The story of Banda, who reside deep in the northwest of the Bono region, is a unique one that is not oft enough mentioned.
Long before their name became known to most, the people of Banda were known as Nafana: a proud community guided by ancient custom and wise kin.
Their journey from Kakala near Bontuku in what is now Côte d’Ivoire marks one of the great migrations of Akan civilization.
From Kakala to Tampe
Kralongo, the heir of Chief Zie, ascended to rule at Kakala after the death of his uncle. Custom required him to select one of the late chief’s widows before others could, yet when a relative of Zie broke the rule, Kralongo refused to continue the funeral rites.
His silence spoke of disappointment. Without confrontation, he gathered his loyal followers and departed Kakala to found a new home at Tampe, a settlement west of the Banda hills.
Eventually the land they occupied grew crowded, and at his command, his son-in-law Gaeha, a master hunter, explored beyond the mountains and discovered a fertile stretch that would become Bakala. Here, Banda civilization took root.
Rise of a New Kingdom
Banda’s story intertwined with the Ashanti in the age of Osei Tutu.
Chiefs of Banda, first called Nafana, forged alliances and wars that defined the region.
Legends recall the meeting between Sielongo, the Banda ruler, and the Ashanti king. When the Ashanti marveled at the Nafana bows and arrows, a demonstration pierced a target clean through: a symbol of strength that caught the Asantehene’s admiration.
From that day, the Ashanti began calling them the “people of Banda,” a name that would take hold.
However, not all interactions were so peaceful. When Ashanti power expanded, King Osei Kwadwo demanded that Banda serve the Golden Stool.
The Nafana chief Sakyi refused, claiming his people bowed only to their own gods. His defiance led to war.
The Ashanti advanced through the forested valleys, and at the banks of the river Chen, battled the Nafana. For days, arrows and iron clashed until famine forced the Nafana to negotiate peace.
They agreed to allegiance, sending seven sheep each year to Kumasi as tribute: a symbol of their submission for survival.
Legacy
Over time, Banda became both ally and subject of Ashanti. Their warriors joined Ashanti campaigns, their gold enriched royal regalia, and their drums sang in the war dances of Kumasi.
Yet their independence of spirit never died. Even when exile, famine, and internal divisions tested them, the people rebuilt.
From Bakala to Dadiase, from their mountain refuges to the plains, they endured, guided by their ancestral gods and the leadership of knowledgeable kin.
Today, Banda remains a proud group: a people deserving of their place in the larger Akan story.
