Ashanti Traditional Buildings

　　   Kumasi is Ghana’s second-largest city and the capital of the Ashanti Region, situated in the south-central part of Ghana at the southwestern foot of the Kwahu Plateau. It lies 180 kilometers southeast of the capital Accra and 180 kilometers south of the coastal port, forming a triangular area that serves as the country’s economic hub. Founded around the year 1700, Kumasi was once the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, one of the most powerful states in ancient West Africa. Since ancient times, it has been the political, economic, and cultural center of the Ashanti Region. Some of the earthen and thatched-roof houses in the northwestern part of the city represent the final remnants of the ancient Ashanti civilization, serving as invaluable heritage for studying the political, economic, cultural, and historical development of the Ashanti people.      The urban area of Kumasi is built across several gently sloping hills, with white buildings nestled among green trees and flowers, surrounded by lush forests, creating exceptionally beautiful scenery. It is often referred to as the “Garden City of West Africa.” Kumasi is also an important cultural city in Ghana, home to notable institutions such as the renowned National Cultural Centre, which features an open-air theatre and houses a collection of traditional weaving, carving, embroidery, and exquisite pottery artworks. Other landmarks include the royal palace, museums, agricultural research institutes, and modern hospitals.

　　    The Ashanti Traditional Buildings are located in the northwestern part of Kumasi, standing out among the city’s many historical sites. The golden age of the ancient Ashanti civilization was during the 18th century, when numerous mansions for high-ranking officials, residential homes, and ceremonial halls were constructed. The surviving earthen and thatched-roof houses, built by local residents in the early 19th century using locally sourced materials and traditional methods, serve as primary sources for studying the social history of the Ashanti people.      These structures exhibit distinct West African architectural features. Several houses are arranged within a spacious rectangular courtyard, with walls made of sun-dried mud bricks coated with waterproofing treatments. The roofs consist of layered mud, designed to withstand intense sunlight and heavy rainfall, showcasing the advanced level of architectural craftsmanship at the time. The central focus of these residences is an open-air courtyard, surrounded by covered verandas, two of which are slightly elevated above the courtyard floor and served as platforms for singers and drummers during ceremonies. This traditional architectural style is still employed today in the construction of shrines and tombs. The walls of these traditional buildings feature intricate paintings, many of which use symbolic patterns to convey folk proverbs and sayings. Such symbolic artwork is rare in the African region.

　　    In the local Ashanti language, “Kumasi” means “under the thick tree bark.” Legend has it that in the 17th century, Osei Tutu, the founder of the Ashanti Kingdom, sought a location to establish the capital. He held a discussion about the site under a Kumini tree with his kingdom’s advisors. Later, the place where the discussions took place came to be known as Kumasi, meaning that the deliberations under the Kumini tree led to the resolution of the location issue. The Kumini tree is commonly referred to as the “thick-bark tree.” After the 19th century, British colonialists repeatedly invaded the city, and remnants of a military fort built by British colonial forces in 1897 can still be found in the surrounding area. The fort includes eight gun emplacements and walls riddled with bullet holes, giving it an eerie and foreboding atmosphere.

　　 Accra, Ghana