The Bretuo clan is often referred to as "etene ne bretuo" because Etene or Tena is said to be a younger sister of the big Bretuo family. Bretuo is also said to be the sister of the Agona Abusua.
According to Rattray, the Bretuos are said to have descended from the skies to settle at Adanse Ahensan.
It is believed that it was a Turkey buzzard that directed them from the skies to settle at Behenase from Adanse.
According to the oral tradition, the first known ancestress of the Bretuo is Nana Asiama Guahyia. She gave birth to seven children including Nana Bafuo Antiedu.
After the death of Nana Guahyia at Odaso which is on the present Oboase road, there was a conflict over her succession and two of her children migrated towards Akyem and Kwahu. Nana Bafuo Antiedu led a section of the Bretuo to Behenase and finally to Akrofoso.
From Akrofoso they moved to make a final settlement at Mampong.
The other brothers and sisters and their family that left for Kwahu settled at Obo and Abetifi. Those who left for Akyem settled at Kukurantumi and Apedwa but were however not the first settlers.
They were offered a piece of land for settlement by the Asona families who had previously been there.
The patriarch of the Bretuo clan is Ofori Kwadwo Birempon from Adanse Ayaase.
Their totem is the leopard and their symbolic quality is Bravery and Aggressiveness.
It might be interesting to know that it is as a result of the bravery of the Bretuoba Nana Boahene Anantuo of Mampong that the Silver Stool was created by Okomfo Anokye, this stool was meant to be next to the Golden Stool of the Asantes.
Biretuo Piesie ne Mamponghene, wɔn Manu ne Kwahumanhene na wɔn Mensa nso ne Animire Kwao a ofiri Wassa.
If a Bretuo greets you the response is "Yaa twidan" or "Yaa tena".
Here are some of the Asante towns occupied by members of the Bretuo family:
The Asona Clan is the largest among all the Akan clans.
Oral tradition has it that they were led out of a cave by a red snake and protected by the elephant to their various destinations. It is believed that every Asonaba originated from Adanse Akurofuom.
It is also a taboo for an Asona to come across the red snake popularly known as Asonawo, this might mean the death of a family member.
The first known Asona woman was Asonaba Nana Ano Boadie who gave birth to Nana Ofori Panin, Nana Nyaako Braae and Nana Aberewa Dokuaa.
It is interesting to know that all other members of the Asona Family trace their origin from this root, irrespective of what tribe they belong to today.
One of the accolades of the Asona family is that they are so beautiful and elegant.
The Aduana (Atwea, Abrade, Amoakare ne Ada) Abusua is one of the largest abusua or clans of the Akans. The Aduana people are believed to have been led out of the hole in Asumegya-Asantemanso by a dog which had fire in his mouth.
Hence they are referred to as Ogyaasefuo.
Aduana Nyankonpa Sakyire, Aponkyerɛne a ɔma nsuo ne Aduana. Siawɔna ne Aduegyafoɔ.
Wɔbɔ Aduanafoɔ mmrane sɛ "Adensefoɔ" a, ne nkyeraseɛ ne sɛ wɔyɛ adefoɔ a wɔn so bi nni baabi.
It is also believed that the first Aduana had a dog that once was out to search for food and on seeing fire the dog thought there was something to eat for him and in doing so got his mouth seriously burnt. When the owner saw it coming with the fire he then said ,
The Oyoko Clan is considered the First Family or clan if not the most powerful in the Asante Kingdom because it is the ruling family of the occupant of the Golden Stool. The Ayokofuo (plural) have up to date tried to maintain that,
it is forbidden for two Ayokofuo to marry irrespective of town or tribe. There are only a few such marriages.
The Oyokuo family is said to have come out of the Ekuona family, "Awekoɔ" (people who ate 'ɛkoɔ'). It is a clan who were originally part of the Ɛkoɔna.
Oral traditions indicate it is a taboo for an Ɛkoɔ-nana to eat the ɛkoɔ. Those who breached this taboo and ate an Ɛkuo were derided and known as "awekoɔ".
Nonetheless, Ekuonas and Oyoko (Awekuo) regarded themselves as one family.
This Article is worth your read Dear African, Historian an Christian.
The Scottish Stone of Scone (a Concrete) and the Asantes Golden Stool.
A ridiculous remark by a Ghanaian Christian pastor that the Golden Stool (the ancient symbol of Asanteman) is "heathen," got me riled up.
Of course, Africans have generally been mentally defiled by the European Christian propaganda which began in the 1820s, with the arrival of European Christian Missionaries to Africa.
A key lasting feature of that Christian propaganda, is the damage of the African's Mind (Brain).
It resulted in the wholesale acceptance of the European received idea. This defilement was accompanied by the total demonization of everything that defined Africans. It led to the bastardization and rejection of African Values; Customs; Culture, and Traditions.
Uniting the family: Berekum and Asanteman Council.
Berekum is part and parcel of Asanteman and served Otumfuo Asantehene via the Kumase Konti Division led by Baafuo Bantamahene.
Upon his elevation as Omanhene, Nana Berekumhene swear directly to Otumfuo Asantehene on Mponponsuo.
The Omanhene is a medical practitioner and surgical specialist by profession.
Upon defeating Domaa and Gyaman, Asantehene Opoku Ware Katakyie decided to settle some of the captured people and some fighters in the area. The intent was to check, especially, Dormaa (Wam)...
whose political resentment of Asante at that time, continues to this day. The group was reinforced by settlers sent from Asante Asokore, and other areas such as Adanse to serve as a buffer and serve as surveillance on the Domaa and Gyaman.