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Osei Bonsu
Osei Bonsu (born 1779 – 21 January 1824) also known as Osei Tutu Kwame was the Asantehene (King of the Ashanti). He reigned either from 1800 to 1824 or from 1804 to 1824. During his reign as the king, the Ashanti fought the Fante confederation and ended up dominating Gold Coast trade. In Akan, Bonsu means whale (the largest and most powerful "fish" in the sea), and is symbolic of his achievement of extending the Ashanti Empire to the coast. He died in Kumasi, and was succeeded by Osei Yaw Akoto.
Other sources refer to him as Osei Tutu Kwame. He was a leader in war against the Fante of the southern Gold Coast in 1806–07 and against Gyaman in 1818–19. He halted British expansionism in the Gold Coast region.
Early in his reign, the king suppressed a rebellion in the North-West provinces that was carried out by Muslim subjects who wanted to restore Osei Kwame Panyin to office possibly because the former Asantehene was pro-Muslim. This rebellion was led by the Gbuipewura of Gonja in the early 19th century. The rebels were defeated around 1801 with the Gbuipewura either captured or killed.
An Annal was written in Arabic by Muhammad al-Mustafa from Gonja on the history of the ruling Oyoko dynasty, sponsored by Bonsu during his reign. The document does not exist today but it was partly reviewed by Joseph Dupuis in 1820. During his era, the interest rate on loans for capital was set at 33% for 42 days.
Thomas Edward Bowdich noted Osei Bonsu's interest in English architecture. In the early 19th century, Osei Bonsu began the construction of the Aban Palace funded by the public treasury. A new town plan was conceived. Houses along the main road which served as the link between the suburbs of Bantama and Asafo were to be rebuilt. He also had laborers construct a wide straight street from the city of Kumasi to the village of Breman on the Mampong road. Bonsu's city plan was to destroy the villages in the neighborhood and rehouse the people along this street.
In 1816, the King commenced the reconstruction of the 6th and 7th Great Roads where they were cut within the width of 30 – 40 feet; further straightened and weeded. Works on the 7th Great Road progressed but reconstructions on the 6th Great Road were stalled until 1820 where Bonsu spoke of restarting the project. Reconstruction of the 1st Great Road took place in 1819 and by 1820, the renovated 7th Great Road, leading to Elmina – was believed to be the fastest route to the coast taking one day to journey to the Coast from Ashanti.
Bonsu incorporated literate Muslims into the Ashanti bureaucracy. These "Moors," as documented by European visitors to Ashanti in the early 19th century, originated from the north of Ashanti among the states of Gonja, Dagomba and Mamprussi. A Muslim school was established by Al-Ghamba, the head of the Kumasi muslim community, in the early 19th century which Bonsu sent some of his children to attend. By 1819, the school had accommodated 70 students. Muller adds that Bonsu was the patron of the school which he took advantage to check against the growth of Isam in Ashanti. Muller also explains that Bonsu sent his children to the school as a sign of respect to the Muslim community and not to acknowledge the growth of Islam in the state.
British primary sources in the early 19th century referred to an "Arab medical staff" whose services were employed in Ashanti army by Osei Bonsu. They were tasked with the function of recording Ashanti casualties in battle. This unit was deployed in a campaign against Fante states in 1807 for example.
Osei Bonsu
Osei Bonsu (born 1779 – 21 January 1824) also known as Osei Tutu Kwame was the Asantehene (King of the Ashanti). He reigned either from 1800 to 1824 or from 1804 to 1824. During his reign as the king, the Ashanti fought the Fante confederation and ended up dominating Gold Coast trade. In Akan, Bonsu means whale (the largest and most powerful "fish" in the sea), and is symbolic of his achievement of extending the Ashanti Empire to the coast. He died in Kumasi, and was succeeded by Osei Yaw Akoto.
Other sources refer to him as Osei Tutu Kwame. He was a leader in war against the Fante of the southern Gold Coast in 1806–07 and against Gyaman in 1818–19. He halted British expansionism in the Gold Coast region.
Early in his reign, the king suppressed a rebellion in the North-West provinces that was carried out by Muslim subjects who wanted to restore Osei Kwame Panyin to office possibly because the former Asantehene was pro-Muslim. This rebellion was led by the Gbuipewura of Gonja in the early 19th century. The rebels were defeated around 1801 with the Gbuipewura either captured or killed.
An Annal was written in Arabic by Muhammad al-Mustafa from Gonja on the history of the ruling Oyoko dynasty, sponsored by Bonsu during his reign. The document does not exist today but it was partly reviewed by Joseph Dupuis in 1820. During his era, the interest rate on loans for capital was set at 33% for 42 days.
Thomas Edward Bowdich noted Osei Bonsu's interest in English architecture. In the early 19th century, Osei Bonsu began the construction of the Aban Palace funded by the public treasury. A new town plan was conceived. Houses along the main road which served as the link between the suburbs of Bantama and Asafo were to be rebuilt. He also had laborers construct a wide straight street from the city of Kumasi to the village of Breman on the Mampong road. Bonsu's city plan was to destroy the villages in the neighborhood and rehouse the people along this street.
In 1816, the King commenced the reconstruction of the 6th and 7th Great Roads where they were cut within the width of 30 – 40 feet; further straightened and weeded. Works on the 7th Great Road progressed but reconstructions on the 6th Great Road were stalled until 1820 where Bonsu spoke of restarting the project. Reconstruction of the 1st Great Road took place in 1819 and by 1820, the renovated 7th Great Road, leading to Elmina – was believed to be the fastest route to the coast taking one day to journey to the Coast from Ashanti.
Bonsu incorporated literate Muslims into the Ashanti bureaucracy. These "Moors," as documented by European visitors to Ashanti in the early 19th century, originated from the north of Ashanti among the states of Gonja, Dagomba and Mamprussi. A Muslim school was established by Al-Ghamba, the head of the Kumasi muslim community, in the early 19th century which Bonsu sent some of his children to attend. By 1819, the school had accommodated 70 students. Muller adds that Bonsu was the patron of the school which he took advantage to check against the growth of Isam in Ashanti. Muller also explains that Bonsu sent his children to the school as a sign of respect to the Muslim community and not to acknowledge the growth of Islam in the state.
British primary sources in the early 19th century referred to an "Arab medical staff" whose services were employed in Ashanti army by Osei Bonsu. They were tasked with the function of recording Ashanti casualties in battle. This unit was deployed in a campaign against Fante states in 1807 for example.