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Akyem Abuakwa is a traditional kingdom in Ghana. It dates from at least the 16th century. Its capital is and wasKyebi.[1] Currently, it is anon-sovereign monarchy and part ofGhana, one of the three Akyem states, the others beingAkyem Kotoku andAkyem Bosome. Historically, the Akyem were part of theAdansi Kingdom, which was the first nation to build buildings out of mud. They were therefore namedAdansi (builders). In the 18th century, theAshanti Empire emerged, and under the leadership ofKing Osei Tutu, defeated the Adansi and annexed them into the Ashanti Empire. The three Akyem nations that were part of the Adansi Kingdomseceded and crossed theRiver Pra.
According to tradition, the founder of the kingdom migrated fromAdansi. By the seventeenth century Akyem Abuakwa dominated the trade routes and gold-producing districts around theBirim River, and developed into a large, wealthy, powerful kingdom.[1]
King Tutu I decided to pursue the Akyems across River Pra against the advice ofOkomfo Anokye. While crossing the river with his army, he was shot by the Akyems in an ambush. He was killed and fell into the river. The Ashantis say "Meka Yawada" which means "I swear by Thursday" because the day the king died was on Thursday and the Akyems were known as "Abuakwanfo" or "Abuakwafo" (guerrilla fighters). The Ashantis retreated and this defeat created ataboo preventing any AshantiKing up to the time ofNana Prempeh I (in1900) to cross the Pra to the south.
After his death, his nephewKing Opoku Ware I became theking of the Ashanti Empire and vowed to avenge his uncle's death. He restarted thewar against the Akyems. The Akyems, knowing that the Ashantis would invade again, migrated southeastwards. Because of the travel, most of theKotokus and some others settled in the present-dayAshanti Akyem region. The majority traveled until they metAkwamus, a powerful nation inhabiting and ruling thetribes fromAsamankese to Nyanawase, which was then their capital and part ofAkwapim. The Abuakwas fought the Akwamus andsettled in the area of the Akwamus. The Abukawas made temporary capitals in several areas, includingPraso, before settling at Pameng. In the reign ofKing Ofori Panin the capital was moved to Kyebirie. The Abuakwas fought few battles with their rival tribes and were an independent state until in 1852, the Abuakwas surrendered to theBritish Empire and they became aBritish administrative region.