| Denkyira | ||||
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| Capital | Dunkwa-on-Offin | |||
| Language(s) | Twi | |||
| Religion | Ancestor worship | |||
| Government | Monarchy | |||
| King | ||||
| - 1637 to 1695 | Boa Amponsem | |||
| - 1695 to 1701(last of indep. Denkyira) | Ntim Gyakari | |||
| History | ||||
| - Established | 1500 | |||
| - Incorporation into Ghana | 1957 | |||
| - Dissolved | 1701 | |||
Denkyira was a powerful nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. Like all Akans they originated from Bono state. Before 1620 Denkyira was called Agona. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirahene and the capital was Jukwaa. The first Denkyirahene was Mumunumfi.[1]
Later the capital of Denkyira moved to Abankeseso.[2] Denkyira became powerful through gold production and trade with Europe.
The 1690s saw wars between Denkyira and the Asen and Twifo. The goal of these struggles was to keep open the trade routes to the coast.[3]
The Denkyira state dominated the trade Europeans on the Western part of what is now Ghana while the Akwamu Domuniated trade with Europeans on the Eastern part. It dominated the neighboring states apart from the Akwamu and Akyem [4] and Ashanti was a tributary to Denkyira until 1701, when it was defeated by the Ashanti in the Battle of Feyiase, and became a tributary to the Ashanti empire.[5]
In 1868 Denkyira entered the Fante Confederacy to fight for Great Britain against the Ashanti and the Dutch. When the confederacy proved unable to defeat the Ashanti, it became a part of the British colony Gold Coast in 1874. In 1957 Gold Coast became independent as Ghana.
The present-day ruler of the Denkyira is Odeefuo Boa Amponsem III.
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