Kingdom of Gyaman
Kingdom of Gyaman Gyaman (Gyaaman) Jamang (Jaman) | |||||||||||||||
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| 17th century | |||||||||||||||
| Status | Former kingdom | ||||||||||||||
| Capital | Amanvi (Ceremonial) Sampa Bonduku(Administrative/commercial center) | ||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Twi Ligbi Kulango Dyula | ||||||||||||||
| Religion |
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| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||
| Gyamanhene | |||||||||||||||
• c. 1800–1818 | Kwadwo Adinkra | ||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||
• Establishment of Gyaman Kingdom | 17th century | ||||||||||||||
• Subjugation by the Asante Empire | 1740 | ||||||||||||||
• End of Asante control and brief independence | 1875 | ||||||||||||||
• Dissolution into British Gold Coast (eastern territories) | 1895 | ||||||||||||||
• Dissolution into French West Africa (western territories) | 1897 | ||||||||||||||
| 1957 | |||||||||||||||
| Currency | Gold dust cowrie shells Salt Copper | ||||||||||||||
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| Today part of | Ghana Ivory Coast | ||||||||||||||
Gyaman (also spelled Gyaaman or Jamang, and later known as Jaman) was a precolonial Akan kingdom that was located in parts of present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast. It was established by the Aduana clan from Dormaa. Gyaman evolved by extending its authority across the Banda, Jaman North, Jaman South, and Bonduku regions. It is closely associated in oral tradition with the origin of Adinkra symbols, which are now central to Akan philosophy and visual culture. The kingdom was a cultural and political crossroads between the Akan, Gur, and Mande-speaking regions, facilitating trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange across the forest–savannah frontier. Its history was shaped by conflict with the Asante Empire and the eventual partition of its territory between the British Gold Coast and French West Africa in the late 19th century.