Talk:Bono state#rfc 3F4C044

My understanding is that "Bono state" is the English name, and that Bonoman is the Bono name. Is this correct? In either case, are there adequate English-language sources to back up the use of either name? - in English, not in Bono. Lingvulo (talk) 07:57, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

::Yes Bonoman is the Bono name of it and preferrably, that's what it is mostly known for. In Ghana Bonoman is the known name and most other books has Bonoman as its name. Bono state as you rightly said is the English name. Effah Gyamfi wrote massively on Bonoman and other writer as well, in most cases, Bonoman is the running name. Thanks. Sacrifice06 (talk) 12:35, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

:::Right, so, as this article is written in English, it should say "Bono state" rather than "Bonoman". Would you be able to supply an audio clip of yourself saying Bonoman in Bono to add for the pronunciation? Lingvulo (talk) 15:23, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

::::Please there are some technical terms that needs to be maintained, no need to change them, as for the audio clip, later i will try to provide, i would wish to do same for all the other articles. Thanks. Sacrifice06 (talk) 07:26, 6 June 2020 (UTC)

:::::These edits don't change the information in the article; they just improve the quality of writing and make the English legible. Please stop undoing my edits, and instead discuss exactly what you consider an issue on this talk page. Lingvulo (talk)

::::::Please some technical terms are needed for research purposes, those terms nonetheless needs to be maintained, for instance "generally accepted origin", "ancient", "middle ages" and others are vehemently important. Thanks. Sacrifice06 (talk) 22:30, 6 June 2020 (UTC)

The Bono state or Bonoman is backed up by ten sources. Any sources that disagree? Adakiko (talk) 10:19, 1 March 2025 (UTC)

@AkanArchives thanks for the good work adding content. In order to make sure the citation style is consistent w/ Wikipedia policy, and to avoid repetition in the reflist, the list of sources, and further reading section, I'd recommend you check out WP:DUPCITES and WP:SRF. Catjacket (talk) 20:12, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:Apologies, I did not see your comment until after the changes were made. I am new to Wikipedia and still trying to understand navigation. Thanks again for assisting and watching this page. It is a very important piece of our history but unfortunately do to political issues and Ghana’s outdated colonial curriculum it’s been subject to misinformation raids but individuals who still credit Eva Meyerowitz.

:Please read works from Kwasi Konadu book for more information, if you can review Denkyira, Akyem, and Adansi I would greatly appreciate it. AkanArchives (talk) 12:47, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::Totally agree on Meyerowitz. Warren's takedown of her work was very thorough. I'll check out the other pages you mentioned and clean up anything I see, but feel free to tag me in the talk page if you ever want feedback or help with something. Catjacket (talk) 12:52, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:::Will do and thank you! AkanArchives (talk) 13:10, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

The question of whether non-sovereign monarchies within sovereign states should be described as historical or current entities has been discussed elsewhere, and I think it's relevant here. @Norcer your recents edits point to Bono being current, whereas before the article framed it as a historical polity only. I don't know to what extent the current stool at Techiman is a continuation of Bono or something materially different; if they're the same, I would guess that the Bono infobox could resemble Saloum, a formerly sovereign state now part of Senegal.

The problem is that right now the information in the article does not support the information in the infobox. If we want to describe Bono as a non-sovereign monarchy that currently exists and is the same as the Techiman stool then we need sources to that effect. The sources cited in the article that I have been able to read talk about Bono as if it ended in 1723 w/ the Asante conquest, or at least changed so significantly as to be a different polity. IMO we have 3 options: find a source that says Bono = Techiman, and then add post-1723 history to this article; or we make a new article for the Techiman non-sovereign kingdom; or we add post-1723 history to Techiman.

Would love your thoughts @AkanArchives @Kwesi Yema @Kowal2701 Catjacket (talk) 09:42, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:The French article says Techiman seceded from Bonoman after it was conquered, and Bonoman was dissolved in 1957, but doesn’t cite sources as far as I can tell. There’s a lot of sources on the current ruler of Techiman (Nana Akumfi Ameyaw IV) but I don’t see any mentioning Bonoman. Kowal2701 (talk) 09:58, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:You might be able to find sources on Techiman/Tekyiman’s history that’d clear this up? I can have a look later Kowal2701 (talk) 10:08, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:Apologies, I am fairly new to Wikipedia and navigating this site has been challenging.

:Thank you for raising this important point. Based on available academic sources, there is a credible argument that the Techiman stool represents a direct continuation of the Bono state, albeit as a non-sovereign monarchy integrated into the modern Republic of Ghana.

:Dennis M. Warren 1976 documents that following the Asante conquest of Bono Manso in 1722–1723, surviving members of the Bono royal house, including the Bonohene and Bonohemaa, re-established themselves in Techiman, where the political and spiritual institutions of Bono—including the ancestral stools, clan system, and regalia—were transferred and maintained in continuity. The Techiman royal court sees itself not as a separate polity but as the direct heir of Bono Manso.

:Effah-Gyamfi similarly treats Techiman as a post-conquest center of Bono identity, noting that the Bono state continued in a decentralized but culturally coherent form following the Asante occupation.

:Kwasi Konadu further supports this lineage in his discussion of Bono state formation and fragmentation, stating that Techiman represents a continuation of Bono authority and is a key locus for the preservation of oral traditions and ritual practices originating in Bonoman.

:We do have oral traditions of Bonoman being a regional ”Empire” comprised of various important settlements streaching from modern day Brong-Ahafo to the east parts of Ivory Coast but unfortunately, that information is hard to substantiate.

:In addition, I want to thank you for your assistance in fixing the page and contributing. Please check out the Adansi wiki if possible. I’m not really active on this platform so feel free to email the team at AkanArchives@gmail.com or reach us on Twitter and Instagram. AkanArchives (talk) 12:41, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::Thanks @AkanArchives, I'll look into those and report back. From what you said, it sounds like Warren 76 would be the best bet for a discussion of the direct political continuity. Techiman being culturally coherent w/ Bono isn't quite the same thing as being the same polity (think Roman vs. Byzantine, or Prussia vs. Germany).

::Also, welcome to Wikipedia! I'd rather keep any discussions about improving Wikipedia pages on here, but I'll check out your social media and Adansi. Catjacket (talk) 12:50, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:::Dennis M. Warren, as well as Kwame Arhin in A Profile of Brong Kyempim, provide some of the most grounded and detailed accounts of Bono history, drawing extensively from oral interviews with respected elders and chiefs in Techiman and surrounding areas. Their research confirms the continuity of the Bono political tradition in Techiman following the fall of Bono Manso in 1723, including the preservation of ancestral stools, ritual practices, and matrilineal governance structures.

:::Eva L. R. Meyerowitz, while a pioneering figure in early research on Akan symbolism and statecraft, remains a controversial source. Although she recorded valuable oral material and helped draw academic attention to Bono traditions, many of her interpretations—such as attributing the origin of Bono statehood to Egyptian or Sahelian models—have since been discredited.

:::Lastly, if you can get me in touch with someone who makes pre colonial map as the one in Saloum’s info box, that’d be greatly appreciated. I wanted to do the same for Bonoman, Akyem, Adansi and Akwamu. AkanArchives (talk) 12:58, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::::The artist who made the Saloum map was @HetmanTheResearcher. Their maps are detailed and well-researched, and the more maps like that we have on Wikipedia the better. Catjacket (talk) 13:02, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::::The would be me (thank you @Catjacket for the ping). HetmanTheResearcher (talk) 21:17, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:::::I saw the disclaimer about your one page being semi retired so I’m not sure if I should still inquire but I saw your work, it’s incredible. I wanted to know if it’s possible to get historically accurate maps for Bonoman, Adansi and Adansi based on the sources provided on the page?

:::::Please feel free to email us AkanArchives@gmail.com AkanArchives (talk) 21:25, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::::::I'm semi-retired in that I rarely edit anymore, but will respond if I'm pinged (as I still browse this site. I likely should change my user page to reflect this...) On your question, Sorry. I'm not aware of any maps on those political entities. HetmanTheResearcher (talk) 01:56, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

::Having dug into these sources some more, it seems clear to me that Techiman should be in a separate page from Bono. All sources, including Warren 1976, frame Techiman as a successor state w/ a different capital, title, structure etc. rather than being somehow the same polity as Bono Manso. I'll update the article to reflect this, and add post-1723 history to Techiman, emphasizing the ritual and cultural continuity. Catjacket (talk) 19:33, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

:::That sounds great Kowal2701 (talk) 19:47, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

:::Sweet, thank you, be sure to check out Kwasi Konadu’s work, he does the best job breaking down Akan history. Ghana Reader, Akan Diaspora and the Akan Documented History books are a great start!

:::@Kowal2701 AkanArchives (talk) 19:50, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

::::I already read the Akan Diaspora (very good) and as much of the Ghana Reader as I could, although it seems to be mostly a collection of articles also published elsewhere, so I will replace the citations to the Ghana reader w/ the original article as much as possible.

::::One other thing - there is clearly abundant archaeological evidence of Akan presence in Bono-Manso by the 11th century or earlier, but that isn't the same as saying that Bonoman the state was founded at that time. Sources looking to kings lists to try and understand when the state was founded favor the 15th century, with the exception of Meyerowitz who is not credible. So I will also make that distinction clearer. Catjacket (talk) 20:27, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

:::::The king lists come from Meyerowitz, who isn’t a reliable source. What we do know is that Bonomanso was a major population and trading center connected to Sahelian routes through Wangara middlemen sometime between the 11th to 13th century, based on archaeological evidence.

:::::Prior to the rise of Bonoman as a state, the region already had iron-working, gold production, and long-term settlement activity going back to at least 400–800 AD. So the area was culturally and economically developed well before any formal state formation. AkanArchives (talk) 20:39, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

::::::You're right, and I want to make sure the article makes that distinction clear. For the date of the founding of the kingdom, I'm thinking of sources that are directly anti-Meyerowitz, including Warren and Boahen. Maybe I'm misrepresenting their methodology, but in any case they argue that the Bono state was founded in the 15th century. I'm going back through the Brong Kyempin book, the Akan Diaspora, and the Ghana Reader and can't find any author actually arguing that a state that could be called Bono existed by the 11th century. Just that, like you said, there is archaeological evidence for important trading and population centers. The jump from that to the state isn't large, but it's not one we should assume w/o explicit support in the sources. Catjacket (talk) 20:55, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Many scholars believed European contact elevated Akan societies and that prior to the 15th century, Akan people were pretty much farmers and foragers.

