According to oral traditions, the name Ɛdweso was derived from the Twi words “ɔbɔ n’ adwe” which is translated as “he breaks his nuts” which later became known as Adweso because the town was established in a place full of nuts. This was later corrupted to “Ejisu” by means of euphony through the passage of time.
Ɛdweso is the administrative capital of Ɛdweso Municipal. The Ɛdwesohene owes allegiance to the Sika Dwa Kofi (Golden Throne) and swears to the Asantehene with Mponponsuo sword, the Principal Sword of Amanhene (Paramount chiefs) and other senior chiefs of the component state of the Asante Confederacy use in swearing the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene.

From time immemorial the, Ɛdweso have belonged to the royal Asona clan. Tradition has it that it was an elephant that brought the Asona clan from the ground into the world at a place called Adaboye, which is commonly known as Abuakwa. The elephant emerged with a woman called Boade, who begat Ofori Panin, Nyarko-Brei, and Dokuwah. Ofori Panin was the Paramount chief of Asona clan in Akyem Abuakwa. Boade died and was succeeded by her daughter, Dokuwah, as the Queen Mother of the Asona clan. Ofori Panin died and left many stool properties, which were contested amongst the Asona royals, with the result that civil war broke out one Wednesday. During this time the Asona clan was independent and was not subservient to anyone. As a result of this civil war the various members of the Asona clan scattered into various localities, namely into Buabinso, Kyebi, Mpraeso, Ɛdweso, ɔfenso and Beposo. The senior men’s Stool of the Asona was that of Buabinso. That of Akyem Abuakwa was the senior women’s Stool of the Asona. The Asona Queen Mother, Dokuwah, migrated from Abuakwa Adaboye to a place called Kokobiante, and from there to Akyem Abuakwa. Nyarko Brei also migrated to Adanse Akrofuom, She begat Amponsah Ahenasa, and Gyawah. Gyawah also begat Ɛdweohene Aboagye Agyei who contested for the Stool of his uncle, Amponsah Ahenasa, after his death. Aboagye Agyei did not succeed and therefore emigrated to Amansie Patabu near Lake Bosomtwi where he died and was buried in the Royal Mausoleum. The Asona villages Apinkra and Nuaso were asked to watch the body. Asuna Gyima succeeded Aboagye Agyei and brought the people of Edweso from Patabu to their present settlement. Aboagye Agyei, the founder of Ɛdweso with his people from apenkra were said to have met another Asona group On arrival they bought the land from the Akyawkromhene, Nana Obui Asamoah, for 80 Preguans. A certain chief called Kwakye Depoah was an ɔbrempong in the neighbourhood who harrassed the surrounding villages. The Ɛdwesohene fought and beheaded him for the sake of peace. Asuna Gyima died and Duko Pim succeeded him.

During this time Denkyirahene, called Ntim Gyakari, was the overlord of all the chiefs. This Denkyirahene harassed those subject states under his rule, with the result that they resented his tyrannous rule, and ultimately formed a plot for his overthrow. The celebrated ɔkɔmfo Anɔkye assured these malcontents that they could conquer Ntim Gyakari if they would all amalgamate and put up a united front in battle against their overlord. Accordingly, these several states became one compact body and it was during consultation with ɔkɔmfo Anɔkye about the war when he assured them that they would be victorious provided some men would give themselves for sacrifices. Three men would be needed for the sacrifices. One would be buried alive. His hands would appear at the surface of the earth and two brass pans full of war medicine mixed in water would be put in the two palms for the warriors to bath before they left the war front. The second volunteer would be butchered to death and his flesh thrown away for vultures to take to the land of Denkyira. Wherever any piece of flesh would fall the men of the place would lose their bravery and become cowards. The third volunteer should be a Paramount chief. He would be in front of the marching soldiers. He was not to fire a shot even if he is met by an enemy. He should look on for the enemy to shoot him. Those who volunteered were; Nana Asenso Kofo, chief of Adwumakasekese, who was buried alive. Nana Diko Pim I, Chief of Ɛdweso gave himself up to be butchered to death and fell in the field of battle on one Sunday (Kwasiada). Hence that day was consecrated to the Ɛdweso Oath to perpetuate the memory of Ɛdwesohene Duko Pim at the Battle of Feyiase. Before Ɛdweaohene Duko Pim I sacrificed himself and went to the field of battle, he made arrangements with the Asantehene ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu I that he would never inflict capital punishment by execution on any member of the Asona clan after his death. This arrangement was accordingly made between ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu I before going to Feyiase. It is only the Omanhene of Ɛdweso who does not make an appointment with the Asantehene through Okyeame (Linquist) but rather through the Nsumankwaahene. It is part of the privileges Nana Diko Pim I was made to enjoy after his sacrifice during the Denkyira war. Nana Tweneboah Kodua I, Omanhene of Kumawu, also gave himself up. Though he was armed, he was forbidden to shoot: therefore, he was killed. Nana Tweneboah Kodua also requested that nobody from his state should be sacrificed in any form. Again, whatever a drummer from any Asante states starts drumming on atumpan drums, his appellation should be sounded to remind the future generations that they too should sacrifice themselves for the Asante Nation. Nana Boahen Anantuo Omanhene of Mampong, volunteered to lead the war. He, however asked that since he was taking the place of Asantehene as the commander in chief of the Asante army, his stool should be next to that of Asantehene.

