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dated as having taken place in 1741-42. Although the name 'Benda war' (so called because
the Mfantse soldiers were paid the value of one Benda, or £7.4s, for their participation)
do~snota)J)Jf!ar in officil!l historiogra)Jhy, tlle9ral1.lccount is s_u)J)lorted by cl0ctimentary
sources which indicate that the Asanteinvaded the Akyem territories in 1742 (see Claridge
1915: 210- 2ll; Wilks 1975: 24).
13 . Apart from Chief J.E. Biney, the committee of arbitrators consisted of: Chief J.D.
Abraham, ChiefW.Z. Coker, W.S. Johnston, James Jackson, George Amissah, Father
J.P. Brown, J.M. Kitson and H.M. Insaidoo.
14. There is ample proof that all those desiring to acquire a plot of Asukwa land, including
chiefs as well as governmental bodies, had no objection to negotiating with Nana Quansah
and entering into an agreement with him. The late Odikro, Nana Budukama II, alias Yaw
Fohr, signed agreements with N ana Quansah on behalf of the community: in 1956 for
building a new market; in 1960 for a Community Centre; in 1965 for the building of a
latrine. And when, in 1968, he erected a water reservoir on Nana Quansah' s land without
having obtained permission, he was sued in the Omanhene's court and fined by Nana Otu
IX to the payment of hyerogudzi, a pacification fee. This is a course of action which the
present Omanhene is not likely to follow.
I 5 . The difference between categories 3 and 4 is not only that they classify Stool lands within
and without the Dunkwa territory but that, accordingly, their status as Stool lands had
been brought about by different processes.
I 6 . According to oral history, of which we have collected several independent accounts, the
asafo companies from other wards also became founders of independent Mfantse States,
i.e.: the Bentsir bron: Enyan Abasa; the Nkusukum bron: Nkusukum; the Edumadze bron:
Ekumfi; the Kurentsi bron: Mankesim (consisting of two companies, the 1\vafo and the
Gyase).
I 7 . The Osahene is a military leader who is appointed for one particular campaign. Until the
1820s the Amanhene of Abura were successful Osahenes elected for their military prowess
and leadership, and therefore belonging to different clans and towns and villages within
the State. With the long reign ofKwesi Otu I, the Stool of Abirankur came into the Nsona
ebusua of Abakrampa, where it has since remained.
18. TheAsebus founded their own statewhose territory stretches to the South of AburaState
towards the sea and includes Mouree.
19. According to Nana Quansah's family history, Osam Kwesi I (ca. 1660), son of Ekua
Akowah who was the daughter of Kwegyiriwa, subsequently married: I. EfuaFotwiwaa
from Adwenadze ebusua; they acquired Odompem; 2. Amoaduah from Kona ebusua who
settled on Dawurampon; 3. a woman belonging to the Nsona ebusua, whose daughter
Asukwa and offspring settled on Amoanda; 4. Fowa from Aboradze ebusua who acquired
the Oworabam Land.
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