:::::::Site such as Adansemanso and Asantemanso date back to 700 — 900AD.

:::::::Peter Shinnie’s conclusion was that Akan societies are much older that previous scholars interpreted.

:::::::What matters more than specific names or dates is the structure that existed on the ground. By the 11th to 13th centuries, sites like Begho and Bono Manso show evidence of large, organized settlements with long distance trade networks, iron smelting, gold production, and internal spatial organization. These towns were already connected to trans-Saharan trade routes through Wangara merchants. That level of economic complexity points to a form political and economic coordination.

:::::::When the Portuguese arrived on the coast in 1471, they did not introduce a new system of trade. They were inserted into an already functioning Akan gold distribution network. So while the royal chronology before 1400 cannot be verified, the archaeological and economic evidence shows that Bonoman was already operating as a state before the 15th century.

:::::::Also keep in mind the articles they released reassessing works from Meyerowitz came out before the archaeological surveys published in the 80s (could be wrong). AkanArchives (talk) 21:55, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

::::::::I'm not saying that the Akan were simple farmers pre-15th century at all. But we're not talking about Akan society in general, we're talking about Bonoman specifically. Historians and archaeologists are very careful about how they use the word 'state', and I haven't found anyone who describes pre-15th century Bonoman as a 'state', even tho it had long distance trade, gold production, etc. If you have a source that does so, please share. Otherwise we have no choice but to put 15th century as the beginning of the state.

::::::::This article unfortunately has a big problem w/ citations where the source doesn't actually support the statement it's being cited for. Vague citations without page numbers make it even harder to address, but I will try. Catjacket (talk) 22:17, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

::::::List of rulers of the Akan state of Bono-Tekyiman is based on Meyerowitz 1960 if anyone wants to change it Kowal2701 (talk) 21:58, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

::::Hey @AkanArchives, I saw in this revision that you added several citations from Effah-Gyamfi, Kwaku. “Archaeology and the Study of Early African Towns: The West African Case, Especially Ghana.” West African Journal of Archaeology, vol. 17, 1987, pp. 229–241.. The URL you added for it was [https://www.jstor.org/stable/25802031 this one], which does not lead to the article in question. I can't find the article anywhere online. Where did you find it? Catjacket (talk) 17:19, 2 May 2025 (UTC)

:::::I’d have to check, but I primarily used the Article from Daniel Kumah, Ponansky and Effah Gyamfi from Jstor AkanArchives (talk) 17:51, 2 May 2025 (UTC)

:::::I saw some of your edits, the suicide of Afena Diamono isn’t really credible. The author of the article cites Meyerowitz, who doesn’t cite any written chronicles to back that up. In Dennis Warren’s article, he states this clearly. He breaks down how Meyerowitz constructed her Bono chronology mostly from oral interviews with a few informants like Akumfi Ameyaw III, but even those sources were inconsistent. Some of them later denied giving her the detailed kinglists she published. Are there any written works from the Gonja from that time period that corroborate this event ? If not it should be removed. AkanArchives (talk) 18:44, 2 May 2025 (UTC)

::::::Let me check in on that some more and get back to you. Catjacket (talk) 20:11, 2 May 2025 (UTC)

::::::I looked back at the source, and you're right he does cite Meyerowitz, but he also cites another researcher. So I'll remove the specifics of the suicides, but keep the reference to the wars. Catjacket (talk) 08:33, 3 May 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Good evening, did a lot of reading and we believe Bonoman should not be described as a centralized kingdom under the authority of a single Bonohene. That interpretation largely comes from Meyerowitz’s early model or European attempts to frame older Akan polities within familiar monarchical structures.

:::::::It’s also important to clarify that in Akan, the suffix “-man” means land, people, or nation, so Bonoman simply means “land of the Bono”, not necessary a “kingdom” in this context. It reflects a shared political, cultural and spiritual identity, not singular rule like what we see later in Adansi, Denkyira, Asante, or Akwamu.

:::::::There was never a Bonohene like there is an Asantehene, just Omanhenes of cities like Techiman.

:::::::Each Bono town or city most likely had its own Omanhene (Ruler), and while they were linked through trade, political alliances and shared culture, there’s no evidence of a single monarchy.

:::::::Given this, the portrayal of Bonoman as a centralized kingdom should be reconsidered. The evidence points to a culturally cohesive and or integrated region comprised of interconnected towns, cities and smaller settlements.

:::::::The first Bono settlements began developing as early as the mid-first millennium CE—around the 4th to 7th centuries—with Amowi as one of the earliest sites, followed by Bono Manso (which would become the capital, cultural, spiritual and or political center of the region) and then, the Nyarko quarter of Begho, which was the oldest quarter of the City dated to about 12th to 14th century. AkanArchives (talk) 01:29, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

::::::::That doesn't 100% jive with what I've read. Yes it was relatively decentralized, but the Omanhene of Bono-Manso was still the head of the state, and the other kings owed him tribute (Effah-Gyamfi). If you're right that there was no governing structure at all, just an integrated region of ethnically Bono towns, then we would be better off deleting this whole article and moving some of the content to Bono people. I would need to see a lot more clear evidence before going that route. Catjacket (talk) 06:45, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::Deleting the page or moving some element to Bono people isn’t neccessary, the state existed. We just wanted to make sure the people reading the article understood the structure Bonoman opposed to viewing it as a Kingdom. AkanArchives (talk) 09:51, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

If anyone can find a copy of Effah-Gyamfi's [https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Traditional_History_of_the_Bono_State/Wa9WAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=bono%20state%20history Traditional History of the Bono State (1975)] that'd improve this article a lot, it's very thin on Bono oral traditions at the moment, and the history section could do with some work Kowal2701 (talk) 16:22, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

I recently created a separate page for the town of Bono Manso. I think it would be more appropriate to consolidate the Bono Urban Centers section into one or two paragraphs, and move the content on Bono Manso, Begho and Bondoukou to their respective pages. According to a former Omanhene of Techiman, Begho was never a part of the Bono state anyway (although it was a center of the Bono people), and no source that I've seen says that Bondoukou was either (it was in Gyaman). Having them here seems unnecessary. Catjacket (talk) 11:20, 3 May 2025 (UTC)

:Agreed, maybe they can be replaced by an economy section? Kowal2701 (talk) 21:51, 7 May 2025 (UTC)

@Norcer I saw the additions you made. I just wanted to inform you that the Assin, Akyem, and Asante cite Adanse region as their direct homeland. Which is why I revised the section.

The Dormaa are a splinter group from the Aduana clan which founded Akwamu and descend from Twifo-Hemang.

Please see the first few pages of Addo Fenning’s book on Akyem Abuakwa’s origins

https://archive.org/details/akyemabuakwa17000000addo/page/n1/mode/1up

As well the Adanse chapter in F.K. Buah’s book.

https://archive.org/details/historyofghana0000buah/page/17/mode/1up AkanArchives (talk) 00:11, 6 June 2025 (UTC)

:According to Buah p.9: I quote

:“… indicate how prosperous Bono became through trade, commerce, trolls and tributes received from vassal kingdoms, before the kingdom declined in the mid 18th century. Before this time, population expansion and internal struggles, together with the desire for independence existence, compelled several Akan units within the kingdom to emigrate southward to found new settlements. Some of these were Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Asante, Fante and Akyem.”

:While acknowledging Adanse, Buah emphasised the various Akan units migrated from Bono before some settling or passing through Adanse. It’s the same thing Buah said about Akwamu on p.19 and Akyem on p.28. He also said the same about the rest of Akan on p.29

:Compton on p.39 l quote “ Effah-Gyamfi argues that the Bono people contributed to the rise of Akan states in other areas; Bono emigrants helped to establish the Fante state on the coast and may be related to ancestors of the Denkyira. McCaskie (1995:134) and Bowdich

:(1819:171) ”

:Actually there are numerous sources which support the Akan migration from Bono. I don’t think this is worth further reiterating from other sources.

:Also on Bono oral tradition, Compton p.36 “As pioneers or first born of the land

:they claim to be the first to settle the area and cultivate the land. Oral traditions indicate that the Bono pioneers broke their way out of the earth and began farming the land. The

:cave complex at Amowi collapsed, and it is remembered in social memory as a supernatural disaster caused by the anger of the supreme god. In a rage, the supreme god Biakuru killed all but a few inhabitants of the Amowi caves for violating taboos and handling food improperly. At the time of the Amowi cave collapse, the shrine priest for

:Biakuru ordered some of the surviving inhabitants to found new villages, while leaving

:some people behind to care for the shrine. A small group was left at Amowi to care for

:the God Biakuru and his associated shrine, but the remaining settled in a village named Yefri, whose name can be translated as “we are coming out” [of the cave complex].”

:This is the summary I made on Biakuru and and translation of first born. I don’t think it is advisable to copy everything verbatim Norcer (talk) 09:16, 6 June 2025 (UTC)

::The claim that all Akan states came from Bono oversimplifies the history. While Bono was important, oral traditions are diverse and point to multiple origins.

::Shinnie’s excavations at Asantemanso and Adansemanso show both sites were large settlements by the 9th–13th centuries, long before Bono’s formation as a state and decline. Adansemanso, the old capital of Adanse, is listed as one of the five original Akan towns and was likely the largest ancient forest town yet found. This implies Adanse developed parallel to the Bono regions settlements, not just as a Bono offshoot.

::Compton and other historians say Bono’s claim to being the first settlers through the Amowi cave story, but that’s their local tradition. Other groups, like Akyem, Asante and Adanse, have their own distinct narratives that trace origins elsewhere.

::Shinnie also points out that early urban growth in forest regions happened in multiple centers Adanse, Asantemanso. Bono is seen as the source of all Akan groups due to seniority but the truth is somewhere in the middle.

