The Ashanti Kingdom, located in the heart of Ghana, embodies a rich African civilization marked by political strength and cultural wealth. Despite centuries of conflict, the Ashanti have maintained their identity, notably through their resistance against British colonial forces in the early 20th century, led by Queen Yaa Asantewaa.
In the heart of Ghana’s lush forests, the Ashanti Kingdom continues to embody an ancient African civilization that combines political strength with cultural wealth, standing resilient despite centuries of conflict.
The roots of the Ashanti trace back to the Akan people who settled in gold-rich regions during the 15th and 16th centuries. However, a pivotal transformation occurred in the late 17th century when leader Osei Tutu unified the tribes with the help of spiritual leader Okomfo Anokye.
From Kumasi, the historical capital, the “Golden Stool” emerged as a sacred symbol of the kingdom. Legend has it that it descended from the heavens into the arms of Okomfo Anokye, embodying the spirit and dignity of the Ashanti nation. For this reason, sitting on it is forbidden, and it is displayed only during major events.
When the British attempted to seize the stool in 1900, Queen Yaa Asantewaa led a fierce resistance to defend this symbol of sovereignty, marking one of the most significant moments in modern African history. The British demands for dominance, including the surrender of the “Golden Stool,” were seen as an unprecedented provocation to the nation’s dignity.
While Ashanti leaders remained silent during a crucial meeting, Yaa Asantewaa, as the spiritual guardian of the stool, turned the tide with decisive words calling for resistance, declaring that the time for hesitation was over and that defending the symbol of sovereignty was a defense of the spirit of the people itself. “If the men of Ashanti do not stand up to defend their nation, we women will do so. I will call upon the women of Ashanti, and we will fight to the last breath.”
With these words, the birth of the Golden Stool Revolution was announced, one of the most important resistance movements in modern African history.
During the battle for the Golden Stool against the British, fighters sang the song “Yaa Asantewaa,” which became an anthem of female heroism and national resistance, echoing in schools and national celebrations in Ghana to this day. The lyrics celebrate the bravery of the woman who fought against colonial forces.
Although the revolution ended with the defeat of the Ashanti and the arrest of Yaa Asantewaa, her spirit revived resistance against colonialism and inspired Ghana’s struggle for independence half a century later.
After her surrender, Yaa Asantewaa was exiled to Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, where she died in 1921. However, her memory did not fade; she became a national symbol, and her remains were repatriated to Ghana after independence to be buried in her homeland amid a grand national celebration.
In the Ashanti region of Ghana, music transcends mere art to become a vibrant language expressing collective memory and the history of the people. Drums serve as a cultural and social communication tool, passed down from generation to generation.
The rhythms were not just celebratory rituals but also tools of resistance and political expression during times of conflict, as drums were used to convey messages among fighters and to ignite enthusiasm among the populace.
Songs were performed with a collective spirit that rallied the community and solidified its unity, making music a voice of struggle as much as an expression of identity.
Ashanti music is characterized by a variety of rhythms interwoven in intricate patterns, where drums are played not merely for rhythm but serve specific functions that carry meaning in social and political contexts.
The “Atumpan,” known as the “talking drum,” is used to convey coded linguistic messages among community members, while the “Kete” drums are reserved for the royal court and played exclusively at official events.
The “Fontomfrom” drum symbolizes the state’s dignity and authority.
Traditional musicians in Kumasi emphasize that these drums are not just musical instruments but pillars in building Ashanti identity. “The drum in our culture is not just sound… it is the voice of our ancestors.”
With this profound understanding, music for the Ashanti becomes a living bridge connecting the past to the present, transcending mere artistic performance to become a means of preserving collective memory and safeguarding cultural identity. Playing, singing, and dancing are not just performances but collective acts that embody belonging, making the community a single entity pulsating with the rhythm of the drums as the heart beats with life.
From tribal rhythms to the national anthem, as national liberation movements grew in the 1940s and 1950s, Ashanti music became a source of inspiration for nationalist movements in Ghana, with local musicians drawing on its rhythms to develop new musical styles such as “highlife” and “afrobeats,” which later became the sound of modern African identity.
When Ghana declared independence in 1957, the drums echoed in the streets of Kumasi and Accra, celebrating the triumph of the Ashanti spirit over colonialism and the return of the African voice to its land.
Since then, no royal celebration in Kumasi is complete without the resonance of ancient drums, serving as a constant reminder that freedom began with rhythm, continued with melody, and immortalized an unforgettable history.
Philip Gbeho, born in 1904 and passed away in 1976, was a prominent musician and composer, and a music educator who was born in the Volta region and received his musical education in both Ghana and the United Kingdom.
Gbeho is known for composing the Ghanaian national anthem “God Bless Our Homeland Ghana” in 1957, coinciding with the country’s independence from British colonial rule.
He was among the first to work on integrating African rhythms and scales into a modern musical framework that carried a national character.
Gbeho is considered a pioneer in establishing the national musical identity of Ghana after independence, as his work won an official competition to select the national anthem, making his voice a part of the collective memory of the newly formed nation.
“God bless our homeland Ghana,
And make our nation great and strong;
Bold to defend forever,
The cause of freedom and of right.
Let us unite to uphold the nation,
And make our leaders wise and honest;
And help to build a nation,
Where peace and justice shall reign.”
The musical scale and sonic identity of the Ashanti are based on the pentatonic scale, which consists of five basic notes, unlike the more common seven-note scale worldwide. This musical structure gives a simple melodic character, yet it overflows with emotion and expression.
The “major pentatonic scale” is employed in celebratory songs with a collective character, while the “minor pentatonic scale” is used in spiritual and meditative rituals, reflecting the depth of the Ashanti people’s religious and emotional experience.
The interplay between melody and meaning in Ashanti music stems from the tonal nature of the Twi language, where rhythms mimic the pronunciation of words, explaining the vital role of talking drums in conveying messages and shaping collective consciousness.
Several musicians have contributed to bringing this heritage to the global stage, most notably Koo Nimo, a symbol of traditional singing, alongside Amakye Dede and Nana Acheampong, pioneers of “highlife” music, as well as contemporary names who have reintroduced the spirit of Ashanti in a modern context that blends authenticity with global rhythms.
The Ashanti Kingdom is not just a page in African history but a living testament to how music transforms into identity, weapon, and voice of dignity. From the Golden Stool to the talking drum, from the arenas of resistance to the melodies of the anthem, the Ashanti remain a story of a people who made rhythm their homeland and faith a culture that never dies.
The Ashanti Kingdom, founded in the late 17th century, emerged from the Akan people who settled in gold-rich areas of Ghana. The unification of tribes under leader Osei Tutu marked a pivotal moment in Ashanti history, establishing a powerful political entity. The Ashanti’s struggle against British colonialism in the early 1900s, particularly the fierce resistance led by Queen Yaa Asantewaa, is a significant chapter in African history, symbolizing the fight for sovereignty and cultural pride.