Me Yɛ Twi-ni: How We Twi People Founded Asanteman

My name is Brembah Yaw Owusu a.k.a BrodaYaw and I am a proud GhanaChild.
I am Akan,
I am Twi,
I am Asante.

Three names, one blood. Let me tell you how.

1. Akan is the umbrella.

Long, long ago, there was a big family called Akan. We are brothers and sisters from the mother's side — abusua. Bono, Adansi, Denkyira, Akuapem, Akyem, Fante, and many more. We share Kente, Adinkra, day-names like Kofi, Kwame, Akosua and Yaa, and respect for Onyame and our ancestors. Akan was there first. Akan is our blood.

2. Twi was there before Asante.

Before there was anything called Asante, there were Twi-foɔ — Twi people.

We lived in our own independent towns: Kumasi, Dwaben, Bekwai, Mampong, Kokofu, Offinso. Each town had its own chief. We all spoke Twi, but a little differently. Even today, you can hear it — Kumasi-nka is not exactly Dwaben-nka or Bekwai-nka, but we understand each other. Just a few words are different.

So I always say: Yɛyɛ Twi-foɔ firi tete. We were Twi people from ancient time. Twi is not just a language we learn at home and in school. Twi is who we are from birth.

3. Asante means "Osa Nti" — Because of War, we united.

Around 1701, the great King Osei Tutu I and the wise priest Okomfo Anokye in Kumasi called our Twi leaders together.

They said: Alone, Denkyira can defeat us one by one. Together, no one can break us.

So we swore an oath under the Golden Stool — Sika Dwa Kofi — and became one big family. We called that union Asa-nti, Asante: Osa Nti — Because of War.

That is the truth I want every GhanaChild to know:

Asante nnyɛ Twi nkoaa, na em'bom, Twi nso yɛ Asante.
Asante is not only Twi, but Twi IS also Asante.

Asanteman became bigger — other Akan brothers joined us. That is why Asante has many accents today. But we Twi-foɔ were the precise group that started it, and led it.

Three names. One proud GhanaChild.

So, when you ask me:
Are you Akan? Yes, by blood.
Are you Twi? Yes, originally — me yɛ Twi-ni.
Are you Asante? Yes, by the union our forefathers made — Osa Nti. Mi yɛ 'santi ni

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Picture: illustration by GhanaChild.