::You can read about the archaeological study in the link below.

::https://journals.openedition.org/africanistes/113?lang=en AkanArchives (talk) 12:51, 6 June 2025 (UTC)

:::To be fair, you can clearly see I’m personally not making that claim but based on quotes from historians and scholars. On archaeological records, most sites of Bono were occupied around BCE and even before 9th centuries. But my position is not on this. Well, Adanse and Asante may claim different origin, and that’s not the subject matter here. The fact is Akan as first was developed indigenously at Bono before spreading in other areas. For I I know Buah has emphasised on this as quoted above. Konadu has also emphasised on this in his Ghana readers book and Akan diaspora. And to be clear, I made emphasis on Buah on Fante, Akwamu Twifo, Akyem, Denkyira etc. Fair enough. It is the same/similar in other sources. Norcer (talk) 11:58, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

Thank you all for the thoughtful and well-sourced contributions. I agree that while Bono holds a significant place in Akan migratory and political history, it's important to present a balanced view that reflects the diversity of oral traditions and archaeological evidence.

As noted by AkanArchives and supported by Shinnie’s work, settlements like Adansemanso and Asantemanso were established and thriving as early as the 9th–13th centuries, predating Bono’s consolidation as a kingdom. These findings suggest parallel centers of early Akan development—not just a single source.

That said, oral histories like the Amowi cave narrative from the Bono tradition are also valid cultural sources and should be acknowledged—perhaps under a “Traditional accounts” subheading. We should make sure the article distinguishes between mythical/traditional origins, historical migration patterns, and archaeological evidence to avoid oversimplification.

I propose restructuring the section on Akan origins to reflect these multiple perspectives clearly, citing Buah, Compton, Shinnie, and others. I’d be happy to help draft that revision. Sweetabena (talk) 18:43, 6 June 2025 (UTC)

:Yes, the origins of the Akan people are more diverse than often presented. While Bono-Manso is commonly cited as a starting point, the evidence doesn’t support a single-source origin. Research shows that Akan ancestors formed several early settlements across the northern forest fringes and central forest zone. The history points to multiple centers of development, not one linear path.

:Earlier historians, though influential, worked without access to archaeological data and systematically recorded oral traditions. Much of that evidence only became available through later fieldwork and excavations.

:Kwasi Konadu, a modern historian, brings together archaeological findings, early European accounts, and the work of scholars like Ivor Wilks, Reindorf, F. K. Buah, K. Y. Daaku, and Adu Boahen. His synthesis offers a more balanced and evidence-based understanding of Akan origins.

:Here’s a digitized copy of The Ghana Reader, which covers 500 years of Ghana’s history:

:https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780822359845/mode/1up

:And here’s Dennis M. Warren’s ethnography on the Bono people, which addresses issues in earlier interpretations like those by Eva Meyerowitz:

:https://dokumen.pub/the-techiman-bono-of-ghana-an-ethnography-of-an-akan-society-9780840311221-0840311222.html

: AkanArchives (talk) 20:22, 6 June 2025 (UTC)

:The origin of Akan is certain and clear as presented by historians and scholars. Konadu, Buah, Adu Boahen, Effah Gyamfi, Warren, Compton and others have made emphasis on this. The Konadu books Akanarchives introduced: Ghana readers (p.33) and Akan diaspora (p.34) clearly stipulate on this on northern forest, just as forest savanna zone by Adu Boahen.

:Also archaeological records from Konadu, Effah Gyamfi, Posnanky and others suggest Bono were occupied before BCE or even before 9th century.

:One thing is certain, Akan people origin is clear from Bono enclaves. However, later development from other areas doesn’t change this fact. Norcer (talk) 12:18, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

::In The Ghana Reader (p. 33), Kwasi Konadu notes that archaeological and oral evidence shows continuous occupation at Asantemanso from as early as 700 BCE (Considered too early for Shinnie) to the present and 393 to 1650 CE, respectively which predates Amowi Cave, Bonoso and Bono’s emergence as a centralized state. He emphasizes that several Akan societies were autochthonous to the forest zone and not all derived from Bono.

::It’s also important to consider that many earlier historians didn’t have access to this kind of evidence. Much of the archaeological work and systematic oral data came later, in the 1980s and 1990s. Scholars like Ivor Wilks, F. K. Buah, and K. Y. Daaku made major contributions, but many of their theories were based on limited sources like European records and localized oral traditions. Some passed away before newer discoveries (e.g., Daaku in 1974, Warren in 1997) or before the broader synthesis now available through scholars like Konadu.

::So while Bono is foundational, the broader evidence now points to a network of early Akan settlements with parallel developments, not a single point of origin.

::{{ping| Sweetabena}} said, it's more nuanced with the new findings presented. AkanArchives (talk) 12:33, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

:::It is important to note that before archaeological work in the Bono region and the collection of oral traditions, many scholars proposed that the Akan originated from Egypt, Libya, or the Sahel. These theories were widely accepted until new discoveries in the 1970s through the 1990s shifted the focus to local developments within the forest zone. We now know that migration stories linking the Akan to Ancient Egypt or the Ghana Empire are not supported by evidence.

:::Even historians like Ivor Wilks once suggested that the Akan were originally hunter-gatherers who became more organized through trade with Muslim and European merchants. That view has since been reconsidered in light of archaeological findings showing established agriculture and settlement centuries earlier.

:::The broader point is that there is no single origin for the Akan. Oral traditions from the Assin, Akyem, and Asante consistently trace their ancestry to Adanse, which is seen as one of the earliest organized polities and the spiritual homeland of many clans. Bono elders shared a similar view with Dennis Warren, claiming they were the first settlers, with groups such as the Fante leaving their lands after disputes.

:::Denkyira is also often cited as having emerged from either the Bono or Adanse area, with many accounts noting that it began as a subordinate state before asserting military dominance. Oral traditions from areas like Twifo-Hemang reflect mixed accounts, further showing that early Akan identity was shaped by multiple, interconnected centers.

:::Since we are the main contributors to this page, I believe a more balanced presentation would be the most responsible approach.

:::{{ping|Sweetabena|Norcer|Catjacket|Kowal2701}} AkanArchives (talk) 13:07, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

::::I’d really like to see more documentation of Bono oral traditions in the history section, and discussion of different reigns. Also the external origin narrative is given far too much prominence since it seems like it’s been discredited Kowal2701 (talk) 13:49, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

::::The article currently reflects what you just said. As it says the Bono rather emerge from the cave than Egypt or Sahara or Sahel. Reiterating, Buah just stated Akan trace the origin to Bono with states such as Fante, Akwamu Twifo, Akyem, Denkyira, Sefwi among others migrating southward. Compton said the same thing, likewise Effah Gyamfi and Warren. Same can be said about other historians. Nothing changes. The Akan origin is clear. The most recent one is Konadu archaeological records, both books also trace Akan people origin to Bono areas in the northern forest. The Bono areas were the first occupied at BCE before any other area in Ghana. Just like Kintampo. Stahl also points to the same thing. So Akan origin is clear pointing to Bono while acknowledging secondary migration from other areas. Norcer (talk) 20:49, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

:::Thanks for the thoughtful engagement and for referencing my earlier comment. Just to clarify — while I didn’t use the exact phrase “it’s more nuanced with the new findings,” I do agree with that sentiment. My point was that presenting Akan origins requires recognizing both traditional accounts and emerging archaeological evidence that reveal a more complex, multi-centered development.

:::I appreciate how the discussion is drawing from a range of scholars—from early historians like Buah and Daaku to more recent syntheses by Konadu. I’m happy to help with a revision that reflects this balance clearly in the article structure.Sweetabena (talk) 13:14, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

::::What do you mean by multi-centered? Saying that there were multiple proto-urban centers in the early Akan zone is very different from saying that the Akan people derive from both autocthonous groups in Ghana as well as Sahelian or Middle Eastern immigrants. The former is correct, the latter is disproven.

::::I think it's a good idea to go ahead and draft what you have in mind and share here. Catjacket (talk) 17:15, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

::::Both oral traditions and archaeological records point to Bono as Akan origins. Buah, Adu Boahen etc points to this while recent archaeological evidence from Konadu both books points to this also. The article demonstrates on that while challenging migration from Sahara or Sahel. This is clear enough Norcer (talk) 21:08, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::“Oral and archaeological evidence from two of the oldest Akan towns in the forest interior, Asantemanso and Adansemanso, indicates continuous occupation from 700 BCE to the present and 393 to 1650 CE, respectively… At both sites, we find sacred groves and forests with shrines in close proximity to streams, ancient roadways, and fields indicative of agriculture.” — Konadu, page 33.

:::::Buah’s History of Ghana was written before key discoveries. Effah-Gyamfi died before the Asante and Adanse sites were excavated, and Posnansky focused mostly on Begho and the Bono area. The broader archaeological picture only came later. Bono region being the sole origin, would be an over simplification. AkanArchives (talk) 03:13, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::If I may suggest a somewhat roundabout solution: we need pages for Asantemanso and Adansemanso. Konadu refers to them a lot, but in a somewhat oblique way, and without more information on what the archaeology actually found there it's hard to understand how it can be put in a concise and accurate form here. In particular, I don't really understand the relationship between those sites and Bono. Are they in Bono? Right next door? Far away? Even stub articles that just had the bare bones location, dates, etc. would be helpful. Catjacket (talk) 07:30, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Asantemanso dates back to the 9th century CE or earlier with some findings dating back to 700 BCE. Adansemanso was the old capital of the Adanse polity which roughly dates the same, though Konadu gives a calibrated date of 393 CE based on unpublished excavation data. Both sites were large, early forest settlements central to Akan formation. They are located in the Asante Region.

