Full Nation Name : The Kosso Kingdom
Majority/Official Culture : Akan/West African
Territorial Core :Capital City : IRL location - Southern Ghana Name - Kumasi
Population : estimate. 8,300,000
Government Type : Unwritten Constitutional monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Theocracy, Meritocracy, Equality, Spirituality, Liberalism, Progressiveness, Fidelity, Respect, Integrity
Government Focus : Continued worship of Nyame and Asase Yaa
Head of State : Asantehene Kofi Arawole
Head of Government : Head of central government- Otumfuo Osei Tutu
Chief Obirempon- Kodjo Siboniso
Chief war leader- Olothando Fowenu
Supreme justice- Rotimi Londisizwe
Head of council of elders- Vusi Amehlo
The Akrafena (religious leader)- Kwame Nkosiphendule
The Bosomfena (spiritual leader)- Afia Thulani
Government Description : The government in Kosso is a unitary government consisting firstly of the Asantehene, the monarch of Kosso who is enthroned on the Golden Stool, a sacred relic that symbolises the very power of both the monarchy but also the Kingdom. Whilst the monarch enjoys huge amounts of power both politically and socially they do not have absolute royal rule although they are the only member of society who can punish someone with the death penalty. Also, for a while now the crown has adopted a meritocratic system of choosing central officials, based on experience and qualification rather than birth. The Asantehene or Ashintihene reigns over all of the state and is the chief of the capital, Kumasi. The Asantehene is given the power to reign by the elders and the chiefs of the other regions in the Kingdom check the power of the monarch. As a symbol of the nation, the Asantehene receives several blessings ritually as he is a symbol of the flesh of the people and a sign of courage, hope, power and prosperity ruling under the sanctity of the Golden Stool of Kosso.
Next in the hierarchy of government is the sophisticated bureaucracy of Kosso. The bureaucracy is made up of both elder men and women who tend to be conservative however there is a council of younger men called the numerate which introduces a more liberal and progressive approach to the government. The council of elders undertake actions only after consulting a representative of the nmerante. Their views must be taken seriously and added into the conversation. Whilst recent years have seen a decline in the power of the bureaucracy compared to elected representatives and the Asantehene, they still hold political sway and large amounts of wealth.
Third next below the Asantahene, local power was invested in the Obirempon of each locale, also known as Obis. The Obirempon (literally "big man") was personally selected by the Asantahene and was generally of loyal, noble lineage, frequently related to the Asantahene. Obirempons had a fair amount of legislative power in their regions, more than the chiefs but less than the regional oligarchs. In addition to handling the region's administrative and economic matters, the Obirempon also acted as a Supreme Judge of the region, along with elders, presiding over court cases.
Finally in the government system are the chiefs of the towns. The chiefs are strictly men, as a part of tradition, and have many responsibilities. They act as a chief of the law locally, a religious mentor and spiritual healer, representative of his people in the capital, leader on the field of battle, servant of the Asantehene and honest friend of the community
Majority/State Religion : Akan
Religious Description : The Akan religion is practiced all across Africa but primarily Kosso. It is based on the belief of a Supreme Creator Nyame who transformed into the Earth at its conception and in his place his wife, Asase Yaa, Mother Earth, now rules over the heavens. The Ashanti believe abosom, or lower deities, more akin to spirits, assist humans on earth. Anansi the Spider is a folk hero who is prominent in Ashanti folktales where he is depicted as a trickster. Abosom receive their power from the supreme creator and are most often connected to the world as it appears in its natural state. Priests serve individual abosom and act as mediators between the abosom and mankind. Many of those who believe in these traditions participate in daily prayer, which includes the pouring of libations as an offering to both the ancestors who are buried under the land and to the spirits who are everywhere. Finally there are the Nsamanfo ("ancestors") who must be respected through prayer and ritual. Also they believe the Golden Stool, the symbol of power for the monarch and prosperity for their people, is a sacred relic forged by the Supreme Creator and it can never be sat on by someone who is not Akan otherwise its power will be lost and the Kingdom will crumble and the monarch will die.
