Joseph Ofori Amanfo, a 42-year-old researcher and nuclear scientist, has disproved claims that the legendary Fetish Priest, Komfo Anokye, is from Awukugua-Akuapim.
While one account points to one Ano and Yaa Anubea, from Awukugua-Akuapim, as his parents, another account has it that Komfo Anokye was born in Ghana in 1655 to Agya Ano and Maame Kobe, from Awukugua in the Nifa Division of the Okere state.
But Ofori Amanfo, a PhD candidate, based on intensive research, has proved otherwise to end the historical debate on the origin and parentage of the legend.
He claims Komfo Anokye is a royal of Asante Agona, contrary to the wild belief that he is from Awukugua in the Akuapem area of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Setting the records straight to clear the uncertainty about his lineage to the Agona stool, Ofori Amanfo mentioned Kyei Birie from Adansi as Komfo Anokye’s father, with Dwirawiri Kwa as his mother from Agona.
“The fact is , Komfo Kwame Frimpong Anokye Kotobere, is a true royal of the Krabi Asenie Family of Asante Agona.
He was a close confidant of King Osei Tutu, the first Asantehene.
Komfo Anokye was first and foremost a fetish priest, statesman, and lawgiver who played a crucial role in the formation of the Ashanti Empire and helped to unite the regional states under King Osei Tutu.
Komfo Anokye was the first priest (Okomfo) of the Ashanti Empire.
Anokye is known for his participation in the expansion of the empire. He was also the codifier of the constitution and laws of the Ashanti Empire.
Komfo Anokye’s legacy extends beyond his association with a particular region, as he was revered for his spiritual powers, wisdom, and contributions to the Ashanti Empire’s foundation.
His influence and reputation as a powerful priest and healer drew people from all over the Ashanti kingdom.”
Ofori Amanfo stated that the five royal Asenie families of Asante Agona trace their ancestry from Amea Gyata, who originated from a place in Adanse known as Bona Bom in present day Adanse Dompoase in the Adanse North District of the Ashanti region of Ghana.
He further narrated that “Amea Gyata gave birth to Komfo Dampte and Dufie Gyampontima. Komfo Dampte was also called Krabi.
That is how the Krabi Asenie family name came about. Komfo Dampte was the first priest of the great god of the Krabi Asenie family, ‘Kyekyere’.
Dufie Gyampontima, the daughter of Amea Gyata, gave birth to Adutwumwa, Opong Payin, Opong Tuasekan, and Esa Payin.
Opong Payin became the first Chief of Agona Asante when it was founded in 1620.
Esa Payin gave birth to Bediako Ntim, who became the successor of Opon Payin.
Opong Tuasekan founded the present day Kofiase.
Adutwumwa gave birth to Dwirawiri Kwa, Abena Dankwa, and Adwoa Ako.
Abena Dankwa gave birth to Adwoa Adwoboa Payin, having Kwabena Adu (Akyere) Asenie family as descendants, Asantewaa Ntansa Yiadom, having the Biani Asenie family, and later Yaawe and Tiwaa family as descendants, Adu Ajai, who also became the sixth chief of Agona.
Adwoa Ako gave birth to Kwame Siaw Anim, who became the fifth chief of Agona, Ammoa, and Abena Serwaa, having the Krabi Asenie family as descendants.
Dwirawiri Kwa gave birth to Komfo Yamoa and Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere (Komfo Anokye).
Komfo Yamoa became the successor of Komfo Dampte (Krabi) as the priest of ‘Kyekyere’ and also the third Chief of Asante Agona, and Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere (Komfo Anokye) succeeded his elder brother as the priest of the great god ‘Kyekyere’ and fourth chief of Agona.
Twumasi Amponsem, the husband of Aduwumwaa and the grandfather of Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere, was a brother to Owusu Payin, the father of King Osei Tutu I.
Therefore, King Osei Tutu I and Dwirawiri Kwa, the mother of Komfo Anokye, were cousins.
Kyei Birie of Adanse, the husband of Dwirawiri Kwa, was the father of Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere and Komfo Yamoa.