:::::::Here's the journal for the archaeological evidence

:::::::https://journals.openedition.org/africanistes/113?lang=en

:::::::I recommend reading Great Akan and the Adanse phase (first 2 pages very important) of Addo Fenning's book on the oral traditions of Akyem Abuakwa which explains and corroborates what I am saying below

:::::::https://archive.org/details/akyemabuakwa17000000addo/page/n1/mode/1up

::::::: AkanArchives (talk) 08:55, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::While Bono is cited as the first centralized Akan state and was once seen as the origin of all Akan people, many groups trace their roots to Adanse. It’s viewed as the ancestral homeland and the origin of key institutions like the Okyeame (linguist), clans, and early state formation. Oral tradition calls it the place “where God began creation,” and groups like the Asante Empire, Denkyira, Akyem, and Assin trace their beginnings there.

::::::::{{ping|Catjacket|Kowal2701}}

::::::::Here are two more articles for context:

:::::::: • Asante pre-history and the Oyoko clan: https://d.lib.msu.edu/asrv/234

:::::::: • Adanse and gold mining: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262686891_Traditional_Gold_Mining_in_Adanse

:::::::: AkanArchives (talk) 09:22, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::Both historical records and archaeological records points to Bono as the Akan origin. Just as Buah, Effah Gyamfi, Adu Boahen etc. The current books of Kwasi Konadu also refers to Bono as Akan origins. The history today will be the same tomorrow. As you are referring to Kwasi Konadu, the same author points to Bono as Akan origins. This is clear. Fante, Akyem, Denkyira, Akwamu Twifo etc all migrated from Bono to the southern areas and established themselves. Compton, Buah, Adu Boahen, J. Agyei and Ofori Mensah, Kwasi Konadu etc all say the same. His is history Norcer (talk) 15:30, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Thank you all for the rich discussion and insightful citations. I agree with AkanArchives and others that recent interdisciplinary work—especially by Konadu, Effah-Gyamfi, and Posnansky—has helped shift the narrative from a single-point origin (such as Bono-Manso) to a broader, multi-centered understanding of Akan beginnings.

As Konadu emphasizes, many early Akan communities were autochthonous to the forest zone, developing independently while maintaining cultural and linguistic links. This supports a model of parallel evolution, where Bono may have been the earliest centralized kingdom, but not necessarily the sole ancestral root.

I also appreciate the point raised by Norcer on the foundational role of Bono. It’s important to balance that acknowledgment with what newer archaeological evidence and historical syntheses now suggest—namely, that multiple polities such as Adanse, Asante, and Akyem also emerged from long-established communities with complex social systems.

It may be helpful to reorganize the article's “Origins” section into clearly defined subheadings:

• Archaeological Evidence

• Oral Traditions

• Early Written Sources

• Modern Historical Synthesis

This structure would allow the article to present the layered nature of the Akan origin story without privileging one perspective over another.

I'm happy to assist in drafting or reviewing such a restructuring if others are in support.Sweetabena (talk) 13:23, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

:I think what you’re proposing is more historiography than history? I think modern historical synthesis is what the section should be on, although I’d usually start an origins section with a couple sentences on origin traditions. But you two are much more knowledgeable about this than me so I am happy to defer, just remember we’re writing for a popular readership (WP:RF). Kowal2701 (talk) 14:02, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

:Konadu, Effah Gyamfi, Buah or Posnansky points to Bono as Akan origins. Just as the recent books by Konadu both point to Bono in the northern forest as Akan origin. Both oral tradition and archaeological records make emphasis on this. Akyem, Denkyira, Fante, Twifo Akwamu, Sefwi among others all trace the origin to Bono. It must also be noted that records acknowledge Adanse as secondary migratory route or settlements Norcer (talk) 21:17, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

::Buah and Boahen wrote their major works before key archaeological discoveries in the Asante and Adanse regions. Their views on Akan origins focused heavily on oral traditions and early written sources (some of which are outdated). Effah-Gyamfi, who died in 1983, never saw the later excavations at Adansemanso or Asantemanso and focused mainly on Bono sites. Posnansky concentrated on Begho and the Bono area, not the southern forest. None of them had access to the full archaeological picture that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s.

::Denkyira traces its origins to the Adanse region, some accounts also link them to Bono. Fante oral traditions say they came from Techiman (Bono) and moved south. Akwamu traces its ancestry to the Adanse region, likely from the Twifo-Hemang area, before migrating southeast. Twifo also originated from Adanse and were once under Denkyira influence. Sefwi traditions link them to both Bono and Adanse, with later movements through Denkyira territory. Akyem originated from Adanse as well, emerging from frontier settlements like Kokobiante and Sebenso before moving east across the Pra River under Denkyira pressure. AkanArchives (talk) 03:26, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

:::Upon all that you have said, the books of Konadu, Compton, Ofosu Mensah and others refute it. The archaeological references also point to Bono. It’s like you are using the same Konadu, Adu Boahen, Buah, Compton etc books at the same time and later discrediting the same scholars based on your personal way of thinking. The books are clear, they say what they say. History is history and archaeology points to that. Concentrate on what the book says, there were some authors who never came to Bono too, and concentrated mainly in the interior forest. Such as “Akanman piesie num” or “Great Akan” rhythm. Concentrate on the source and stop jumping on the scholars and authors. You have criticised the Europeans, yet you use the same Europeans to draft the “Great Akan” article. You have also criticised your own Ghanaian historians from 1900-2000. At the same time, you are still using the same Ghanaian authors (from the same dates) to draft your articles. That’s not how it’s done. At the moment, it’s like you are trying to have everything your own personal way instead of using what’s in the books. History is history and it doesn’t change. The scholars have always emphasised Akyem, Fante, Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Sefwi etc migrating from Bono to the southern areas. Archaeological records, oral tradition and history points to this, as emphasised by scholars and historians.

:::The same archaeological records points to Kintampo inhabitants long ago as afar as BCE, and the same archaeological records point Begho with activities dating as far as 3500 years ago, as well as other areas. The same archaeological records points Bono as Akan origins. Norcer (talk) 16:06, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

::::You misunderstand. I’m not saying newer data invalidates the older works. I’m simply pointing out that the historians you’re referencing, especially those active and wrote books as well as articles before the 1990s, did not have access to the archaeological and regional data we now have. You keep bringing up Effah Gyamfi, but he literally died before the major excavations in the Asante and Adanse areas were even conducted. When it comes to origins, the discussion today is much broader than the older one place migration theory.

::::As for the claim that Bono is the sole origin of all Akan groups, that’s not supported by current research. Compton is very clear:

::::“Three firstborn places are recorded for the Bron (Bono Manso, Wenchi, and Hani [Begho]) and five for the Akan (Adanse, Akyem, Assin, Denkyira, and Asante).”

::::(Shifting Trade Networks, p. 5)

::::This clearly shows that even oral traditions distinguish between Bron and Akan origins.

::::Konadu explains this too. In The Ghana Reader, he describes Akan as a composite culture, not a single origin people:

::::“The Akan were not a singular people but rather various groups that came to fall under a shared cultural-linguistic umbrella.”

::::(Ghana Reader, p. 24) 

::::He also highlights that settlements like Asantemanso and Adansemanso show continuous Akan presence from as early as 393 CE

::::“Oral and archaeological evidence from Asantemanso and Adansemanso indicates continuous occupation from 393 to 1650 CE”

::::(Ghana Reader, p. 33)

::::Finally, the article Great Akan focuses on a specific context: 15th to 17th century in European records. It describes how Portuguese and Dutch observers understood the inland Akan-speaking gold producers of that time. It is not about the origins of all Akan groups (some groups who do not even cite Bono as an origin point), so comparing it to the broader question of origins is a false equivalency. The sources, the focus, and the context are entirely different.

::::The criticism is only toward outdated statements, and theories, not to the entire works of the scholars. Claims that are no longer supported by literal data should be reassessed. AkanArchives (talk) 17:48, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::Good good good. With all that you said. Effah Gyamfi (even some of his works remained unpublished and couldn’t explore further) is not the only person who conducted archaeological research in Bono, Ponansky, Macintosh, Compton, Konadu etc all did. And in the compiled books of Kwasi Konadu, he stated the Akan origins from Bono in the northern forest(Ghana reader p.33). He clearly saw Asantemanso and Adansemanso or Adanse yet he pointed it to Bono. The same origins at (Akan diaspora p.34) by Konadu.

:::::The same Konadu points to Bono Manso at 300 CE, Begho 100 CE. Even some archaeologists points to Bono Manso 100 CE whiles Begho at 3500 years ago, and among other areas in Bono which is dated beyond. In a nutshell, both archaeological records from Konadu points to Bono after accessing everything. Oral tradition and history points to Bono.

:::::You made a quote: “The Akan were not a singular people but rather various groups that came to fall under a shared cultural-linguistic umbrella.” (Ghana Reader, p. 24)

:::::It is the same thing summarised by Buah, Adu Boahen, Compton etc.

:::::According to Buah p.9: I quote

:::::“… indicate how prosperous Bono became through trade, commerce, trolls and tributes received from vassal kingdoms, before the kingdom declined in the mid 18th century. Before this time, population expansion and internal struggles, together with the desire for independence existence, compelled several Akan units within the kingdom to emigrate southward to found new settlements. Some of these were Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Asante, Fante and Akyem.”

:::::It is the same thing summarised by Konadu as Akan origins from the northern forests by archaeological evidence.

:::::You also made a quote Konadu explains this too. In The Ghana Reader, he describes Akan as a composite culture, not a single origin people:

:::::It is the same thing said by Konadu in Ghana reader p.33 and Akan diaspora p.34 as Akan origins from Bono. So which either way, still the origin/origins is from Bono. This is confirmed by oral tradition, history and archaeological evidence. Bono is the first created or born, and it is from Bono that Akan originated, developed and despersed. Norcer (talk) 16:19, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::Saying “all Akan people came from Bono” is incorrect. The evidence does not say that. Not even Konadu, or Compton say that. What they do say is that '''Bono was the first centralized Akan state, but they do not equate that to the sole point of origin for every Akan polity.

::::::Konadu describes the Akan as a network of proto-Akan settlements. That quote you mentioned

::::::“The Akan were not a singular people but rather various groups that came to fall under a shared cultural-linguistic umbrella” (Ghana Reader, p.24), this literally debunks the “all-from-Bono” claim.

