12/03/2023
Some historical facts and contributions from Bono
1. Aside Guans, Bono people were the first to cross the Black Volta river southwards to settle in Ghana formerly Gold Coast after the migration from Old Ghana empire. Also the first among Akans to settle down. The term Akan was neologized from Bono due to the fact of being first to settle.
2. Bono is the birth place of majority of Akandoms. Historically it is believed the exodus of Akan subgroups own it to Bonomanso, the capital of the primordial Bono kingdom.
3. Traditionally, majority of Akan practices being it custom, beliefs and culture have its starting point from medieval Bono settlements.
4. The art of weaving, blacksmithing and brass casting in Akan evolved from medieval Bono kingdom. Weaving of Kente was a major industry at Bonomanso, a very bid industry in Bondoukou/Bontuku at the Gyaman kingdom. Blacksmithing was a very big industry at the Tomfoɔ quarters in Begho, present day Nsawkaw. Brass casting workshops were located closer to Bonomanso, the common among them was Aburasefoɔ. The remnants currently live in Buoyem. Ahwene Koko at Old Wenchi was also a spot for brass casting.
5. The use of gold in making ornaments to adorn kings, queens, chiefs and traditional rulers, decorating state emblems firstly emanated from Bono. It is believed gold was discovered in the early days of Bono and in abundance. This corroborates the popular Akan aphorism of Bonohene Kwakye Ameyaw "Kwakye adeɛ a ɛfɛ, yɛde sika ne yɛ", to wit, beautiful things of Kwakye are made with gold. Likewise "Ameyaw odi sika atomprada" meaning Ameyaw who spends fresh gold but once.
6. State swords traditionally called Afena were first introduced by Bonohene Afena Yaw in the 15th century. The Afena in the past and present days are used in every corner of Ghana.
7. Umbrellas in the type of Bamkyinieɛ or Bi da bi akyi (double decker umbrella) used at durbars, public gatherings for traditional rulers in Ghana were introduced by Bonohene Akumfi Ameyaw ll in the 17th century. The Bi da bi akyi is an emblem of Techiman Traditional Council.
8. Most Akan drums own its attribution to Bono people. This was partly influenced by trading activities of Bono with the people of Western Sudan or North Africa. The likes of Atumpan and Fontonfrom drums own it to Bonohene Akumfi Ameyaw l and Bonohemaa Ameyaa Kesse in the second quarter of 14th century.
9. The popular Adinkra symbols were created by Bono people of Gyaman. The Gyamanhene Nana Kwadwo Agyemang Adinkra believed to have designed these symbols and named it after himself. The symbols today have a global recognition and are used in pottery, clothing, branding, etc.
10. The popular Twi language was stemmed from the name of Bono Techiman king, Nana Baffuor Twi. It must be stated that Twi is a stool name in Techiman. Before the king appended his name "Twi" to the Bono dialect making it Bono Twi, and subsequently Akuapem Twi or Asante Twi, all the aforementioned dialects were represented in their raw form without the suffix Twi.
