Great Empires and Kingdoms in West Africa – SS2 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Third Term)

The Ashanti Empire (in what is now Ghana) and the Dahomey Kingdom (in what is now Benin Republic) were two of the most famous and well-organised states in West Africa before European colonisation. They were known for strong armies, rich cultures and organised governments. They controlled trade, fought to protect their lands and left cultural traditions that continue today.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• describe how the Ashanti Empire and the Dahomey Kingdom began;
• explain the political organisation of each kingdom;
• describe the military power and economy of each kingdom;
• explain how each kingdom lost its independence;
• state the similarities and differences between Ashanti and Dahomey.

The Ashanti Empire (1701-1901)

How did the Ashanti Empire begin?

The Ashanti (also spelled Asante) Empire began in the late 1600s and was formally established in 1701. It was founded by Osei Tutu, who united several Akan-speaking groups in the forest region of what is now central Ghana. With the help of his advisor, the priest Okomfo Anokye, Osei Tutu created a confederacy of Akan states:

• According to tradition, Okomfo Anokye called down the Golden Stool from the sky, which became the sacred symbol of the Ashanti nation
• The Golden Stool was believed to contain the soul (sunsum) of the Ashanti people
• Each chief was required to swear loyalty to the Asantehene (king) and the Golden Stool
• The new capital city, Kumasi, became the centre of the empire

How was the Ashanti Empire governed?

The Ashanti Empire had a well-organised political system:

• At the top was the Asantehene (king), who held great power
• The Asantehene was advised by a council of elders called the Asantemanhyiamu
• The empire was divided into states, each led by a paramount chief
• Each state had its own government but answered to the Asantehene
• The government had different departments for war, treasury, foreign affairs and justice
• Women played important roles, especially the Queen Mother (Asantehemaa), who helped choose the next king

What was the Ashanti military like?

The Ashanti had one of the strongest armies in West Africa:

• The army could gather up to 200,000 soldiers when fully mobilised
• Soldiers were organised into units based on age groups
• They were famous for their discipline and courage
• They used European firearms combined with traditional weapons
• The Ashanti military had a special unit called the Ankobia (royal guards)
• They developed a signal corps using drums to communicate on the battlefield
• Their military success allowed them to expand their empire through conquest

What was the Ashanti economy based on?

The Ashanti built a strong economy based on trade and natural resources:

• Gold was their most valuable resource and was mined throughout the empire
• They controlled important trade routes between the coast and interior
• Kola nuts, ivory and slaves were important export items
• They imported salt, cloth and firearms
• Craftspeople created beautiful gold weights, jewellery and Kente cloth
• They used gold dust as currency
• They established trade relationships with European nations at the coast
• Weekly markets were held in towns and villages throughout the empire

What were Ashanti religion and culture like?

The Ashanti had rich religious beliefs and cultural practices:

• They believed in a supreme god called Nyame, as well as lesser gods
• Ancestors were honoured and believed to influence daily life
• The Golden Stool was the most sacred object in Ashanti religion
• Festivals like Odwira brought people together annually
• Drumming and dancing were important in religious and social life
• Storytelling preserved history and taught moral lessons
• Art forms included wood carving, brass casting and weaving
• Kente cloth, with its colourful patterns, became a symbol of Ashanti culture

How did the Ashanti conflict with the British end?

The Ashanti fought several wars with British colonial forces:

• First Anglo-Ashanti War (1823-1831): Ashanti forces defeated the British
• Later wars in 1863-1864 and 1873-1874 weakened the empire
• In 1896, the British captured the Asantehene, Prempeh I, and exiled him to the Seychelles
• When the British governor demanded the Golden Stool in 1900, the Ashanti revolted under the leadership of Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa
• After the War of the Golden Stool (1900), the British finally defeated the Ashanti in 1901
• The empire became part of the British Gold Coast colony

What is the legacy of the Ashanti Empire?

Despite colonisation, the Ashanti maintained their cultural identity:

• The position of Asantehene continues today as a traditional role
• The current Asantehene, Osei Tutu II, is highly respected in Ghana
• The Golden Stool remains a sacred symbol
• Ashanti cultural practices, art and festivals continue
• The former empire is now part of the Ashanti Region in Ghana
• Kumasi remains an important cultural and economic centre
• Kente cloth is recognised worldwide as a symbol of African heritage

The Dahomey Kingdom (1600s-1904)

How did the Dahomey Kingdom begin?

The Kingdom of Dahomey arose in the early 1600s on the Abomey Plateau in what is now southern Benin Republic:

• It was founded by the Fon people, led by King Wegbaja
• The kingdom began as a smaller state among the Aja kingdoms
• Under King Agaja (1708-1740), Dahomey conquered the Kingdom of Allada in 1724
• Dahomey gained access to the coast after conquering the Kingdom of Whydah in 1727
• The capital city was Abomey, where royal palaces were built by each king

How was the Dahomey Kingdom governed?

