Ashanti of Central Ghana

Ashanti Chicken, Fufu(Pounded Yam, Cassava, and Plantain), Golden Plantain Cakes

Sometimes we teach our children things, but we are not necessarily certain what they retain. For Columbus Day weekend, I took my girls to visit family in New York. We decided to go into the city. Our cabbie picked us up outside Penn Station and we made our way to the American Girl Store. I noticed from his accent, he was from West Africa, but was not sure which country. His name was Kwame.  I asked him. He said Ghana. I told him how we recently studied the great Ashanti culture. My daughter recalled the story of the Golden Throne, a very important part of Ashanti History.

Tradition has it that this stool, covered with pure gold, floated out of the sky and landed on the lap of the first Ashanti King, Osei-tutu. He unified the people in the 17th century. His chief priest declared that the soul of the nation resided in this stool.

In reality the stool was created by: Anokye, the chief priest of Osei-tutu.  A new king is lowered and raised over the Golden Stool without touching it no one could be a legitimate ruler without the stool.

Kwame was so delighted that my 8 year old from Texas knew about the Golden Stool. He inquired about what we cooked. I told him. His face lit up when we said, fufu, pounded cassava or yam with plantains. He went on to tell me how fufu was always his favorite dish of his dear auntie's. I will never forget that cab ride with Kwame.