| Emblem of His Majesty the Emperor of Ashanti | |
| Year Adopted: | December 30, 1701 |
| Crest: | Porcupine |
| Shield: | Remarkably threatening looking red "porcupine", displaying an inbuilt arsenal of sharp spikes for use when attacked by an enemy. |
| Motto: | "Kum apem a, apem beba" (Kill a thousand, a thousand will come) |
The Emblem of His Majesty the King of the Ashanti (or National Emblem of Ashanti) is the national emblem of the Ashanti nation, adopted by the Ashanti King Asantehene Osei Tutu I in 1701, and depicts a Porcupine, which has been the Ashanti national animal since the early-eighteenth century AD.
The Porcupine, as the Ashanti national emblem has been used by the Asantehene, the king of the Ashanti people, since 1701. The Porcupine is the designated national animal of the Ashanti. The national emblem was created by Asantehene Nana Osei Kofi Tutu I (r. 1695 – 1717).
The Ashanti national emblem is a red Porcupine (or Ashanti: Kotoko) on a gold background that symbolizes gold which has been a source of Ashanti wealth. The Porcupine has been the designated national animal of the Ashanti since 1701 right through to the 21st century and stems from the Ashanti proverb:"The porcupine fights from all angles" and the readiness of the Ashanti nation to wage war on its enemies with the Ashanti nation motto "Kum apem a, apem beba" (Kill a thousand, a thousand will rise) in reference to the Porcupine's quills as symbols of Ashanti warriors, is still quoted.[1] [2] [3]