the current occupants of the Royal stool were led by Nana Akuamoah Mampong Agyei from the family of Esono Gyima of Ayaase in Ashanti Adanse. Nana Esono Gyima left Adanse Ayaase together with his clan brothers and embarked on escaping the numerous wars that were plaguing the Adanse area by the then powerful Denkyira forces. The clan brothers like Nana Boahene Anantuo, Nana Mposo Frimpong and Nana Adu Gyamfi settled at Mampong-Ashanti, Ashanti Effiduase and Ashanti Gyamase respectively. Till today, these three ancestral homes of the Tena-Bretuo clan-brothers maintain amiable spirit of brotherhood. Nana Esono Gyima could not further his journey to the mountainous area of Kwawu as planned, and instead settled at Tokwaboho, a village near Ashanti Effiduase where he later died. At Tokwaboho, Nana Gyima was enstooled a sub-chief under the kingship of Nana Atakora Panin and so as tradition demands, his nephew Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei succeeded him as a sub-chief. But he was scared to participate in the wars between Juaben and Asante Mampong on the one hand and between Yeji and Asante Mampong on the other. At the request of Nana Atakora Panin of Ashanti Mampong, Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei and his followers left Tokwaboho to temporarily settle at Hwidiem in Ashanti Akim. Nana Ohemen, who was a sub-chief under Nana Ameyaw of Effiduase was invited by Nana Mampong Agyei to accompany him to Hwidiem because of his dexterity at war front. Surprisingly, at Hwidiems Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei created wing positions for his followers. Obirimfa Ahue was made Gyasehene, Kwame Onini Afari became Benkumhene and Ohemen whose skill at war was praise-worthy, became Osafohene, (the Front Guard). Nana Mampong Agyei himself retained the leadership as the Paramount Chief. Later, Ohemen, the great warrior became the chief of Abetifi. It is no surprise that Abetifi stool, till today, is tagged with the title, Adontenhene of Kwahu Traditional area. Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei married Obenewaa Bona, a royal family member of Kwame Onini Afari who later founded Kwawu Aduamoa. Since then, this traditional marriage relationship has hypothetically existed in the living memory of every Omanhene of Kwawu and the royal lineage of Aduamoa. At Hwiediem, the then founder of Ashanti Akim, Frempong Manso, demanded Akuamoa Mampong Agyei swore an oath of allegiance before him; a move which Mampong Agyei rejected and therefore decided to move farther up to the Dwerebe Hill towards the Kodiabe Kingdom. This new settlement initially called OKwawu Mampong, (named after Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei) was later called Ankaase. Nana Mampong Agyei’s brave scout left Ankaase for a distance of about two miles to discover the present day location at the bank of river Subiri. This new spot was named Abene after (the originator) Odiabene. Abene continues to be the capital town of Kwawu Traditional Area and the seat of the Paramount Chief of Kwahu. According to Nana Simpeh Wiredu II, Okwawu Krontihene, by way of preventing wars and destoolments, Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei appointed his clan brothers as sub-chiefs under his Paramountcy. The royal stool of Kwawu and the major sub-chiefs of Abene such as the Krontihene, Adehyehene, Akwamuhene, Akyeamehene are all members of the Tena clan and descendants of Mampong Agyei family members who accompanied him. History holds it that, Nana Akuamoa Mampong Agyei lived for several years till he miraculously disappeared towards the top of one big tree called Odadee. The site has since been passionately remembered and occasionally worshiped by a fetish priest called Ampongagyei Komfo. Immediately following Nana Mampong Agyei was Nana Diawuo whose name is accredited to the stool as the initiator who carved and engraved it. The Stool therefore is traditionally called, ‘ Esono Gyima and Mampong Agyei -akongua’.

свернуть