People in the olden days described Asantes as “blood- thirsty people ” due to the human sacrifices they(We) offered during the burial of Asantehene.
The story is that, we Asantes have belief in the continuity of life in the land of the dead (asamando). Therefore a king is supposed to be accompanied by servants and bodyguards to continue his dynasty in asamando.
According to R.S. Rattray in Religion and Art in Asante, during the death of Asantehene Kwaku Dua I, some royals offered to be executed to accompany him to asamando and support him over there.
Sometimes the favourite wife of the king is killed by abrafuo to accompany Asantehene and continue the life with him in Asamando.
This is also what caused the shifting of Akans Patrilineal inheritance to matrilineal by Nana Abu Bonsrah during the burial of his father at Adansi. His mother was executed to accompany his father Akora Foripan to Asamando. Alongside, some of his nephews were killed .
Almost all the Akan clans inheritance is maternal. This was instituted by Nana Abu Bonsra of Adansi Fomena. He himself inherited paternally from his father Akora Foripan of Adansi Ayaase.
Due to the severe pains his nephews and other members of his family suffered including his own mother who was executed to accompany his father to the land of the dead (Asamando), during his enstoolment as Adansihene, he shifted the system of inheritance from paternal to maternal that most of the Akans who migrated from Adansi is enjoying today.
That is “Abusua” literally meaning “Imitating Abu” or “Sua Abu”.
This incident happened in the 15th century
May Asanteman continue to prosper.
Long Live His Royal Majesty.
piawwwww
Source:Ahemmoboano group
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