::::::In The Akan Diaspora (p.34), he situates the early core in the northern forests, yes. But what does he point to? A network. including Bono and places like Adanse, Asantemanso, etc. He emphasizes shared development, not a singular point of departure.

::::::In her 2014 paper (Shifting Trade Networks, pp. 4–6), Compton clearly separates Bono from other early Akan formations:

::::::She says verbatim

::::::“Three ‘first born’ places are recorded for the Bron (Bono Manso, Wenchi, and Hani [Begho]) and five for the Akan (Adanse, Akyem, Assin, Denkyira, and Asante)”''' . — Notice how she seperate the Forrest Akan groups from the Bono.

::::::She identifies distinct origin centers for Bono and other Akan groups, meaning these were parallel foundational areas, not offshoots of Bono.

::::::Buah (1998, p.9) notes:

::::::“…before the kingdom declined in the mid-18th century… several Akan units within the kingdom [Bono] emigrated southward… Some of these were Denkyira, Twifo, Akwamu, Asante, Fante, and Akyem.”

::::::Read it carefully: Buah is referring to the political incorporation of groups into the Bono kingdom, not ethnic or ancestral origin. The people already existed. They left a centralized structure, not a birthland.

::::::Yes, Bono Manso is dated to 300 CE. Begho earlier. That makes Bono REGION archaeologically important, but the archaeology doesn’t back an exclusive origin claim. In fact:

::::::1. Adanse, Asantemanso, etc also show continuous pre-Bono occupation, that means before Bono centralized and gained mass influence, Proto-Akan people already had various settlements (Konadu, Ghana Reader, p.33; Shinnie; Stahl).

::::::2. The cave at Amowi is a Bono origin site, but it’s not the only one. Wilks and Compton document other “emergence” sites, especially found in Adanse, which many Akan matriclans like the Asona and Oyoko cite in their own oral histories. Mostly Bono people from the Bono region cite Amowi cave as their origin point. Notice how the Adanse, Asante, Denkyira, Assin, and Akyem don't even mention Amowi, Wenchi ?

::::::What Bono was:

::::::• The first centralized Akan polity? Yes.

::::::• The cultural and ritual exporter of many socio political symbols like stools, gold regalia, swords? Yes

::::::• The origin point of all Akan people? No.

::::::Konadu and Compton show that Bono was part of a wider northern forest constellation of proto-Akan settlements. The Bono area birthed Bonoman, yes—but that doesn’t mean it was the source of all Akan people. '''

::::::What you’re calling “origin” is actually centralization, influence and state formation. Origin is plural, '''Adanse, Bono, Assin, Dawu, Begho, Asantemanso. That is the scholarly position. AkanArchives (talk) 17:00, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::What you are also failing to comprehend is that Bonoman was the original outlet for southern Akan settlements to access long-distance trade. The Bono had the earliest and most consistent access to trans-Saharan goods, brassware, salt, textiles, amulets, and Islamic trade items, which circulated through Begho and Bono Manso before Europeans ever arrived. Southern Akan polities on Bono controlled markets to obtain those goods.

::::::Before 1471, the forest and coastal Akan were dependent on Bono as the intermediary for foreign trade. This gave Bonoman greater cultural and economic influence over other Akan groups, especially in political symbolism (gold weights, stools, regalia) and urban organization.

::::::This does not mean all Akan people migrated from a single source, it means Bonoman was the first polity to emergence from the proto-Akan network and had foundational and political influence over the various Akan settlements that were not yet centralized polities.

::::::“The Akan had been engaged in long-distance trade through Begho and Bono Manso with Muslim merchants and forest polities long before European arrival.”

::::::(The Akan Diaspora, p. 32)

:::::: AkanArchives (talk) 17:21, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::To be clear, I’m not talking about trade neither is the topic. I’m also not doing grammar. I’m quoting based on evidence from archaeology, history and oral tradition.

:::::::I would like to know maybe you are reading different Konadu book. I quote Konadu (Ghana reader p.33)”In the northern and northwest parts of the forest, areas associated with Akan origins are generally dated from… Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlement of Bono Manso, the capital of Bono polity and the township of Bew(commonly referred as Begho). All of the sacred sites associated with Bono settlements…” As can be seen Konadu pointed Akan origins to Bono.

:::::::The same Konadu in Akan diaspora (p.34) pointed Akan origins to Bono. These are archaeological evidence based on Konadu’s compiled books.

:::::::Also archaeology points to Bono areas as far older than Adansemanso with activities such as farming or agricultural or smelting dating beyond Adanse areas.

:::::::It is also good you now got Compton concept differentiating between interior/all forest Akan settlement and forest savanna(northern) forest Akan settlements. The difference is clear now. Asantemanso/Adansemanso can only run shoulders in the interior forest.

:::::::Buah p.9 emphasised “Indeed, nearly all different groups of Akan trace their original homes to Bonoland…”

:::::::Later part he (Buah) also added (1998, p.9) notes:

:::::::“… indicate how prosperous Bono became through trade, commerce, trolls and tributes received from vassal kingdoms, before the kingdom declined in the mid 18th century. Before this time, population expansion and internal struggles, together with the desire for independence existence, compelled several Akan units within the kingdom to emigrate southward to found new settlements. Some of these were Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Asante, Fante and Akyem.”

:::::::This means the Akan trace their origin to Bono and also their original home. And just as Konadu said “The Akan were not a singular people but rather various groups that came to fall under a shared cultural-linguistic umbrella” (Ghana Reader, p.24). This also summarises everything said above, that Akan units/subgroups/various groups trace their origins to Bono.

:::::::So Akan origins/origin is from Bono based on the evidence pointed out. Secondary migration from Adanse doesn’t change the fact. Norcer (talk) 20:09, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::Claim 1: “Konadu pointed Akan origins to Bono”

::::::::Konadu does not say Akan origins are only from Bono. He writes:

::::::::“Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlements of Bono Manso… and Begho.” (Ghana Reader, p.33)

::::::::This is a comparative statement, not an exclusive one. He puts Bono Manso and Begho on the same level as Asantemanso and Adansemanso. He acknowledges '''multiple zones of early Akan development.

::::::::Claim 2: “All of the sacred sites associated with Bono settlements proves Akan origins from Bono"

::::::::Reality: Konadu also mentions sacred origin sites in:

::::::::1. Asantemanso

::::::::2. Adansemanso

::::::::Both of these site predate the existence of Bono-Manso. This means before "Bono" even existed, the ancestors of the Adanse, Akyem, Assin, etc were already in living in settlements in the forest.

::::::::Claim 3: “Akan Diaspora (p.34) confirms Bono origin”

::::::::'''

::::::::Reality: On p.34 of The Akan Diaspora, Konadu highlights the northern forest zone generally not Bono alone, as the area where early Akan societies formed. He includes Bono, but also discusses Kintampo, Adanse, and forest-savanna margins. He presents a network, not a mono origin. This means Asantemanso, Adansemanso, Amowi, Wenchi and Begho were among a network of settlements in the Forrest region.

::::::::

::::::::Claim 4: “Archaeology shows Bono is older than Adanse, therefore origin is Bono”

::::::::Reality: Older sites ≠ sole origin.

::::::::Yes, Begho and Bono Manso are early (100–300 CE), but:

::::::::By your logic, Bono settlements came from the Adanse region since Adansemanso has continuous occupation from 700 BCE to 1600 CE??? Wrong, that is not how it works.

::::::::Claim 5: “Compton distinguishes between interior and northern forest, proving Bono primacy”

::::::::Reality: Compton (2014, p.4) lists:

::::::::“Three ‘first born’ places for the Bron (Bono Manso, Wenchi, Hani) and five for the Akan (Adanse, Akyem, Assin, Denkyira, Asante)”

::::::::That directly confirms multi-origin. Bono is one center, not the sole origin of the Akan. Notice how she separates the early Bono settlements from Adanse ?

::::::::'''Claim 6: “Buah said nearly all Akan trace to Bonoland”

::::::::'''

::::::::Reality: Buah said “nearly all” (p.9)—which already allows for exceptions. He’s summarizing oral tradition, not archaeological fact. The history of Ghana by F.K. Buah was published in 1980, a decade before Peter Shinnie's archaeological work in the Asante region.

::::::::Claim 7: “Konadu’s shared cultural umbrella quote proves origin in Bono”

::::::::Reality: It proves the opposite.

::::::::“The Akan were not a singular people in the ancient times…” (Ghana Reader, p.24)

::::::::That means Akan identity formed from diverse, parallel groups. It was a process of cultural convergence, not a single-point origin in Bono.

:::::::: We have been exchanging in circles, if we cannot agree on the information then it is best to ask for outside input from the others help assess:

::::::::{{u|Sweetabena}}, {{u|Kowal2701}}, and {{u|Catjacket}},

::::::::• We are still discussing whether the Akan have a single origin in Bonoman or if the evidence supports multiple origin zones across the forest region (e.g. Adansemanso, Asantemanso, etc.). AkanArchives (talk) 20:58, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::I'm sorry I don't have time to read the sources, so take what I say with a pinch of salt, but based on the discussion above AkanArchives seems to have it right. The early influence of Bonomanso should be emphasised and it outlined as the centre for state formation among the Akan, but not a first settlement from which others dispersed. If we/you guys can't come to a consensus, I'd really recommend WP:DRN. Kowal2701 (talk) 21:12, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::To emphasise: Bono Manso is just the capital to Bono state. The Akan origins is from Bono state as a whole, not Bono Manso.

::::::::::Akan origins is from Bono, and the subgroups migrated from Bono to the southern areas to found new settlements. It is from Bono that Akan subgroups firstly migrated or dispersed, that’s why Kwasi Konadu points Akan origins to Bono. That’s why Buah clearly stated Twifo Akwamu, Akyem, Fante, Denkyira etc all firstly migrated from Bono to the south. Norcer (talk) 20:23, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::From the very onset, I made myself clear, just as the source. The Akan origin is from Bono, points to northern forests of Bono but not the interior forest. This Konadu clearly says. Buah also clearly says. History will not force anyone, just as archaeological or oral tradition. The Akan origins as emphasised is from Bono. Secondary migration can’t alter this.

