The Komfo Anokye Sword Site, which is crucial in Asante history, is located on the grounds of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. One of the central items and tales of the Asante nation’s rich history is a 300-year-old sword jammed in the rockface. The young curator speaks eloquently about the Asante people’s history. On a good day, you might see the Asante king, who visits this significant and sacred monument on a regular basis.
A visit of the site provides fascinating information about the Ashanti Kingdom’s beginnings. The historic site has been safeguarded for future generations. The Legendary Okomfo Anokye Sword is commemorated at this historical place.
The Golden Stool of Asanteman landed onto the laps of King Osei Tutu I, “Opemsuo,” the creator of the Asante Nation, at the Sword site. Okomfo Anokye projected that the site would be a healing centre for millions of people. The site happens to be the precise location of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, as luck would have it.
One remarkable fact about the Sword is that it has been attempted to be removed from the ground numerous times since it was planted in 1695, but to no avail.
The Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is housed in the ‘immovable’ Sword thrust into the ground by Okomfo Anokye. According to legend, the sword was put into the ground about 300 years ago. The Okomfo is said to have said that no one would be able to remove the sword, and it has stayed despite tries. The Ashanti state is thought to be doomed if the sword is ever brought out of the earth.
Okomfo Anokye
In the Asante Empire, Okomfo Anokye (also known as Kwame Agyei, Kotowbere, or Tsala) was a traditional priest. He is well-known for his role in the Ashanti Empire’s expansion.
There are several versions of Okomfo Anokye’s origins.
He was the son of Ano and Manubea, both from Awukugua in the Nifa Division of the Okere state, according to Akuapem legend. His name would be derived from the following incident:
During his visit to Awukugua in 2014, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II appeared to confirm this claim.
He was the grandson of a man named Amoa Gyata from Bona-Bom, Adanse, according to Asante legend. There are other rumours that he was the son of Kyei Birie and Dwirawira Kwa, an Adanse-Akrokyere Asenie woman.
Okomfo Anokye was from Notsie, according to Anlo-Ewe legend. Tsala was his real name, and he was Tsali’s twin brother. As a result, his name would come from an Asante perversion of “Notsie,” i.e. “Okomfo of Notsie.”
The Ewe mythology that Okomfo Anokye was from Notsie and that Asantes named him Okomfo Anokye, which means “Okomfo an ofiri Notsie” (i.e., Okomfo from Notsie), is incompatible with Asante and Akan naming practises.
The commencement of an Asante/Akan naming convention that denotes a person’s origins does not include a “A.” Rather, Asante/Akan tradition has appended “ni”, “ba”, “ni ba” or “dehyee” to the end of the root since time immemorial. Thus, an Akan will refer to someone from Notsie as “Notsie-ni” (from Notsie), “Notsie-ba” (offspring of Notsie), “Notsie-ni ba” (offspring of a Notsie kid), or “Notsie dehyee” (a Notsie royal), but never as “A Notsie.”
Nobody from Nsuta, for example, will be referred to as “A-Nsuta” by Akans. A person from Nsuta may be addressed as Nsuta-ni, Nsuta-ba, Nsuta-ni ba, or Nsuta-dehyee to indicate their Nsuta ancestry.
Akans use a different name convention in which they mention a person’s ethnic roots. As a result, if Okomfo Anokye was from Notsie, the Asantes/Akans could refer to him as Okomfo Anwona or Okomfo Ayigbe, but never as Okomfo Anokye, because the Akans refer to Ewes as Anwona or Ayigbe, but never as Anokye.
He was from Benyin, according to Nzema legends.
Has Okomfo Anokye Sword Been Removed?
According to legend, the sword was put into the ground about 300 years ago. The Okomfo is said to have said that no one would be able to remove the sword, and it has stayed despite tries. The Ashanti state is thought to be doomed if the sword is ever brought out of the earth.
Who Built The Okomfo Anokye Sword Site?
Okomfo Anokye, a high priest and co-founder of the Ashanti kingdom, planted the sword here over three centuries ago, the Ashanti Kingdom decided to build a wall about it. And over the years it has been serving as one of the tourist sites in Ghana.
Getting To Komfo Anokye Sword Site
The Komfo Anokye Sword Site (Museum) is located on the grounds of Kumasi’s Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. It is rather simple to get there and back. The Museum is easily accessible by public transportation.
Nearby Attractions
- Manhyia Palace Museum
- Prembeh Jubilee Museum
- Kumasi Zoo
- Rattray Park
- Kumasi City Mall
- Lake Bosomtwi
Ghana Travel Restrictions
Ghana is open to most travelers again. I mean travelers from all over the world. However, you do need proof of your COVID-19 vaccination(s) or a negative test result before being allowed entry.
Many hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and you still have to follow certain guidelines. They are all good for our safety.
Read the ultimate travel guide to Ghana to help you plan your trip.