Social Organization of the Asante Kingdom.
Answer Text: Social Organization of the Asante Kingdom.-The Kingdom was composed of many communities who spoke the Akan language. The clans that made up the Akan speakers included the Akyem, Kwahu, the Fante, the Wassa, the Assin and the Akwapem. all these communities shared the same social institutions likethe forty-day calendar, same marriage and naming rites-The basic social unit was the clan-They had a matrilineal system of inheritance. The birthright of each family passed through the mother from one generation to the other.-The practiced polygamy marriage due to wealth and comfort in society and prohibited inter clan(paternal and maternal clans) marriages-The Odwira festival helped unite the society besides the golden stool.-The Asante was socially stratified into social classes e.g. the rulers, rich, peasant farmers and slaves.-The Asantehene and his family comprised the royal family together with the Omanhene.-The slaves among the Asante were majorly war captives. Some of the female slaves could be elevated to concubines and later become entitled to some rights.-They believed in magic and superstition and also worshipped gods and goddesses i.e. they were polytheists. -Their supreme creator was Nyame (Nyambe).-They believed in their ancestors as mediators between the people and God (gods).-The Odwira festival was held annually to honour ancestors and solves my disputes.- They offered sacrifices to their gods/ancestors including human sacrifices
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