It is the great god ‘Kyekyere’ that Komfo Kwame Frimpong Anokye Kotobere became the third priest and served to acquire the magical powers to unite the Asante Kingdom. Hence the saying ‘Kyekyere ne Kyerekye so’.
Kyerekye was the great god of the Denkyira people, who were defeated by the Asantes with the help of Komfo Anokye.
‘Kyekyere’ priesthood follows a family dynasty, and only a member of the Krabi family is chosen by the god as a priest.
A person outside the Krabi Asenie family cannot serve as a priest for the great god Kyekyere.
Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere was not the one who brought ‘Kyekyere’ god; rather, he was the third priest.
It was Komfo Yamoa, the second priest of ‘Kyekyere’ and third chief of Asante Agona, who interpreted the dream of Obiri Yeboa, the chief of the then Kwaman, the present day Kumasi, to signify the Unity of the then Asante states and prophesied about the Asantes coming together and also to win the war against the Dormaa.
The Asantes, therefore, formed a loose confederation under the reign of Komfo Yamoa and Obiri Yeboa to fight the Dormaa people.
Unfortunately, Komfo Yamoah of Agona, Obiri Yeboah of Kwaman, and Dwamena Akenten of Offinso died in the war against the Dormaa, led by their powerful chief Kyereme Sikafo.
Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere, who is the brother of Komfo Yamoa of Agona Asante, succeeded him as both Chief of Agona and Priest of the great god ‘Kyekyere’, and King Osei Tutu succeeded Obiri Yeboa of Kwaman as Chief.
The Krabi Asenie family has two great gods, ‘Kyekyere’, whose priest is a male, and ‘Mpemano’, whose priest is a female.
That is why, till today, the priest and priestess of both ‘kyekyere’ and ‘Mpemano’ can revoke any curse placed on anyone, irrespective of the river or deity used to curse one.
Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere married two sisters, Ofuwa and Asiedua, of the Dormaa chief Domina Kusi. Asiedua gave birth to Gyapa, and Ofuwa to Bresiama.
Ever since the Agona State was founded in 1620, both gods have chosen their priest and priestess from the Krabi Asenie family till today.
Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere ushered in a god called ‘Boaboduru’, and the first priest was his son Bresiama.
‘Boaboduro’ was instituted by Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere to signify how far he has brought the Asantes.
Since then, the descendants of Bresiama, who are sons of the Krabi Asenie family, have been chosen as the priests of ‘Boaboduru’.
The other son of Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere ‘Gyapa’ was given Asante Bepoa to rule as a chief, and since then the descendants of Gyapa reign in Asante Bepoa as the Nifahene and also the acting chief in the absence of the paramount chief in the Agona Traditional area.
The descendants of Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere, the custodians of the gods ‘Kyekyere’ and ‘Mpemano’, exist in present day Asante Agona as the Krabi Asenie family, and the gods are in their custody to date.
Asante traditions have it that the priests are the spiritual leaders of the people, and the chief of Asante Agona is the chief priest of the Asante Kingdom.
The Krabi Asenie family doubles as priest and priestess of ‘Kyekyere’ and ‘Mpemano’, and also ascends the Komfo Anokye Amoampong stool as paramount chiefs since Komfo Yamoa and Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere were both priest and chief.”
The research of Ofori Amanfo, an MPhil. Nuclear Science & Technology holder from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, in Kumasi – Ghana (November 2021 – March 2025) and a PhD candidate in the same area is collaborated by R. S. Rattray’s Ashanti Law and Constitution of 1929 Fig. 98 on the Geneology of Komfo Anokye, which shows his ascendants and descendants and his relationship to King Osei Tutu and the then chief of Agona, ‘ An outline of Asante History Part 2 Vol. 1’ by Osei Kwadwo (2000) Page 194 and the extensive work done by his 82 years grandfather, the late Kwaku Dua (Retired Teacher) of Asante Agona. E N D
Enock Akonnor is a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, serving as CEO and Managing Editor for www.leakyghana.com. His gravitas, which is mirrored by many years of proven and enviable experience in the field of journalism has positioned him among the most sort after media practitioners in Ghana.
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