HOW SENYA-BONSUOKU GOT ITS NAME.


B.I.C. Abeiku Okai
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Bonsuoku is one of the strongest villages of Senya. It is the last of Senya villages that you would drive through to enter the principal town of Senya Beraku.

The dwellers of Bonsuoku are basically hunters and farmers. They are the forest inhabitants of the Senya Beraku State. And this should disperse the notion that Senyans are only fisher folks. By virtue of being hunters, the dwellers of Bonsuoku boast of their skill in shooting. And of course, they are brave, bold and accurate in hitting their targets with any bullet from the nose of the gun.

The village had its name through a very dramatic and historic event. It happened that the Asantehene, Nana Osei Kwame, waged various wars on the Fantes in his reign. In 1824, having won one of such wars and entered Anomabo,

"Asantehene Osei Kwame is reported to have walked to the beach of Anomabo after his meeting with the British. This time he put his leg into the sea. Then he blurted “anhye mi eei” (I did not get boiled). He made this remark because the king thought since the sea has foam and vaporizes, it was a boiling water. Asantehene Osei Kwame then asked Anomabo elders what animal in the sea rule all the fishes and was told it is “Bonsu” (Whale). He then said “from this day going my name is Osei Bonsu for I have conquered the sea.” And so from that day King Osei Kwame`s name was changed to Osei Bonsu (Whale) for having conquered the sea." (source: www.prekeseghanamedia.tumblr.com)

Having taken upon himself the name "Bonsu", the Asantehene and his troupe passed through the territory of Senya Beraku and a very fierce war ensued between the Adu-ebi (warriors) of Senya Beraku and the Asante army. It is in this war that the heroin, "Naase Nkwanta Esiba Otuba", of the Twidan Family (maternally) and of the Anona Family (paternally), lost her head to the Asante army. It is her death that caused her maternal family (Twidan) to become royals in Senya Beraku. This is the root of the Senya Beraku chieftaincy conflict but that's not the subject under studies now.

Now, this Asante attack on the people of Senya Beraku, led by Nana Osei Bonsu, was fought in a valley at Bonsuoku. Hence the war was named "Asante Bonsu Ku" and the area began to be known as "Bonsu Ku" (ie, Bonsu War). So it is actually not "Bonsuoku" but "Bonsu-ku". 

Probably this is why the people of Bonsuoku are brave warriors. They were born out of war and exist to stop attacks against Senya Beraku.

Share to preserve our history and heritage.

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