:::::::::At the moment it seems you are doing your own interpretation instead of following the sources. Also stop misquoting the sources, quote exactly what the source says.

:::::::::Point 1 Im quoting exactly from Konadu Ghana reader p.33 ”In the northern and northwest parts of the forest, areas associated with Akan origins are generally dated from the 5th century CE onward, and, addition to continuity in pottery styles, rock shelter sites show the use of microlithic industries and ground stone artefacts into the first millennium. Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlement of Bono Manso, the capital of Bono polity and the township of Bew(commonly referred as Begho).”

:::::::::This is clearly emphasised, the Akan origins point to the northern forest of Bono. It never pointed to the interior forest of Asantemanso or Adansemanso.

:::::::::Point 2 Also, Bono Manso is not the only site in Bono, there are many sites in Bono but the best known are Begho and Bono Manso. Begho predates both Asantemanso and Adansemanso. There are other places in Bono too that predates the Asantemanso and overall Bono sites are the oldest to Adanse.

:::::::::Point 3 Again, Kintampo is Bono settlements in the northern forest or forest savanna. It predates Asantemanso and Adansemanso. And to be clear, Adanse or Asantemanso is in the interior forest. It is only Bono that’s in the northern forest.

:::::::::Point 4 Again, you firstly tried to compare Adanse to Bono in terms of archaeology. And I made it clear that based on archaeology, Begho alone had agriculture activities dating 3500 years ago, and that alone is older than both Asantemanso and Adansemanso.

:::::::::Point 5 Compton distinguishing the northern forest from interior forest is the same thing Konadu did. As Konadu pointed Akan origins to the northern forest of Bono.

:::::::::Adanse, Akyem, Assin, Denkyira, Asante etc are all in the interior forest.

:::::::::And Buah clearly stated (p.9) '…indicate how prosperous Bono became through trade, commerce, trolls and tributes received from vassal kingdoms, before the kingdom declined in the mid 18th century. Before this time, population expansion and internal struggles, together with the desire for independence existence, compelled several Akan units within the kingdom to emigrate southward to found new settlements. Some of these were Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Asante, Fante and Akyem.”’

:::::::::Meaning Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Asante, Fante and Akyem etc all migrated from Bono to the interior forest. And they all trace their original homelands to Bono. Buah said nearly because of the secondary migration, and the secondary migration doesn’t change Akan origins. As it clearly states Akan origins is from Bono. For example, if Denkyira migrated from Bono as its origin, and later settled at Adanse, then again Denkyira moved from Adanse to central region. This is a secondary migration, and doesn’t change Akan origin.

:::::::::Also the archaeology from Kwasi Konadu points to Bono in the northern forest as Akan origins. Bush’s oral tradition also points to Bono. So stop criticising Buah, it doesn’t change anything.

:::::::::Lastly “The Akan were not a singular people in the ancient times…” (Ghana Reader, p.24)

:::::::::It is the same thing Buah (p.9) said. “Indeed, nearly all different groups of Akan trace their original homes to Bonoland…”

:::::::::Later part he (Buah) also added (1998, p.9) notes:

:::::::::“… compelled several Akan units within the kingdom to emigrate southward to found new settlements. Some of these were Denkyira, Twifo Akwamu, Asante, Fante and Akyem.”

:::::::::This summarises it by Buah and Konadu, the different groups or subgroups trace the origins to Bono. And the subgroups migrated from Bono to found Twifo Akwamu, Denkyira, Fante, Akyem etc. Norcer (talk) 20:15, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::If what we have is different authors having different opinions, then we would need to adhere to WP:NPOV. Am I right in saying Buah is the only one that directly supports a dispersal from Bonoman? Kowal2701 (talk) 20:33, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::Buah's book was published in the 1980s, which came out about a decade before archaeological work was done in the Asante region that uncovered Asantemanso and Adansemanso. These are the sites that the Asante and Adanse peoples identify as their places of origin, the Akyem and Assin later cite origins in Adanse, not Bono. While Buah’s book contains valuable oral and documentary traditions, he did not have access to the archaeological evidence in the 80s and 90s. We now have tangible archaeological findings showing that the ancestors of the Adanse and Asante had settlements in the forest region before Bono even emerged.

:::::::::::For deeper context, the historical consensus has changed many times. In 1817, Bowdich and others claimed the Akan were pushed into the forest by Muslim invaders. In 1895, Reindorf proposed a migration from Mesopotamia, Libya, and Egypt that ended in Adanse. Other writers at the time didn’t mention Adanse or Bono at all, instead connecting the Akan to the Ghana and Mali empires. In the 1960s through the 1980s, historians began to take Bono oral traditions more seriously, which led to excavations in the Bono region.

:::::::::::Those excavations uncovered early Bono related sites like Amowi, Wenchi, and Begho, which date between 100 and 600 AD. Many historians updated their views based on these findings, but most of them were no longer active after the 1990s and early 2000s.

:::::::::::Historians today like Konadu, Compton, and others have had access to a broader range of archaeological and oral sources. They support a plural origins model for the Akan, which points to a network of early settlements across different areas before the emergence of polities like Bono, Adanse, Denkyira, Akyem, Asante, and the Fante states. This model recognizes several early centers of development, including Amowi, Wenchi, Begho, and Adansemanso, which all seem to have emerged around the same period. With the only anomaly being Asantemanso, which has some findings dating back to 700 BCE. AkanArchives (talk) 21:14, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::Okay, the relevant policy is WP:AGEMATTERS. In the section Bono state#Formation of Inland Akan Polities, the sentence {{tq|It is generally accepted as Bono is the origin of the Akan people.}} cites three sources: Buah (which supports it), [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ohx3CwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Konadu 2010] pg 34 (which indirectly contradicts it), and [https://www-degruyterbrill-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/document/doi/10.1515/9780822374961-003/html Konadu and Campbell 2016] pg 33 (which also indirectly contradicts it). The rest of the section is cited to Arhin 1979 which is quite old. I think this section should be rewritten.

::::::::::::I'd start by saying which oral traditions trace their origin to Bonoman with a few sentences on them, and then say it was thought that the Akan dispersed from Bonoman (citing Buah and presumably Arhin). Then discuss the archaeological research which caused this to be revised. How does that sound? Kowal2701 (talk) 21:43, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::Thanks, I'm sending you the book by the way

:::::::::::::Buah addresses the Bono's origins in page 9 then the Adanse in page(s) 17 to 19.

:::::::::::::Keep in mind, this book was publish in the 80s and leans into some of outdated theories before archaeology (even mentions the Bono migrated from Burkina Faso). But I thought I'd share.

:::::::::::::https://archive.org/details/historyofghana0000buah/page/9/mode/1up AkanArchives (talk) 21:47, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::{{u|Norcer}}, sorry but recent sources don't appear to support a dispersal from Bonoman. As a silver lining, I'd strongly support origin sections for Akan kingdoms and states discussing the cultural origins from Bonoman mentioned in Bonoman#Cultural Legacy, we certainly shouldn't underplay this Kowal2701 (talk) 21:53, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::Konadu both books points to Akan origins in the northern forest of Bono. It never said in the interior forest. Buah also records Akan origins from Bono, and migrations towards south.

::::::::::::Begho alone is far older than Asantemanso of 700BCE. Agricultural activities dates back 3500 years. Other areas in Bono also older than Asantemanso.

::::::::::::Follow the source Norcer (talk) 11:23, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::Buah, Adu Boahen, Ofosu Mensah etc points to Bono as dispersal from Akan. That’s the original home and origin. Konadu also points to Bono as Akan origins in the northern forest. That clear, that’s what the evidence says Norcer (talk) 11:16, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::We need sources to directly support what they’re being used to say, a source pointing towards or implying something would WP:SYNTH or WP:OR Kowal2701 (talk) 11:19, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::Exactly, that’s what Kwasi Konadu and Buah says. Konadu points Akan origins to the northern forest of Bono. Just as Buah says. Norcer (talk) 11:27, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::“In the northern and northwest parts of the forest, areas associated with Akan origins are generally dated from the 5th century CE onward… Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlement of Bono Manso… and Begho.

::::::::::::::^ Konadu (Ghana Reader, pg. 33)

::::::::::::::“Adanseland was the original centre of Akan dispersion… and it was here that Akan institutions… took shape.”

::::::::::::::^ F. K. Buah. (A History of Ghana, Page 16)

::::::::::::::This is contradicting what you are saying

::::::::::::::If Bono is the source of all Akan groups, why does the oral tradition of the Assin, Adanse, Asante and Akyem claim to be from the Asante/Adanse area ?

::::::::::::::Why does archeology point to the Asante and Adanse spiritual centers predating the formation of Bonoman ? Konadu says Adansemanso dates back to 393 CE, with Peter Shinnie saying settlements peaked in the first half of the 2nd millennium, this is older than Amowi cave which dates back to 400 AD according to Effah Gyamfi, the Bono people's oral traditions claim to be from this specific site. AkanArchives (talk) 11:41, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::Stop misquoting the sources. Konadu points Akan origins to the northern forests of Bono, and not the interior forests. The source is talking about Akan origins. It was at Bono that Akan originated as pointed by Konadu. Likewise Buah, p.9 also says it was at Bono that Akan originated.

:::::::::::::::Get to know, the migration first took place at Bono to the southern areas, some settling in Adanse or passing through, then another dispersion from Adanse. Thats what Buah clearly says.

:::::::::::::::Archaelogically, Bono is far older than Adanse. The overall highest age at Adanse is Asantemanso of 700 BCE. Begho alone predates that with 3500 years ago. Smelting at Bono Manso 300CE also predates Adansemanso 393CE. Besides Konadu also says Bono was occupied with activities in first millennium. There are other unmentioned sites in Bono by archaeologist which is far far older than all these combined in Adanse. Norcer (talk) 13:05, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::It seems you misunderstand the information.

::::::::::::::::Bono oral traditions and archaeology confirm that Amowi Cave which was an early rock shelter site inhabited by the ancestors of the Bono people, not Begho. Amowi Cave dates back to 400 AD according to archaeology by Effah Gyamfi.

