asante

Asante, also spelled Ashanti, refers to the Asante people of the Akan ethnic group in Ghana, their language Asante Twi, and the historical state they established in the central belt of what is now Ghana. The name is also used for the modern Ashanti Region, whose capital is Kumasi. The Asante are one of the largest Akan groups, with a long tradition of centralized kingship and a distinctive culture.

Origins trace to the late 17th century with Osei Tutu and his priest Okomfo Anokye, who unified autonomous chiefdoms into the Asante Confederacy and later the Ashanti Empire. The empire grew wealthy from gold production and trade with European merchants, and developed an elaborate bureaucratic system and military power. The Golden Stool, a sacred symbol of the state's unity, is a central cultural symbol. The empire faced several wars with the British, including the War of the Golden Stool in 1900; after its defeat the territory became part of the British Gold Coast colony by the early 1900s.

Present-day Ghana recognizes the Ashanti Region as a major political and economic region. Kumasi is a major urban and cultural center. The Asantehene, the traditional king, holds influence in ceremonial matters; as of 2024, the reigning ruler is Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II.

Key cultural contributions include kente cloth, gold jewelry and weights, and a rich tradition of oral literature and festivals such as Akwasidae, which features the invocation of ancestors and the display of regalia.