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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BONO PEOPLE OF TAKYIMAN
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The talking drums says:
"Bono kyempim duoduaka
Domankoma boo adee, aboo deeben?
Oboo Takyiman
Takyiman firi hen ni?
Takyiman firi tete
Takyiman kan, kan, kan."
Thousands of pioneers settlers who were settled anyhow;
When the Creator created things, what did he create first?
He created Takyiman
Where did Takyiman originate from?
Takyiman is ancient
Takyiman. the very, very, first.
The Bono are the people of Takyiman who are Twii speaking people of the Akan group in Ghana,
West Africa. Their oral history informs us that they migrated north to the Niger bend and
settled in the Mossi land. When the Mossi began to emerge as a ruling aristocracy they moved
further southward crossing the Volta river to a place near a cave call Amowi at Pinihi near
Nkoransa, some thirty miles from present day Takyiman. From Amowi they proceeded to an area
called Yefri and resided for awhile. Due to earthquakes they were forced to leave Yefri and
journey to a place which became the center of their power Bono Manso.
The Bono people began to settle in familiar group with a leader. As they began to grow in
numbers they eventually dispersed forming their own towns and villages. Some settlements
were founded by deities. With the discovery of gold at Prabom across the Tain river, the
Bono kingdom advertised and used their new found wealth as currency in the markets of the
Mali and Songhai empires. This led to the development of scales and gold weight, and
household utensils, etc. The Bono were known for their weaving, brass casting and alike.
A trading center at Bono Manso called Dwaribrem traded goods and kola for other items.
The Bono empire maintained a great level of stability and political power with very few
wars and lasted from 1st millennium A.D. till 1722/23 before its destruction by the Asante
confederacy. After the destruction of Bono Manso by the Asante they finally settled in
present day Takyiman.
The Bono people of Takyiman distinguishes themselves from other Akan groups in a number of ways.
- Language - Bono Twii is a distinctive Akan dialect characterized by different
tonal patterns from Asante, Fante or Akuapen Twii and other Akan groups.
- Adae - A 42 day periodic spiritual celebration observed on what is called Abono nne, i.e.
worshipping days and festivals which falls during the week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, etc.)
in contrast to the Asante Akwasidae which falls on a Sunday.
- Worship- The Bono makes prayers and offerings through State gods, Family gods, and Ancestors.
- Prefixes - Kuru, Kwa, Mono, Fo, Nwona, Nkyi, are added to the beginning of each day of the week
to give further appellation to that day.
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