600 teachers from the most deprived places of the country has received the award as at the same year.
He was choked distinguishing leadership in development throughout his reign which is not limited to his kingdom but Ghana as a whole. In 2004, the World Bank sponsored Asanteman Council’s Promoting Partnership with Traditional Authorities Program to provide over 1000 communities with potable water in Asante, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Central Regions of the country. The $30 Million (270 Billion Cedis then) grant also catered for 42 schools with headmaster’s bungalows and clinics in deprived communities. He said “I am
not interested in politics. I am only interested in the development of Asanteman and Ghana as a whole” announcing the news to Mr Kuffour, Ghana President then in 2004 at the Osu Castle.
On 13 September 2019, Osei Tutu II caught the eye of the United Nations and the World when he delivered a speech at the United National General Assembly High-Level Forum of the 25th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace convened by the President of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly in New York. He emphasized on the use of the traditional authority’s capacity to win peace sighting his involvement in the Dagbon peace deal which ended a 17 year old
conflict. He also shed light on how his office used dialogue and diplomacy to curd disputes among the political elites sighting the 2016 elections in Ghana.
The king is sister to Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III (from 2017) and son to the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II (Asantehemaa, 1977–2016). He is married to Lady Julia Osei Tutu and has six children.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is rarely seen in public. He sits on state during Akwasidee every 42 days at Manhyia.
