Describe the political organization of the Asante Empire during the 19th Century.
Answer:
- They had a centralized form of government and the Asantehene was the head of
State.
- The empire was divided into three regions. The Metropolitan Asante based at Kumasi headed by Asantehene. The Amatoo states headed by the Omanhenes and the Provincial Asante composed of all conquered states.
- The Asantehene ruled the empire with the help of union councils consisting of state kings called Omanhene.
- The state kings/ Omanihenes pledged their loyalty to the Asantehene by paying taxes/tribute to him.
- The Asante kingdom had standing army composed of men from all over the Asante
kingdom.
- The Asantehene was the head of the army
- The conquered states were ruled by their kings but were treated as provinces.
- They had an annual national festival known as the Odwira festival where the Omanhenes met to show their loyalty to the Asantehene.
- They had a well established court system based at Kumasi was headed by the Asantehene