Ashanti, or ASHANTEE, a negro kingdom in Western Africa, on the north of the Gold Coast, extending 5°—9° N. lat., and 0°—4° W. long., and since 1896 forming part of the British protectorate or hinterland of the (extended) Gold Coast Colony. It is hilly and well watered, but none too healthy, especially in the lower alluvial districts. The principal rivers are the Volta, Prah, and Assinee. Population estimated at from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000, of whom a fifth are warriors. The country proper is one continuous forest; the land in the neighbourhood of the towns is carefully cultivated. The land is extremely fertile, producing maize, millet, rice, yams, tobacco, sugar, cocoa, the pine-apple, and other fine fruits, with gums, dye-woods, and timber. The principal exports are gold-dust, of which a considerable quantity is found, and palm-oil, together with slaves. The natives are remarkable for their skill in certain articles of manufacture; their cottons are beautiful, as also their earthenware and sword-blades. Polygamy is the rule, the king being allowed the mystic number of 3333 wives. Fetish worship is the religion; human sacrifices are understood to have decreased since the British campaign of 1874; and there have been frequent wars with neighbouring tribes; but since 1896 the country may be regarded as a British protectorate. The capital is Coomassie (q.v.).
The traditions of the Ashanti state point to an emigration some hundreds of years ago from the north, probably caused by the spread of the Mohammedan empire of Timbuctoo. Our first positive glimpse of it is got in the year 1700, when Coomassie was made the capital by Osai Tutu, who conquered Akim, Assin, Gaman, Denkira, and other neighbouring states, and became a sort of feudal sovereign over a large district. In their course of conquest over the Fantees, the Ashantis became involved in war with the British (1807–26), and were finally driven from the sea-coast. In 1873–74, in consequence of disputes arising in connection with the cession of the Dutch forts to Britain, they were again involved in a war with the same power; and an army under Sir Garnet Wolseley forced its way to the centre of the kingdom. After a severe battle at Amoafu, and several days' fighting, Coomassie was taken,
February 4, 1874, and burned on the 6th, and, though the rainy season had set in, the army returned in safety to the coast. In 1895-96 another expedition became necessary, resulting in the submission of the king and his removal to Sierra Leone. The kingdom was added to the Gold Coast Colony, and much has since been done to open up the country and develop the gold-mines. In 1900 further trouble broke out with the natives, but was easily overcome.
See works by Bowdich (1819, new ed. 1873), Brackenbury (1874), W. Reade (1874), Stanley (1874), Weibrecht (1875), and R. A. Freeman (1898).