Engaging Modernity: Asante in the Twenty-First Century
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Atuotumfoɔ (Gun Bearers/Bodyguards)
Ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu was the first to introduce the gun to Asante. I have recounted how he obtained the gun, doku agyapɔmaa, on his way from akwamu when I was discussing the bosomuru sword. Prior to that, Asante soldiers were using sticks, stones, swords, and shields while bows and arrows were limited and hardly used. Following doku agyapɔmaa, all the guns belonging to the Asantehene’s Atuotumfoɔ have special names, are richly adorned with gold and silver decorations with abɔsodeɛ attached to the butt. The bodyguards wear krɔbɔnkyɛ (skull caps) in addition to ntoa made up of a collection of haversack, straps, a bandolier, and danka (container for gunpowder or bullets). Like the kɛtɛanomfena, guns are held in such a way as to display the abɔsodeɛ. During processions, guns are held in the left hand with the butt resting on the left shoulder near the neck, while the left had holds the barrel. However the gun is turned and restored to the firing position and held in the right hand when the Asantehene is seated and the gun bearers/bodyguards take turns to greet him. Like the kɛtɛanomfena, in addition to the ceremonial use in processions where they are positioned behind the Asantehene, the guns are used in other ritual situations as I have described together with the swords. For instance, when a newly enstooled king performs trane as part of the installation ritual in the presence of Asantehemaa, it is the doku agyapɔmaa that he fires three times with the Atuotumfoɔ responding by firing their guns each time to demonstrate to the queen mother that he is ready to defend Asanteman. Although some of the gun bearers are chiefs, the overall chief is Baafoɔ Kwame Kusi II, Asantehene Ankɔbeahene. Additional uses will be evident as we examine each gun separately in the following passages.
Front row from left: Akwasiheneba, Kwame Akyempong-Tiah, Baafoɔ Kwame Kusi II (Asantehene Ankɔbeahene; sitting), Opanin Boakye Ansa, Nana Kwaku Wreko, Opanin Kwadwo Amankwaa
Back row from left: Kofi Boateng, Opanin Adugyamfi, Kofi Amponsah, Nana Kwaku Apontua II, Akwasi Bannor, Nana Kwasi Boampong
Doku Agyapɔmaa
Nana Akwasi Yeboah II, Dokuhene
Like the bomosuru sword, Ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu obtained agyapɔmaa on his way from Akwamu to Kumasi. He killed the hunter and his wife after obtaining the skin covering the elephant’s knee and the hornbill feathers from him. He placed the waist beads of Agyapɔmaa (the hunter’s wife) on the gun, and assigned the same name to the gun. It is believed that he was the first to introduce the gun to Asante and he used this particular gun for most of his campaigns. Succeeding kings used agyapɔmaa in the various wars of expansion. As previously noted, doku agyapɔmaa and bosomuru hat (gyemirekutu kyɛ) share the same history of origin and that explains why the custodians wear similar hats made out of the skin of the elephant’s knee. Additionally, doku agyapɔmaa is used together with the bosomuru sword in the purification rites for the king’s soul. During ceremonies in and outside the palace, it is the duty of the Dokuhene to guide the bosomuru sword. Abɔsodeɛ is Adam or cowrie shell.
The Hat. Like the bosomuru hat, the custodian’s hat is made of the skin of the elephant’ knee. The gun has a gold cast of adam, three silver rings on the barrel, and waist beads. The decorated barrel is held midway in the palm of the right hand while the left hand fingers hold the area between the firing mechanism and the butt and making sure that the abɔsodeɛ is visible. Ntoa (kit) bandolier bag with two sɛpɔ (knives) in sheaths, horn on the right of the bandolier bag containing gunpowder, and two adam on the bag. The side picture shows his haversack with a horn hanging below it. There is a bell, a pouch and a shoulder belt with four extra knives.
The custodian, Nana Akwasi Yeboah II, Dokuhene, was not available for the picture. Opanin Kwadwo Amankwaa stood in for him.
Dokumansa
Kofi Boateng
When Ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu settled in his new position as Kumasehene, he added two guns to doku agyapɔmaa namely, dokumansa, and dokuduaa. Currently, Dokuhene is chief of the three guns however the custodians swear the oath of office to the Asantehene.
Ɛtwom
Kwame Akyempong-Tiah
In the early part of the nineteenth century and during the Asante-Fante wars, Asantehene Osei Kwame Bonsu (1800-1823) added the fourth gun, ɛtwom, to the three guns above. When he reached the coast, he asked, “what is the most fearful animal in the sea?” they responded, bonsu (the whale). He added bonsu to his stool name. For the abɔsodeɛ of his gun, he chose ɛtwom (also known as aprukusu) the electric eel since it is able to generate powerful electric shocks of up to six hundred volts for hunting or for self defense.
Sikantoa
Nana Kwasi Boampong
Prior to creating the krɔbɔntoa, Opoku Ware created the sikantoa, amoaseɛ, and fokuo. Out of these four, amoaseɛ is unique since it was the gun that the king, as the commander in chief, always took to war. As a result, it is considered the personal gun of succeeding kings. Fokuo is the one in charge of his gunpowder so he is always close to the king. It is worth noting that two guns are used during ceremonies. The process is, the king fires, they take the fired gun away and immediately replace it with a fully loaded gun.
Amoaseɛ
Opanin Boakye Ansah
The amoaseɛ refers to the waistband. Additionally, amoaseɛ refers to the loin cloth (danta) that the king must wear when he goes to war. The Asantehene carries two guns, sikantoa and fokuo, in a typical war situation.
Gyahentoa
Kofi Amponsah
Nana Osei Kwadwo (Ɔko Awia–He fights in the afternoon–1764-1777) added this gun to the regalia.
Sisiri Kwabrafo
Nana Kwaku Apontua II
Agyemang Prempeh II (Kwame Kyeretwie– 1931-1970) created this gun. Sisiri is the Twi word for bear, a very strong and extremely fearful animal in Akan folklore. It is said that the bear can punch a hole in a tree, grab a human being and drop him or her in that hole.
Trɔmoo Akwasi
Opanin Adugyamfi
Otumfoɔ Opoku Ware II chose the myth around the trɔmo as the abɔsodeɛ for this gun. Unlike other animals (especially vertebrates), it is impossible to use the leather of a grown trɔmo for anything while that of the young cub is easy to use. Consequently, the ntoa of this gun is made of abadayɛ (the fetus of trɔmo). Literally, without knowing the beginings of the Asantehene, it will be difficult to know/predict the end of him. Metaphorically, it is a waste of time to figure out where the Asante Kingdom is heading without knowing the beginnings of the kingdom.
Ɛsrɛmu Sei Gyata
Nana Kwaku Wreko
The description of the swords bearing the ɛsrɛmu sei name applies to this gun. The swords and this gun are Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II’s addition to Asanteman’s regalia.
Apakantuo
Akwasiheneba
Apakantuo is primarily the gun the Asantehene carries, sometimes alone, or at times with mpɔnpɔnsɔn depending on the type of dance suite the fɔntɔmfrɔm is playing behind him when he is being carried in the palanquin. Apakan is the Twi word for palanquin while tuo refers to the gun.
