Old Akyem
Akyem Kingdoms | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15th–16th century | |||||||||||
D'Anville's 1729 map recognizing "Great Akani" (Akyem) as a major polity on the Gold Coast | |||||||||||
| Status | Former Akan polity | ||||||||||
| Capital | Banso Anum Kyebi(1730s) | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Twi | ||||||||||
| Religion | Akan religion, | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy (Earlier) Oligarchy(Later) | ||||||||||
| Omanhene | |||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
• Migrations from Adanse | 15th–16th century | ||||||||||
• "Akim" or "Great Accany" listed on 1629 Dutch Map of the Gold Coast | 1629 | ||||||||||
• No longer Monarchy, power shared among rulers | 1680s | ||||||||||
• Shared leadership under three principal rulers | Late 17th century | ||||||||||
• Arrival of the Agona leadership under Ofosu Apenten from Denkyira | 1699-1701 | ||||||||||
• Participation in the Denkyira–Asante war | 1699–1702 | ||||||||||
• Death of Ofosu Apenten and Asantehene Osei Tutu I in Asante-Akyem War | 1717 | ||||||||||
• Defeat of the Akwamu state | c. 1730 | ||||||||||
• Asante Invasion, Akyem defeated in conflict | mid–late 18th century | ||||||||||
• Emergence of Akyem Abuakwa and Kotoku | mid–late 18th century | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | Ghana | ||||||||||
Old Akyem (also known as Akim, Great Akanni, Groot Acanij, Acanes Castelhanos, or Acanes Grande) was a large Akan polity located in the forest zone of southeastern Ghana. It occupied a strategic position between the Pra and Anum river and was connected to regional gold production, agriculture, and long-distance trade networks.
Akyem was one of the most powerful inland polities in the Pra–Ofin basin , before wars with the Akwamu and Asante reshaped the polity and led to the emergence of Abuakwa and Kotoku.