::::::::::::::::You keep citing F.K. Buah but he literally contradicts what you're saying in page 9 and 16.

::::::::::::::::He literally says that Bono's migrated from Burkina Faso on page (9). I'm sorry but you're wrong. Stop citing archaeology from Begho, the Akan people who founded Bonomanso do not claim to come from there, their oral tradition says Amowi Cave was their ancestral origin point.

::::::::::::::::F. K. Buah also clearly identifies Adanse as another core origin zone in A History of Ghana:

::::::::::::::::“Adanseland was the original centre of Akan dispersion… and it was here that Akan institutions… took shape.” (Buah, 1998, p.16)

::::::::::::::::This means there wants one origin for all Akan people.

::::::::::::::::I'm not misquoting Konadu at all

::::::::::::::::You’re citing Konadu from Ghana Reader, p.33, where he compares Bono Manso and Begho with Asantemanso and Adansemanso. But on p.24, he makes this broader claim:

::::::::::::::::“The Akan were not a singular people but rather various groups that came to fall under a shared cultural-linguistic umbrella.”

::::::::::::::::That line alone refutes the “one-origin” claim. Why would he say this if we are all from one location ?

::::::::::::::::Also you keep saying all Akan people dispersed from the Bonoman but the state formed between the 11th and 13th century, some historians even say the 15th century, we have hard core irrefutable evidence of Akan people living in Asantemanso and Adansemanso BEFORE the founding of Bonomanso.

::::::::::::::::That's what you're not getting, all Akans have multiple origins, that means there's much more broader and nuance. This is the modern day consensus from Konadu and Compton.

::::::::::::::::Also I don't know why you're linking Begho discoveries from 3500 BCE, there's no evidence of Akan people or Bonoman even existing around that time. It is as {{u|Catjacket}} said, Bonoman as a state or polity didn't exist until the early 2nd mellenium. So unfortunately you are wrong, all Akan people did not disperse form Bonoman, they came from various networks of Forrest settlements in Wench, Amowi, Asantemanso, and Adansemanso before the emergence of Bonoman as a state.

:::::::::::::::: AkanArchives (talk) 16:44, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::::What I find very weird is that [https://books.google.co.uk/books?redir_esc=y&id=kEYuAQAAIAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=bono Amenumey 2008] page 17 says that the Bono originated from Adanse, which massively contradicts Bono tradition. Imo we should often be starting origin sections with documenting oral traditions, even when archaeological contradicts them (not at all saying it does here). Kowal2701 (talk) 21:17, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::::Adu Boahen also depicts the "Akan Heartland" in the Asante + Adanse region in a map in page 204 in the General history of Africa, abridged edition, v. 5: Africa from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century

::::::::::::::::::https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000121577

::::::::::::::::::1. On page 205, the Akan dispersal comes from this region which along with countless books also contradict the believed idea that all Akan people come from the Bono State

::::::::::::::::::2. Addo Fenning states the Akyem directly migrated from Adanse due to Adanse-Denkyira conflicts, and the Proto Asante attacks on the Asona clan, see page 2 and 3 below

::::::::::::::::::https://archive.org/details/akyemabuakwa17000000addo/page/2/mode/1up

::::::::::::::::::3. In Asante before 1700, Kwasi Boaten says on page 1, Adanse is therefore an important ancestral home of many Twi speakers. The area is traditionally known in Akan cosmogony as the place where God (Odomankoma) started the creation of the world, such as the ideas of the clan and kinship.

::::::::::::::::::Assin, Akyem, Asante and some Agona clan members (Denkyira) all trace their origins to Adanse

::::::::::::::::::See page 1 below

::::::::::::::::::https://d.lib.msu.edu/asrv/234

::::::::::::::::::It is much more nuanced than what Norcer is saying. There are multiple origins, even the archaeology confirms it. AkanArchives (talk) 22:55, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::Konadu and Campbell page 33 say {{tq2|Oral and archaeological evidence from two of the oldest Akan towns in the forest interior, Asantemanso and Adansemanso, indicates continuous occupation from 700 BCE to the present and 393 to 1650 CE, respectively, although Adansemanso was occupied mainly in the first half of the second millennium CE, a long dry period in West Africa and the second major re-gression in the levels of Lake Bosomtwe}}

::::::::::::::::{{tq2|In the northern and northwest parts of the forest, areas associated with Akan origins are generally dated from the fifth century CE onward, and, in addition to continuity in pottery styles, rock shelter sites show the use of microlithic industries and ground-stone artifacts into the first millennium. Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best-known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlements of Bono-Manso, capital of Bono polity, and the township of Bɛw (commonly referred to as Begho).}}

::::::::::::::::I know it may seem pedantic but saying "areas associated with Akan origins" is very different to saying "areas from which the Akan originated". Also, he says Asantemanso was settled from 700 BCE, and areas "associated with Akan origin" from 5th century CE, ie. the Akan were already in the interior long before the settlements previously associated with Akan origins were founded (let alone before the state of Bonoman was founded). Konadu appears to actually be revising and contradicting the origin from Bono. Kowal2701 (talk) 20:57, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::::At the moment the source speaks for itself. No personal interpretation. As clearly stated by historians and archaeologists, Akan origins points to Bono. And Bono settlements are far older than in Adanse. Like I said Begho alone is 3500 years, far predates Asantemanso of 700BCE. Likewise Bono areas record activities in first millennium as compared to first half of second millennium of Asantemanso. History, oral tradition and archaeology can’t be taken for granted. The record does everything than mere interpretation. Norcer (talk) 21:48, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::::Konadu has simplified everything. Norcer (talk) 21:52, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::::Nana Asaman led the Bono people out of Amowi Cave 1 and founded Bonomanso. Begho is not the origin of the Bono people—it later became an important market center for the Bono polity.

::::::::::::::::::Amowi Cave 1’s archaeology dates to 440 AD according to Effah Gyamfi, which is why Konadu stated that “sites associated with the Akan origins date to the 5th century.”

::::::::::::::::::Proto-Akan people were already in places like Asantemanso and Adansemanso before Nana Asaman founded Bonomanso after the 5th century.

::::::::::::::::::That debunks your claim that all Akan people are from the Bono state. Stop editing pages to remove this fact. {{ping|Kowal2701}}‘s assessment is correct—it’s not a personal interpretation, but exactly what Konadu is saying. He and I both cited multiple historians who write that many Akan groups claim Adanse as their place of origin. You’re cherry-picking sources to force a one-source migration narrative. Again, all Akan people are not from Bonoman, we have tangible evidence of many Akan sites existing before Bonoma's existence.

:::::::::::::::::: AkanArchives (talk) 22:05, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::::Where is it said Begho was 3500 years old? Konadu and Campbell pages 32-33 say {{tq2|A number of these archaeological sites were substantial in size and had permanent structures that suggest large populations and long-term occupation. The age of the majority of those sites ranges from 3500 BCE [Before the Common Era] to the nineteenth century in terms of occupation and include the Bosompra cave on the eastern forest fringe, Bono-Manso and Bɛw (Begho) on the northern forest fringe, Nkukua Buoho, Boyase Hill, Asantemanso, Adanse-manso, Dawu-Akwapem, Akwamu, and the Krobo mountains of inhabited caves}} and then go on to say 5th century for the northern forest as in the above quote. Our articles Bono Manso and Begho say 11th century, although Konadu and Campbell page 27 say {{tq2|The earliest phase of occupation at Bono Manso is thought to date to the sixth or seventh century BP.}} i.e. 14th/15th century CE (see Before Present) Kowal2701 (talk) 22:11, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::::::Not sure why Norcer is mentioning Begho when Amowi cave 1 is the origin of the Bono people.

:::::::::::::::::::Amowi Cave 1 (440 AD)

:::::::::::::::::::Bonomanso (5th - 11th century)

:::::::::::::::::::Bonoman (11th - 13th century, some historians theorize 15th century, Anna Compton says 13th century)

:::::::::::::::::::I have copy of Effah Gyamfi's book, I will attempt to digitize it soon if possible. AkanArchives (talk) 22:21, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

This is about Akan origins. And clearly Konadu, Buah and others emphasised. Is not about ones personal interpretation neither is it about ones views. Konadu points to Akan origins, just as others points to Bono. It is also good you are pointing to archaeological dates, now let me set the records straight. Bono sites predates Adanse by far margin. Nonetheless, Konadu points to Akan origins in the northern forests, not interior forests. That clarifies it.Norcer (talk) 19:25, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

:For the one who asked about Begho dating 3500 years ago.[https://books.google.com.gh/books?id=qDFcD0BuekQC&pg=PA246&dq=&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiIsoif5ciNAxWeWEEAHXNhDu8Q6AF6BAgEEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false Begho] Norcer (talk) 19:34, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

::I assume what you are referring to is page 246 where it says {{tq2|The urban phase of Begho (Bew) was preceded by an agricultural pastoral phase dating as far back as 3500 years ago.}}

::What that means is that before Begho was a town/settlement, the area was farmland which began 3500 years ago.

