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The Expansion of the Fante and the Emergence of Asante in the Eighteenth Century1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

James Sanders
James Sanders
Affiliation:
Northwestern University
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Extract

This article attempts to assess the importance of Asante influence in the consolidation of the Fante in the eighteenth century. It shows at the outset that mis-translation of Willem Bosman's early eighteenth-century work has led to an erroneous conception of the Fante polities as being incapable of acting on common interests. Between 1700 and 1724 the Fante conquered surrounding states such as Asebu, Fetu, Cabesterra, Acron (Gomoa), and pockets of Etsi, and established a system of domination over trade on the coast thereafter. It is suggested that this development was not the result of Asante activities on the coast, but rather was linked with the presence of the English, who supplied firearms to the Fante. The Fante were constrained to maintain good relations with Asante because they were determined to be the exclusive middlemen for the slaves which came down from Asante and beyond. At the same time, however, the Fante, like other coastal states (e.g. Aowin, Wasa, Denkyera and Akyem), at times feared invasion by Asante and therefore protected themselves through a system of local political alliances.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , July 1979 , pp. 349 - 364
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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References

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