Opoku Fofie

Dynastic context Opoku Fofie, born around 1775, was the second son of the asantehemaa (queen mother) Konadu Yaadom and Adu Twum Kaakyire, son of Opoku Ware I, asantehene from 1718 to 1750. Consequently, he belongs to the Bosommuru ntoro (patrilineal dynasty) of Opoku Ware of the Oyoko clan and his accession to the throne respects the principle of dynastic alternation of the asantehene of the Ashanti Empire. The latter adopted the children of the deposed queen to preserve their right of succession and erase the memory of her predecessor from the collective memory. Akyaama's exile led to a succession of other disqualifications and maneuvers designed to keep her future descendants from the Golden Throne. Although this agreement eased the conflict between the two dynasties, Opoku Kwame died under suspicious circumstances in 1797. Konadu Yaadom accused the younger Osei Kwame of poisoning his elder son. After an attempt on her life, the asantehemaa fled the capital Kumasi to take refuge in Kokofu with her son Opoku Fofie. Under the prerogatives befitting her office, she appointed the latter as the new legitimate heir to the throne. He created a new fekuw (company) made up of Muslim military units loyal to him, to reinforce the Ankobea (institution of the Empire's army). Faced with the risk of civil war, Osei Kwame agreed to surrender in 1803. The rebel armies supporting him nevertheless continued to advance on Kumasi. According to Thomas McCaskie, Opoku Fofie's accession to the throne took place either on December 5/12, 1803, or January 16/23, 1804. However, given that more than half the “royals” of the Oyoko clan attended his enthronement, while the other half attended Osei Kwame's funeral, he concludes that these events took place in the immediate vicinity. Because of the periods of homage scheduled in Ashanti tradition for these two events, he favors the two possible dates in December 1803. Opoku Fofie's reign came to an abrupt end sixty days after his coronation, following his sudden death. == Posterity ==

Black throne According to Ashanti tradition, the funeral of an asantehene is accompanied by the blackening of his throne. This is then called akonwa tuntum (black throne) and joins the house of thrones, a mausoleum dedicated to the asantehene. Although the Ashanti say that the throne is coated with human blood, it is a mixture of soot, egg yolk, and sheep's blood. Given the context of the end of Osei Kwame's reign, no black throne was dedicated to him, meaning that his funeral rites were not fully completed. Conversely, Opoku Fofie did have one, despite his short-lived reign. Symbolism Despite his brief reign, Opoku Fofie left a strong imprint on Ashanti's oral tradition and cultural heritage. This is due to several factors: a turbulent dynastic context, the proximity between Opoku Fofie's enthronement and Osei Kwame's funeral, and his sudden and imminent death. In 1820, Joseph Dupuis reported the causes presented by oral tradition, evoking witchcraft, and also spoke of a chronic illness that took his life. The symbolism of this story links the incompleteness of the funeral rituals granted to Osei Kwame to the premature death of his successor. Indeed, the immediate proximity of the coronation of a new asantehene and the burial of the old one is unconventional in Ashanti tradition, where funeral rituals are supposed to be completed beforehand. To resolve dynastic conflicts, Osei Bonsu decreed a new law whereby the asantehene's sons and grandsons became heirs presumptive to the royal throne. The causes of death potentially linked to witchcraft are so deeply rooted in Ashanti oral tradition and culture that they are responsible for the emergence of three anti-witchcraft cults between 1879 and 1920. Indeed, the attribution of Opoku Fofie's death to witchcraft echoes the growing interest in witchcraft since the late eighteenth century. == Genealogical divergence ==

Among Opoku Fofie's siblings are two other asantehene: Osei Bonsu and Osei Yaw Akoto. The official version of the royal genealogy also includes Osei Kwame. No mention is made of Akyaama, who reigned before Konadu Yaadom. Konadu Yaadom made genealogical changes to transfer the matrilineality of the asantehemaa's children to her lineage. Opoku Ware II is a direct descendant of Opoku Ware I as he comes from a younger line of Opoku Fofie. There are two opposing genealogical versions. The one established by historians and the one established by the official Ashanti genealogy. Modifications to the official version were at the heart of numerous conflicts and the creation of a new dynastic branch by Kwaku Dua I. These tensions were resolved with the return of dynastic rotation on the accession of Opoku Ware II. The family tree below shows the difference between the official genealogy, which deletes Akyaama, and that revised by the research of Iron Wilks and Gérard Pescheux. == See also ==