Joseph Ofori Amanfo is a 42-year-old researcher and nuclear scientist
Joseph Ofori Amanfo, a 42-year-old researcher and nuclear scientist, has refuted claims placing the legendary fetish priest Komfo Anokye’s origins in Awukugua- Akuapim.
He dismissed the assertions that Komfo Anokye’s parents were Ano and Yaa Anubea from Awukugua-Akuapim. Further, he rejected the notion of Komfo Anokye being fathered by Agya Ano and Maame Kobe from Awukugua in the Nifa Division of the Okere state.
Ofori Amanfo, a PhD candidate, emphatically stated that Komfo Anokye was a royal of Asante Agona. He cited Kyei Birie from Adansi and Dwirawiri Kwa from Agona as his parents.
Supporting his position, Ofori Amanfo asserted that Komfo Anokye was a true royal of the Krabi Asenie family of Asante Agona.
He explained that the five royal Asenie families of Asante Agona trace their ancestry to Amea Gyata, who originated from Bona Bom in Adanse, now Adanse Dompoase in the Adanse North District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
He revealed, “Amea Gyata gave birth to Komfo Dampte and Dufie Gyampontima. Komfo Dampte was also known as Krabi, giving rise to the Krabi Asenie family name. Komfo Dampte was the first priest of the great god of the Krabi Asenie family, ‘Kyekyere’.
Dufie Gyampontima, the daughter of Amea Gyata, gave birth to Adutwumwa, Opong Payin, Opong Tuasekan, and Esa Payin. Opong Payin became the first Chief of Agona Asante when it was founded in 1620. Esa Payin gave birth to Bediako Ntim, who became the successor of Opon Payin. Opong Tuasekan founded the present-day Kofiase.”
He continued: “Adutwumwa gave birth to Dwirawiri Kwa, Abena Dankwa, and Adwoa Ako. Abena Dankwa gave birth to Adwoa Adwoboa Payin, having Kwabena Adu (Akyere) Asenie family as descendants, Asantewaa Ntansa Yiadom, having the Biani Asenie family, and later Yaawe and Tiwaa family as descendants, Adu Ajai, who also became the sixth chief of Agona. Adwoa Ako gave birth to Kwame Siaw Anim, who became the fifth chief of Agona, Ammoa, and Abena Serwaa, having the Krabi Asenie family as descendants.
Dwirawiri Kwa gave birth to Komfo Yamoa and Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere (Komfo Anokye). Komfo Yamoa became the successor of Komfo Dampte (Krabi) as the priest of ‘Kyekyere’ and also the third Chief of Asante Agona, and Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere (Komfo Anokye) succeeded his elder brother as the priest of the great god ‘Kyekyere’ and fourth chief of Agona.
Twumasi Amponsem, the husband of Aduwumwaa and the grandfather of Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere, was a brother to Owusu Payin, the father of King Osei Tutu I. Therefore, King Osei Tutu I and Dwirawiri Kwa, the mother of Komfo Anokye, were cousins.”
“Kyei Birie of Adanse, the husband of Dwirawiri Kwa, was the father of Komfo Kwame Frimpon Anokye Kotobere and Komfo Yamoa.
It is the great god ‘Kyekyere’ that Komfo Kwame Frimpong Anokye Kotobere became the third priest and served to acquire the magical powers to unite the Asante Kingdom. Hence the saying ‘Kyekyere ne Kyerekye so’. Kyerekye was the great god of the Denkyira people, who were defeated by the Asantes with the help of Komfo Anokye.
‘Kyekyere’ priesthood follows a family dynasty, and only a member of the Krabi family is chosen by the god as a priest. A person outside the Krabi Asenie family cannot serve as a priest for the great god Kyekyere.
Komfo Kwame Frimpong Anokye Kotobere was not the one who brought ‘Kyekyere’ god; rather, he was the third priest. It was Komfo Yamoa, the second priest of ‘Kyekyere’ and third chief of Asante Agona, who interpreted the dream of Obiri Yeboa, the chief of the then Kwaman, the present day Kumasi, to signify the Unity of the then Asante states and prophesied about the Asantes coming together and also to win the war against the Dormaa,” he added.