Economic Ideologies : Traditional economy
Major Production : Gold, Ivory, Cocoa, Kola Nuts, Agriculture
Economic Description : The economy is thriving thanks to the extreme wealth brought in through trading with northern African nations and other nomadic traders who frequently pass through the enormous markets of Kumasi. The currency is gold bars or gold coins, of which there is an abundance of in Kosso and it is often traded with privateers and trade companies from other continents. There is also huge potential of diamonds and other rich jewels not far from Kumasi but these are yet to be exploited.
Army Strength : The Kosso army is made up of tens of thousands of troops, sometimes in the right season numbering up to 170,000, outnumbering the legendary Zulu warriors and Ethiopian legions. This is a huge number and this has lead to a many military victories for the Kosso empire which has expanded its borders greatly over the course of history. the army consist of archers, spearmen, javelin throwers, light and heavy cavalry, scouts and a relatively large group of riflemen. Also, the Kosso army is one of the few African nations to deploy medical assistance onto the field to aid injured warriors.
Army Weakness : The army of Kosso is tragically backwards. Armed predominantly with spears, shields and swords (a hundred or so rifles) the army just about makes up for itself with its numbers and tactics. Also due to a lack of roads and rivers logistically supplying the army in a drawn out war is impossible.
Naval Strength : N/A
Naval Weakness : Aside from one royal warship the navy of Kosso does not extend much past a fleet of river boats for carrying troops and supplies, and canoes owned by troops. Several large ships are kept on the coast but are used primarily for ceremonial purposes.
Further Military Description : The Kosso empire has developed extensively complex and effective tactics over the many years of its use.
History : Ashanti political organization was originally centered on clans headed by a paramount chief or Amanhene. One particular clan, the Oyoko, settled in the Ashanti's sub-tropical forest region, establishing a center at Kumasi. The Ashanti became tributaries of another Akan state, Denkyira but in the mid-17th century the Oyoko under Chief Oti Akenten started consolidating the Ashanti clans into a loose confederation against the Denkyira.
The appearance of the Golden Stool in the court of the monarch then became a means of centralization under Kwasi Olusina. According to legend, a meeting of all the clan heads of each of the Ashanti settlements was called just prior to declaring independence from Denkyira. In this meeting the Golden Stool was commanded down from the heavens by Okomfo Anokye, chief-priest or sage advisor to the Asantehene and floated down from the heavens into the lap of Kwasi Olusina. Okomfo Anokye declared the stool to be symbolic of the new Asante Union (the Ashanti Kingdom), and allegiance was sworn to the stool and to Olusina as the Asantehene. The newly declared Ashanti union subsequently waged war against and defeated Denkyira. The stool remains sacred to the Ashanti as it is believed to contain the Sunsum — spirit or soul of the Ashanti people.
King Opoku Ware I (1720–1745) engaged in further Akan territorial expansion
King Kusi Obodom (1750–1764) succeeded Opoku Ware I.
Asante king Osei Kwadwo (1764–1777) imposed administrative reforms that allowed the Ashanti Kingdom to be governed effectively.
King Osei Kwame Panyin (1777–1803), and King Osei Tutu Kwame (1804–1824) continued the Ashanti Kingdom's territorial consolidation.
Going into the 1803 the Kosso Kingdom was becoming a force to be reckoned with a managed to convince several city-states to the East to join them and gain freedom from the oppressive Denkyira. Realizing the strengths of a loose confederation of Akan states, the Asantehene strengthened centralization of the surrounding Akan groups and expanded the powers of the judiciary system within the centralized government. This loose confederation of small city-states grew into an empire looking to expand its borders. Newly conquered areas had the option of joining the empire or becoming tributary states. Opoku Ware I, Osei Tutu's successor, extended the borders, embracing much of Ghana's territory.
Comparison Points – Political : 1
Comparison Points – Cultural/Religious : 3
Comparison Points – Economy : 4
Comparison Points – Military : 1
Total Comparison Points used (10 Points MAX) : 9/10
Is there any benefit or significance of not using all comparison points??