Anufo people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Unknown | |
| Languages | |
| Anufo, French | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Akans, especially Anyi, Baoulé, Sefwi and Aowin[1] |
The Anufo or Chakosi are an Akan people who live in the Dapaong and (Sansanné-)Mango areas of Togo, as well as in Ghana.[1] They trace their origin to a place called Anou or Ano on the Komoé River in the Ivory Coast.[1][2] Thus, they refer to themselves Anoufou "people of Anu".[1] The exonym Chakosi has also been spelled 'Chokossi', 'Chakossi', 'Kyokosi', 'Kyokoshi', 'Tschokossi', and 'Tyokossi'.[1] They migrated to their present location in the late 18th century.[1] The Anufo had their own kingdom based in Sansanné-Mango, prior to German colonization of Togo.[1] As of 2003 they had a combined population of 137,600. They speak the Anufo language, one of the Akan languages.
Anufo have names like Amoin, Akisie (Agishie), Kouasi, Adjoah, Amlan (Amanna) Ouwe, Yao, Koffi, Afoueh, N'gisah after days of the week: Mueneh (Sunday), Cishe (Monday), Djore (Tuesday), Mana (Wednesday), Ohue (Thursday), Ya (Friday) and Fue (Saturday) Kwa.[3]
History
[edit]Early 18th century
[edit]It appears that migrations in the early 18th century brought together Mande horsemen and their malams from the North and Akan peoples from the East.
Together with the indigenous Ndenyi people, they were amalgamated into one people with a mixed language and culture.
Mid 18th century
[edit]In the mid 18th century, a small band of mercenaries left Ano to the Upper West region, Upper East region, Northern region, and North East region The band consisted of Mande horsemen, Akan musket-toting foot soldiers, and some Muslim scholar amulet-makers.[4] These groups provided the basis for a society divided into three classes or estates: Nobles, commoners and Muslims.
Eventually, the small army established a camp on the shores of the Oti River where the town of Mango in Togo stands today. Since they were warriors and not farmers, they made their living by conducting raids into the farming communities around them. This provided them with wives and slaves as well as foodstuffs and livestock. Eventually the people settled in the surrounding farming communities, and assimilation took place.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Olson, James Stuart (1996). The peoples of Africa: an ethnohistorical dictionary. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-313-27918-8. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ^ Massing, Andreas Walter (15 March 2012). "Imams of Gonja". Cahiers d’études africaines. pp. 57–101. doi:10.4000/etudesafricaines.16965.
- ^ B, Erin. "Anufo Language". ghanavisions.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ Kirby 1986, p. 34
Sources
[edit]- Kirby, J.P. (1986) God, Shrines and Problem-Solving among the Anufo of Northern Ghana. Collectanea Instituti Anthropos, No. 34, Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag, for Anthropos Institute, St. Augustin.