According oral traditions, Ejisu’s attainment of paramouncy dates back to the 1885 dynastic quarrel in the Asante Kingdom over who should be the next Asantehene after the death of Asantehene Kwaku Duah II. The long campaign for the Asantehene position by two (2) candidates, Yaw Twereboana and Kwaku Duah (Nana Prempeh I) brought divisions among the Asante confederacy dividing the states into two factions namely “tuntumfoɔ” (the blacks) and “kɔkɔɔfoɔ (the reds) so that while “tuntumfoɔ” supported Yaw Twereboana, “kɔkɔɔfoɔ” also supported Kwaku Duah (Nana Prempeh I). The Mamponghene Nana Kwasi Owusu Sekyere, Asotwehene Nana Kwame Kyei, Kokofuhene Nana Osei Asibe, the chief of Agona, Nsutahene, Sawuahene and other chiefs supported Yaw Twereboana while Ejisuhene Nana Kwasi Afrane I, Juabenhene, Takyimanhene, Offinsohene, Bekwaihene and other chiefs also supported Kwaku Duah (Nana Prempeh I). Eventually “kɔkɔɔfoɔ” (the reds) led by Ejisuhene Nana Kwasi Afrane I as the war general emerged victorious and Kwaku Duah (Nana Prempeh I) became the Asantehene and Ejisuhene Nana Kwasi Afrane I beheaded Sawuahene for Asantehene Prempeh I. Asantehene Prempeh I after emerging victorious decided to reward Ejisuhene Nana Kwasi Afrane I for supporting the dynastic quarrel. Nana Kwasi Afrane I was asked by Prempeh I to request for anything as reward. Nana Kwasi Afrane I is said to have requested for Ejisu’s control over all the Asona towns and villages that were scattered but served Kumase directly. These towns and villages includes Nuaso, Bonwire, Tano Odumase, Bosore, Abrakaso, Nyenaso, Asotwe, Onwe, Abenase, Ampabame, Ejisu Manhyia and Boankra. The request of Nana Kwasi Afrane I was granted and all the towns and villages came under him (the Ejisuhene). Nana Kwasi Afrane I, apart from given the Paramouncy of the Traditional area was also given a golden slipper by Asantehene Prempeh I. He also received Ntahera from Mampong and Apirede from Nsuta and Asantehene confirmed them for his use. According to oral tradition, the defeat of Yaw Twereboana’s supporters made them desert their towns. The people of Kokofu crossed the River Pra into the British Protectorate. Those from Mampong and Nsuta went to Atebubu. There was even the move by the people of Mampong to become British subjects. Ejisu have been an integral part of the Asante Kingdom since its formation and various chiefs of Ejisu have fought many wars to defend the Golden Stool which includes Feyiase war, Asante- Fante war, Gyaman war, Nkoranza war etc.

In 1896, Asantehene Prempeh I was exiled together with Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Akyaa, Nana Appea Osokye, Mamponghene, Nana Kwadwo Kwahu, Ofensohene, Nana Kofi Afrane, Ejisuhene, other chiefs and people were taken to the Seychelles Island. In 1900, Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Ejisuhemaa instigated the Asante nation to fight its final war against the British which is known as the war of the Golden stool or Yaa Asantewaa war. She was captured and was exiled to the Seychelles Island. Asantehene Prempeh I was not repatriated until 1924, after almost 30 years. Many chiefs have ruled the Ejisu Traditional Area and the current Paramount Chief of Ejisu is Nana Afranie Okese IV who succeeded the late Nana Aboagye Agyei II as the Omanhene (Paramount chief) of Ejisu Traditional Area in 2008.

By Kofi Frimpong( The Kingdom of Asante)

REFERENCE
Agyemang Duah J. & Ivor W. (1976). Ashanti Stool Histories. (Vol 1). Institute of African Studies; University of Ghana