Kwahu

Kwahu is a region in south-central Ghana, or in the eastern region of Ghana, on the west shore of Lake Volta. Shares the region with the Akyems, Krobos, and a small sect of Ewes. There are two common spellings of the name, Kwawu and Kwahu. The "w" spelling is the official spelling from the African Studies Centre, University of Ghana, and more resembles the pronunciation. The "h" was put in by Swiss missionaries from Basel, who added the "h" to ensure that Kwa, the first syllable, was not pronounced as "eh." The "h" is not separately pronounced in the name.

The term Kwahu also refers to the variant of Akan language spoken in this region and to the Kwahu people who come from the region, there are about 65.000 Kwahus. Kwahu are originally Akan people.

The name derives from its myths of origin, "The slave (awa) died (wu)," which was based on an ancient prophecy that a slave would die so the wandering tribe of Akan would know where to settle. The myth was part of the historical stories of the Agona matriclan, the first paramount lineage of Kwawu, and was later adopted by the Bretuao-Tena matriclan (Twidan) who later replaced them.

The paramount chief and the royal matrilineage of the Kwawu reside at Abene, north of Abetifi on the banks of the highlands. Abetifi (Tena matriclan) is the head of the Adonten (vanguard). Obo (Aduana, Ada, Amoakade) is the head of the Nifa (Right Division) Aduamoa (Dwumena, Asona) is the head of the Benkum (Left Division).

As part of the Asante Empire, Kwawu had an Asante emissary, governor or ambassador at Atibe, next to Mpraeso, of the Ekuona matriclan). To indicate its independence from Asante in 1888 the Kwawu assassinated the Asante emissary in Atibe, about the time of the arrival of the Basel missionaries from Switzerland. The Kwawu royals invited the missionaries to build their mission in Abetifi. Obo led the pro-Asante opposition to the Swiss. It is orally told the Kwahu's also made Obo their financial center.

In recent years, Kwahu has become the best place to celebrate Easter. Many from far away places within the borders of the country and even beyond go there to enjoy themselves. The Kwahu Hill are a good spot where Paragliders are able to showcase and display of their long-learned skills to the public. Such events also serve as Tourist Attractions sites and generates income for the Ghanaian Economy. A main characteristic of a Kwahu is beauty.

External links

• Phil Bartle, Ph.D., Studies Among the Akan People of West Africa
• Kwahu-people