KWABLA has entered into partnerships with artisans of the Ashanti culture from Ghana. To browse KWABLA's catalogue of goods or listing of artisans from the Ashanti culture, click on the icons at the bottom of the page. Ghanians come from six main ethnic groups: the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan, and the Gurma. Of these ethnic groups, the Ashanti tribe of the Akan are the largest tribe in Ghana and one of the few matrilineal societies in West Africa. The Ashanti nation is found in the center of Ghana and is situated at the heart of the West African tropical rain forest. The Ashanti region is widely known as the Garden City of West Africa because of its well-regulated ecological practices. The area of Ashanti is 9,400 square miles with a current population of over 4 million. Kumasi is capital city of the Ashanti region and is the second largest city in Ghana. King Osei Tutu, together with his is Fetish Priest Okomfo Anokye, founded the Asante kingdom in the eighteenth century. It is believed that Okomfo Anokye orchestrated the unification of the Ashanti states by ensuring that all citizens pledge allegiance to the Golden Stool. The Golden Stool was believed to have miraculously descended from Heaven. The Golden Stool (sika 'gua) was created as the politico-ritual symbol of unity, and was believed to embody the spirit or soul of the Ashanti nation. In fact, it was an attempt by British officials to confiscate the Golden Stool (based on ignorance of its true significance) that precipitated the so-called War of the Golden Stool in 1900-1901, resulting in the defeat of the Ashanti and their final incorporation into the British colonial system. To an Ashanti, the village is a social as well as an economic unit. Everyone participates in the major ceremonies, the most frequent of which are funeral celebrations, which typically last several days. Attendance at funerals is normally expected from everyone in the village and expenditure on funerals is a substantial part of the household budget. In each Ashanti village there are people of particular importance. The Chief (odikro) together with the Tribe Elders maintain the traditional customs and ceremonies and deal with disputes among tribe members. The Fetish Priest (okomfo) and the Herbalist (odunsini) provide traditional medical services, which can often be paid for in local produce (a hen, eggs, etc.). This differs from those administering Western medicine, which requires cash payment and usually means a long journey to the nearest hospital. The Fetish Priest is perceived to be particularly powerful at dealing with spiritual matters. Once renown for the splendour and wealth of their rulers, the Ashanti are most famous today for their craft work, particularly their hand-carved stools and fertility dolls and their colourful kente cloth. Kente cloth is woven in bright, narrow strips with complex patterns; it's usually made from cotton and is always woven outdoors, exclusively by men. The Ashanti are noted for their expertise in a variety of specialized crafts. These include weaving, wood carving, ceramics, and metallurgy. Of these crafts, only pottery-making is primarily a female activity; the others are restricted to male specialists. Even in the case of pottery-making, only men are allowed to fashion pots or pipes representing anthropomorphic or zoomorphic figures. To browse KWABLA's catalogue of goods or listing of artisans from the Ashanti tribe of Ghana, click on the icons below. Catalogue of Goods from the Ashanti Culture Listing of Artisans of the Ashanti Culture