::[https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/hic3.12316 Dueppen 2016] says {{tq2|While evidence for first millennium CE occupation is sparse in central Ghana, in the early second millennium CE, large cities appeared on the forest/savanna margin, in part due to the shift in gold production from Bambuk and Buré (see below) to the Akan region.53 The largest city, Begho (12th–19th centuries CE), included at least 1500 houses (peak population estimated at 7000–10 000) organized into six distinct dispersed quarters and a central market.}}

::i.e. Begho was founded c. 12th century Kowal2701 (talk) 20:07, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

::He also says this of Bonomanso

::{{tq2|In contrast, over 100 km to the southeast the city of Bono Manso (12/13th–18th century CE) has significantly less evidence for trade than found at Begho, although limited quantities of brass, glass beads, trade ceramics and stone and clay weights were recovered from the site.56 This large site, which grew substantially after the 15th century, eventually reaching ca. 500 houses, is linked through oral history to the origins of the Bono kingdom. Recent work at the small village of Kranka Dada 10 km to the southeast found similar densities of durable trade items, suggesting that in this area, small and large sites had equal access to exchange networks.}} Kowal2701 (talk) 20:12, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

:::Now that it clarifies everything, so in summary, how does your statement relate to Akan origins as said by Konadu, Buah and others. Norcer (talk) 20:41, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

::::Because it directly contradicts your claim Begho is 3500 years old, and it means the first towns of Begho and Bonomanso were founded after Adansemanso and Asantemanso, meaning all Akan could not possibly have originated from them. This is becoming WP:ICHY. Kowal2701 (talk) 21:04, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::At the moment you are doing personal interpretation as opposed to the sources. So are you now personally criticising Konadu and Buah as they pointed Akan origins to Bono? As you can clearly see, I’m dealing with sources but not personal interpretation. The sources are clear, the sites predates Asantemanso and co. Go and read Kwasi Konadu again, it appears you are fighting the sources now with your personal interpretation Norcer (talk) 21:11, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::Konadu does not support a Bono origin. You are blatantly misrepresenting sources, which is a conduct issue. I don't want to take you to WP:ANI, but I may have to if this continues. Kowal2701 (talk) 21:18, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::Rather than this descending into ugliness, I think it’d be best to go through WP:DRN. {{ping|Norcer|AkanArchives}} if I start a case there, are you both happy to participate? Kowal2701 (talk) 21:27, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::You are trying to implicate Konadu by saying “Konadu does not support a Bono origin”.

:::::::Meanwhile Konadu Ghana reader p.33 stated emphatically ”In the northern and northwest parts of the forest, areas associated with Akan origins are generally dated from the 5th century CE onward, and, addition to continuity in pottery styles, rock shelter sites show the use of microlithic industries and ground stone artefacts into the first millennium. Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlement of Bono Manso, the capital of Bono polity and the township of Bew(commonly referred as Begho).” This is by stating categorically and in reference to Bono as areas of Akan origins in the northern forests as stated by Konadu.

:::::::I was keenly monitoring with the sources of yours and your personal interpretations, all I could see is WP:SYNTH. I think going forward it would be better to quote directly from sources, that settles it. As you are misrepresenting sources as well as false accusations, that will do. Norcer (talk) 23:09, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::You're misinterpreting the information.

::::::::He's saying the areas associated with the origin of the Akan people date back to the 5th century.

::::::::He's referring to Amowi Cave 1, which Effah Gyamfi excavated and dated to 440 AD. Amowi Cave 1 is considered the first recognizable settlement by the Bono people because it is referenced in the oral traditions. Nana Asaman lead his people out of Amowi Cave and founded Bonomanso, the first Bono settlement, which later became the spiritual and political capital of Bonoman.

::::::::All Akan people cannot possibly be from Bonoman because it was founded in the 2nd millennium.

::::::::Adansemanso and Asantemanso were already settled by the ancestors of the Asante and Adanse in the 1st millennium before the Bonomanso and Bonoman were founded.

::::::::The Adanse, Asante, Assin and Akyem do not cite originating from Bonoman. The Denkyira and Twifo on the other hand say they come from Bono (some say Adanse) and settled Adanse region. Baoulé oral traditions claim to come from the Asante.

::::::::This invalidates your point that all Akans are from Bonoman. All Akan Groups have varying oral traditions, and origin points.

::::::::Bonoman is the first centralized Akan polity but it is not the source of all Akan people, Konadu makes it clear that there was a network of Proto-Akan settlements in the forest region.

:::::::: AkanArchives (talk) 00:31, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::Now, that’s why I have made myself clear. You are equally engaging in WP:SYNTH. The source is taking about Akan origins pointing to the northern forests of Bono but not interior forests whiles you are also addressing something different. Adanse and its satellites of Asantemanso and Adansemanso or Asante is in the interior forest. You are also saying Baoule from Asante, how does it relate to Akan origins. It clearly summarises what I’m saying. Norcer (talk) 00:43, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

::::::::::Are the Baoulé not Akan ? The overarching point is various Akan groups have different oral traditions that suggest they do not come from Bonoman.

::::::::::I simply listed 5 groups whose oral traditions contradict what you are saying. Also you're deliberately taking Konadu's statement out of context but I digress. AkanArchives (talk) 00:47, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::::::That’s good, it summarises what I’m saying. The quotations and sources will speak. Henceforth the quotations will only be used. The archaeological evidence by Konadu and oral tradition by Buah, Ofosu Mensah will speak. WP forbids WP:SYNTH. Is like saying, playing football trace its origins to Brazil, so currently because football is played in other countries, then football originated from there too. Or by saying, Christianity from Israel, so because Christianity is worshipped in other countries, then Chritianity trace its origins to those countries also. Norcer (talk) 00:58, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Yes ofcourse, thank you for mediating and moderating this topic. AkanArchives (talk) 00:10, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

• For record purposes, discussion started at Wikipedia:Dispute resolution noticeboard#Bono state Kowal2701 (talk) 07:19, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

{{User:ClueBot III/DoNotArchiveUntil|1754287268}}

{{rfc|hist|rfcid=3F4C044}}

Should the first sentence of the section Formation of inland Akan polities read:

• A - It is widely acknowledged that Akan trace its origins to Bono, and Bono played a significant role in early Akan history as the first centralized Akan state (the current wording)

Or

• B - Bono played a significant role in early Akan history as the first centralized Akan state (the proposed wording)

?

Robert McClenon (talk) 05:55, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

:B - Most sources cited multiple origins for the Akan people, some of these settlements predate the formation of the Bono State. AkanArchives (talk) 17:47, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

Please enter A or B with a brief statement in the Survey. Discussion should be in the Discussion section.

• A - This is supported by early and recent scholars & historians such as Adu Boahen, Buah, Kwasi Konadu etc. This has always been the case. Norcer (talk) 18:23, 29 June 2025 (UTC)
• :B – Multiple reputable sources (Buah, Boaten, Fynn, Konadu) support a multi-origin model including Adanse and Asantemanso, not Bono alone. The current wording overstates Bono’s role in Akan origin.
• :F. K. Buah’s A History of Ghana, there is recognition that the origins of the Akan are not singular. While he initially writes that “nearly all the different groups of the Akan trace their original homes to Bonoland” (p. 8), he later notes that oral tradition has “persisted to this day that Adanse… was the home and centre of Akan dispersion” (p. 16). He further explains that Adanse emerged earlier than Denkyira and Asante (p. 17), and that it served as the original homeland for the Akyem states (p. 28), the Bosome (p. 29), and likely the Ahanta, Evalue, and Nzima as well (p. 29).
• :Kwasi Konadu, in The Ghana Reader, likewise describes Akan origins as linked to several towns in the forest zone—including Adanse, Asantemanso, Bono Manso, and Begho—stating that “the Akan peoples… trace their origins to a number of important forest towns in central Ghana” (p. 33).
• :Kwasi Boaten adds in The Asante Before 1700 that Adanse was “the first of the five principal Akan states” (p. 51) and “nurtured most of the important Akan clans” (p. 52).
• :J. K. Fynn, writing in Ashanti and Her Neighbours, reinforces this by noting that the ancestors of the Ashanti “were formerly subjects of the Akanny state which… may confidently be identified with the old Adanse kingdom, ‘the first seat of the Akan nation where God first began the creation of the world’” (p. 50). He further states that “the Akanny of the seventeenth century was the old Akan state of ‘Arcania’, whose territorial boundary then embraced the whole of modern Adansi, parts of Akyem and Denkyera and Southern Ashanti” (p. 36), and suggests that “perhaps the Akanny state was the Adanse state reputed to have been the first Akan state” (p. 37). He also observes that “the consolidation of the Denkyera state must be attributed to some families from the princely houses of the old Akanny kingdom,” with its early capital located in modern-day Adansi (p. 43).
• : AkanArchives (talk) 17:36, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
• B, WP:AGEMATTERS. The only source supporting a Bono origin (ie. a dispersal from the northern fringe of the forest) is [https://archive.org/details/historyofghana0000buah/page/9/mode/1up Buah 1980] page 9 (republished in 1998). Other sources such as [https://academic.oup.com/book/2136?login=false Konadu 2010] page 34 and [https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/107218 Compton 2014] page 4 appear to support a multifocal origin for the Akan (however unfortunately we can't find a source which discusses historiography). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ohx3CwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Konadu and Campbell 2016] page 33 says (emphasis mine) {{tq2|In the northern and northwest parts of the forest, areas associated with Akan origins are generally dated from the fifth century CE onward, and, in addition to continuity in pottery styles, rock shelter sites show the use of microlithic industries and ground-stone artifacts into the first millennium. Like Asantemanso and Adansemanso of the forest interior, the two best-known sites of the northern and northwest forest are the Akan settlements of Bono-Manso, capital of Bono polity, and the township of Bɛw (commonly referred to as Begho).}}, which could potentially be construed as indirectly supporting a Bono origin, however he contradicts himself in the earlier paragraph {{tq2|Oral and archaeological evidence from two of the oldest Akan towns in the forest interior, Asantemanso and Adansemanso, indicates continuous occupation from 700 BCE to the present and 393 to 1650 CE, respectively, although Adansemanso was occupied mainly in the first half of the second millennium CE, a long dry period in West Africa and the second major re-gression in the levels of Lake Bosomtwe}}, ie. Asantemanso and Adansemanso predated the earliest settlements in the Bono region, meaning they couldn't have originated from there and "areas associated with Akan origin" refers to either tradition or the version prior to revision. Kowal2701 (talk) 15:00, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
• :Pinging {{u|AkanArchives}} Kowal2701 (talk) 15:02, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
• :Also when Konadu says 5th century, he's referring to Amowi cave, Bonomanso and Begho are thought to have been founded in the second millennium CE (see quotes from above discussion) Kowal2701 (talk) 15:04, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

:What is the need to add "It is widely acknowledged"? -- Otr500 (talk) 13:43, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

::Weasel wording to mean the Akan originated from Bono region Kowal2701 (talk) 15:05, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

:::Not weasel wording, that is a simple expression to acknowledge something that is widely agreed upon within a group. RandomIPeditor (talk) 01:47, 1 July 2025 (UTC)