aberemponnaasee anklets
abosodee a representational gold casting which is attached to the sheath of a state sword
abotire royal head band or fillet adorned with gold ornaments
abrafo executioners
adinkra white or red cotton cloth stamped with signs, which is worn at funerals
and other important occasions
adwini ba bone spatula
adwini dua bamboo spatula
adwini nua wood spatula
adwini pono a wood block used to fashion wax on
afena state sword
afenatene a long sword
Ahwerewamuhene ‘the Keeper of the Golden Elephant’s Tail Fly-whisk’
akra (pl. akrafo) soul-priest
akrafena swords of the soul
akrafokonmu disc pendant
akyeame linguists
aperahofo fly-whisk bearers
Asantehene title of the Paramount Chief of Asante
asaadee gold necklace
asuman (pl.) amulets
ayannee neck-wear
ayefor the female initiation rite of girls into adult womanhood following their first menses
barra menstruation period
batakarikese a man’s outfit comprising a tunic and head-dress that are covered in amulets. This outfit is worn during times of conflict including war and at important funerals
benfra cuff bracelets that are hinged on one side
Boaman The state umbrella of the Asantehene (lit.‘Conqueror of all Nations’)
bosomfena swords of the ego, personality (lit.‘swords of the God’)
da tongs
denkyemkye a ceremonial helmet worn by the Asantehene
dwinfour the goldsmiths’ quarter of Kumase in the early 19th century
ebura a furnace
eyke collective name for all types of head-wear
esene court heralds
ewontomanu large square, rectangular or cylindrical beads, in Twi (lit. ‘under cloth’ or ‘clothing beads’)
foa a wax model
Fotosanfohene ‘Keeper of the Leather Bag’ containing the royal gold-weights
fufu the colour white
Gyasewa fekuo the name of the Asante State Exchequer
hyehyeye an iron needle
hyire white clay that is worn on the face and body during funerals and other rites
inchuma finely ground red clay or ochre
keteanofena swords of state (lit.‘edge of the sleeping mat swords’)
kokoo the colour red
kra soul or life-force
krobonkye kidney-shaped skull-cap worn crosswise on the back of the head
Kumasehene chief of Kumase
Kwaman the name the Asante were known by before the battle of Feyiase in 1700–1
kyinie kyimini umbrella-bearer
mankata a square cushion-shaped bead named after Sir Charles McCarthy, a British Governor who was beheaded by the Asante in 1824 at Katamansu
mmoabaa an open shallow pit
moan sika gold chain worn around the neck or crosswise over the chest and right shoulder
mogya blood
Mpomponsuo an important state sword used by the Asantehene to swear a public oath to serve his people during installation rites
nkoron dwuma shaft mines
nmem a type of sword ornament in the form of a simple embossed circular disc
nsuaefena sword on which oaths are sworn
ntiriba hair-pin
ntoa a piece of military attire worn by soldiers that include small knives, cartridge containers and powder flasks as well as amulets
ntuatire carved umbrella finial
odwira purification or cleansing (lit. ‘to wash’)
okyeame a linguist
okyeame poma a linguist’s staff
Onyeame the name of the supreme creator God
otadee a disc ornament attached to the centre of a stool seat in Twi (lit. ‘like a pool’)
Oyoko the name of the royal Asante matri-clan (a group of individuals who are related to one another by matrilineal descent from a common female ancestor),from which are drawn the kings of Asante
safi an Islamic amulet
sebe Islamic amulets
sekan a blade
semoa a small clay crucible
sika gold (see following entries)
sika akua gold drum
sika akuma gold axe
Sika Dwa Kofi ‘the Golden Stool born on a Friday’, the ultimate symbol of power in Asante
sikadwumfo goldsmiths
sika kodua gold panning
sikananfo goldsmith
sikammera ‘the golden elephant tail fly-whisk,’ symbol of Asante wealth
sikampra an elephant tail fly-whisk
sika sankuo gold harp
sika sepo gold knife
suman amulet
sunsum that part of the soul which is the ego, spirit or personality that is inherited from your father
taasen tobacco pipe
tabon wooden stick
tabono wooden stick or spatula
tiduaba hair-pin
tuntum the colour black
Twi the language spoken by the Akan peoples of Ghana