Dahomey had a highly centralised government:

• The kingdom was ruled by a king called the “Ahosu”
• Unlike many African kingdoms, power was not shared with chiefs but held tightly by the king
• The kingdom was divided into provinces governed by royal appointees
• The government had a complex bureaucracy with ministers responsible for different tasks
• The king’s authority was absolute, and his word was law
• Each king built his own palace within the royal compound at Abomey
• Women held important government positions, especially in the royal court

Who were the Dahomey Amazons?

One of the most distinctive features of Dahomey was its female warriors:

• Called “Mino” (“our mothers”) in the Fon language, they were known to Europeans as the “Dahomey Amazons”
• These female soldiers formed the king’s bodyguard and an elite fighting force
• They were selected from among the king’s wives and daughters
• They received military training and were known for their fierce fighting skills
• At its peak, the female army numbered between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers
• They used muskets, machetes and clubs in battle
• They took an oath of celibacy and were dedicated to warfare
• They were feared by neighbouring kingdoms and European observers

What was the Dahomey economy based on?

Dahomey built its wealth through trade and conquest:

• Palm oil became an important export in the 19th century
• The kingdom controlled important trade routes to the interior
• They participated in the transatlantic slave trade, selling captives from conquered territories
• They taxed goods passing through their territory
• Craftspeople created bronze and brass figures, textiles and wooden objects
• The kingdom had a royal monopoly on certain trade goods
• They traded with European merchants at coastal ports like Whydah
• Agriculture, including palm oil production, was an important economic activity

What were Dahomey religion and culture like?

Dahomey had distinctive religious and cultural practices:

• The people practised Vodun (also spelled Vodoun), a religion that later influenced Haitian Vodou
• Kings were believed to have divine status
• Annual Customs ceremonies included sacrifices to honour ancestors
• The leopard was a royal symbol representing the king’s power
• Appliqué cloth banners told stories of kings and battles
• Each king added sayings and symbols to the royal history
• Brass and bronze figurines depicted kings and important events
• Music and dance were important in religious ceremonies

How did Dahomey deal with European powers?

Dahomey had complex relationships with European nations:

• They traded with Portuguese, French, British and Dutch merchants
• They maintained their independence while European influence grew along the coast
• They adapted European firearms and tactics to strengthen their army
• King Ghezo (1818-1858) tried to reduce dependence on the slave trade as Europeans began to oppose it
• In the late 19th century, they resisted French colonial expansion
• Under King Behanzin (1889-1894), they fought two wars against the French

How did the Dahomey Kingdom end?

Dahomey’s independence ended with French colonisation:

• The Franco-Dahomean Wars (1890 and 1892-1894) were fought against French colonial forces
• Despite fierce resistance, including by the female warriors, Dahomey was defeated
• King Behanzin surrendered in 1894 and was exiled to Martinique and later Algeria
• France made Dahomey a colony (now the Republic of Benin)
• The kingdom officially ended, though royal descendants maintained cultural traditions

What is the legacy of the Dahomey Kingdom?

The kingdom’s influence continues today:

• The Royal Palaces of Abomey are a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Vodun religion is still practised in Benin and has influenced religions in the Americas
• Traditional art forms continue, including appliqué textiles and bronze work
• Stories of the female warriors have inspired books, films and popular culture
• The kingdom’s history is taught in schools in modern Benin
• Annual festivals celebrate the kingdom’s cultural heritage
• Museums in Abomey preserve royal artefacts and tell the kingdom’s story

How are Ashanti and Dahomey alike and different?

Similarities

• Both were powerful West African kingdoms that resisted European colonisation
• Both had strong, centralised governments with powerful kings
• Both controlled important trade routes and resources
• Both developed unique military strategies and organisations
• Both maintained strong cultural identities that have survived into modern times
• Both were eventually colonised by European powers (British and French)
• Both are remembered for their artistic achievements

Differences

Why do these kingdoms matter today?

The history of Ashanti and Dahomey shows Africa’s record of state-building, military innovation, artistic achievement and cultural development. It also shows that Africa had history and civilisation before European colonisation. Their cultural heritage remains an important source of identity and pride for people in West Africa and in the African diaspora.

Evaluation

1. Name the founder of the Ashanti Empire and the priest who helped him.
2. What was the Golden Stool, and why was it important to the Ashanti?
3. Describe the Dahomey Amazons.
4. State two similarities and two differences between the Ashanti Empire and the Dahomey Kingdom.
5. Explain how each kingdom lost its independence.

Assignment

Write a short essay on the political organisation of the Ashanti Empire and the Dahomey Kingdom. Show one way in which their governments were alike and one way in which they differed.