| Royal Title: | King |
| Realm: | Asante |
| Native Name: | Asantehene ma Asanteman |
| Incumbentsince: | 26 April 1999 |
| His/Her: | His – Your |
| First Monarch: | Osei Tutu Opemsoo 1701 to 1717 |
| Date: | c. 1670; years ago |
| Residence: | Manhyia Royal Palace |
| Website: | The Asante Monarchy |
The Twi: Asantehene is the title for the monarch of the historical Ashanti Empire as well as the ceremonial ruler of the Ashanti people today. The Ashanti royal house traces its line to the Oyoko (an Abusua, or "clan") Abohyen Dynasty of Nana Twum and the Bretuo Dynasty of Osei Tutu Opemsoo, who formed the Empire of Ashanti in 1701 and was crowned Asantehene (King of all Asante). Osei Tutu held the throne until his death in battle in 1717, and was the sixth king in Ashanti royal history.[1]
The Asantehene is the ruler of the Ashanti people. The Asantehene is traditionally enthroned on a golden stool known as the Sika 'dwa, and the office is sometimes referred to by this name.[2] The Asantehene is also the titular ruler of Kumasi, which served as the capital of the Ashanti Empire and today, the Ashanti Region. The Ashanti Empire comprised parts of present-day southern Ghana and portions of present-day eastern Côte d'Ivoire between the 17th and 20th centuries.[2] [3]
The current Asantehene is Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, born Nana Kwaku Dua, who ascended as the 16th Asante king in April 1999. Osei Tutu II was one of seven descendants who were eligible to the heir presumptive.[4]
During the period between the death of an Asantehene and the election of a successor, the Mamponghene, the Asantehene's deputy, acts as a regent.[5] This policy was only changed during a time of civil war in the late 19th century, when the Kwasafomanhyiamu or governing council itself ruled as regent.[5] The succession is decided by a series of councils of Asante nobles and other royal family members.[5]
The Ashanti Confederacy was made a British protectorate in 1902, and the office of Asantehene was discontinued. In 1926, the British permitted the repatriation of Prempeh I – whom they had exiled to the Seychelles in 1896[6] [7] – and allowed him to adopt the title Kumasehene, but not Asantehene. However, in 1935, the British finally granted the Ashanti moderated self-rule as the Kingdom of Ashanti, and the title of Asantehene was revived.[8]
On 6 March 1957, the Kingdom of Ashanti and the Northern Territories, the Gold Coast Crown Colony and the British Mandate of Togoland to form the modern state of Ghana. The office of Asantehene is now a sub-national constitutional monarchy, and is protected by the Ghanaian constitution.
All rulers in the lists below were members of the Oyoko Abohyen Dynasty.
| Name | Reign | |
|---|---|---|
| Nana Twum | c.1570-1590 | |
| Nana Antwi | 1590-1600 | |
| Nana Kobia Amamfi | 1600–1630 | |
| Nana Oti Akenten | 1630-1640 |
| Name | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nana Obiri Yeboah | about 1640–c.1680 | |
| Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Opemsoo | about c.1680/c.1695–1701 (definitely Kumasehene by 1695) | Founder of Asanteman. Reign continues as Asantehene. |
All regents were members of the Bretuo Dynasty who were and still are the holders of the title Mamponghene.
Upon the death of the Asantehene, it is the task of the Mamponghene to act as the regent, or Awisiahene.[9]| Name | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu I | 1701–c.1717 | ||
| Regent c.1717 to 1720 Amaniampon, the mamponghene | |||
| Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware Katakyie | 1720–1750 | ||
| Otumfuo Nana Kusi Oboadum | 1750–1764 | Forced to abdicate. | |
| Regent 1764 Safo Kantanka, the mamponghene | |||
| Otumfuo Nana Osei Kwadwo Okoawia | 1764–1777 | ||
| Regent 1777 Atakora Kwame, the mamponghene | |||
| Osei Kwame Panyin | 1777–1803 | ||
| Otumfuo Nana Opoku Fofie | December 1803–March 1804 | ||
| Osei Tutu Kwame Assibey | 1804–21 January 1824 | Known as Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba Bonsu from 1807. | |
| Otumfuo Nana Osei Yaw Akoto | 1824–21 February 1834 | ||
| Otumfuo Nana Kwaku Dua I | 25 August 1834 – 27 April 1867 | ||
| Otumfuo Nana Kofi Karikari | 28 May 1867 – 26 October 1874 | Forced to abdicate. | |
| Regent 1874 Kwabena Dwomo, the mamponghene | |||
| Otumfuo Nana Mensa Bonsu | 1874–8 March 1883 | Forced to abdicate. | |
| Otumfuo Nana Kwaku Dua II' | 28 April 1884 – 11 June 1884 | Died after short illness. | |
| Asante Civil War 1883-1888 | |||
| Interim Council 1884-1887. Chairman Owusu Kofi 11 June 1884 to November 1884. Chairman Akyampon Panyin November 1884 to 1887. | |||
| Regent 1887 to 26 March 1888 Owusu Sekyere II, the mamponghene | |||
| Otumfuo Nana Prempeh I | 26 March 1888 – 19 November 1895 | Original throne name was Kwaku Dua III Asamu. Destooled in November 1885, Surrendered to the British Gold Coast governor on 20 January 1896. Exiled to Sierra Leone and Seychelles 1900. Released 12 September 1924. Restored as Kumasihene 12 November 1926. | |
| Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II | 22 June 1931 – 27 May 1970 | Enstooled as Kumasihene from 22 June - 31 January 1935, after which he was installed as asantehene Under the British government until 27 May 1970. | |
| Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II | 6 July 1970 – 26 February 1999 | Ruled as Ashanti King or Asantehene | |
| Regent 26 February 1999 to 26 April 1999 Osei Bonsu II, the mamponghene | |||
| Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II | 26 April 1999–present | current Asantehene | |