STOOLS HISTORY
1. STOOL (ADWA)
A stool is a wooden carved seat used by the traditional rulers as their throne.
It is a symbol of office of a king, chief or queen.
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2. CATEGORY OF STOOLS (NKONNWA)
In Akan custom, there are two categories of stools (nkonnwa) which are ;
1. Royal Stool, Adehyedwa
This is a stool that belongs to a particular clan, eg. Asona, Aduana, Agona, Bretuo etc.
One can qualify to inherit the stool if he/she is a member of the clan that owns the stool.
All Krowuranom and Amanhene stools are Adehyedwa.
2. Non-Royal Stool
This is a stool that does not belong to any particular clan as its property.
Example of the Non-Royal Stools are;
(A) Ahenema Adwa
(B) Ahenenana Adwa
(C) Agya ne Mma Adwa
(D) Mpaw Adwa
(A) AHENEMA ADWA
This is a stool that belongs to the children of a King/Chief.
One can qualify to inherit the stool if only his father is/was the King/Chief of the town of the stool.
(B) AHENENANA ADWA
This is a stool which is inherited by the grandchildren of a king/chief of a particular town or kingdom respectively.
(C) AGYA NE MMA ADWA
One will define it as patrilineal stool, a stool that is inherited by a father and his biological children.
This is a type of stool which non Akans use in their tradition.
There are couples of such stools in Akan tradition.
Eg. Kumasi Bantama stool.
This stool was created for Bantamahene and his children only.
(D) MPAW ADWA
This type of stool, the occupant is appointed by the king/chief of the kingdom or town to render a special services to him directly or indirectly.
It is like Minister of Finance or Attorney General.
One cannot be appointed to occupy this office without technical knowledge of Finance and Economic Planning or Law respectively.
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WHY SOME STOOLS ARE BLACKENED AND OTHERS ARE NOT
In Roman Catholic tradition, one can be declared as a Saint after his/her death.
Some of the saints are: St. Patrick, St. Mary, St. Dominic, St. Paul etc.
This is on account of his/her good works when he/she was alive on earth.
They hold a belief that when they pray to them they can manifest their prayers to them physically.
In Akan tradition, it is the same practice, but we call such departed chiefs/queens as ancestors.
It is good chiefs and queens whose stools are blackened after their departure for eternity to keep them in rememberance and prayed to for spiritual assistance.
The Stool house is called Nkonnwafieso and the stool room is called Nkonnwa Danmu
Nananom go there often times to perform sacred rituals as the tradition demands.
The one who is in charge of the Stool House is called Nkonnwa-Soafo-hene
We end today’s studies on stools here in awaiting for your questions and contributions.
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