Akuapem in Retrospect: Ritual Unification and State Formation

Abstract

The intermittent conflicts within the Akuapem State are a legacy of the Akwamu wars with the people of the Hill Territory (Akuapem Ridge) in the 17th and 18th centuries. As the catalyst for the Guan-Akyem alliance and the subsequent formation of the ‘Akuapem State,’ this study examines the intricate role of the African indigenous religions in conflicts and state formation in indigenous Africa. With focus on the indigenous equivalent of the Abotakyi Accord, the ritual planting of stone(s) and salt, the study raises questions on the significance of that ritual and its embedded symbolism.