Ntim Gyakari (died 1701) was the last fully independent ruler of Denkyira, a state in the boundaries of the modern nation of Ghana whose army were so fierce that it was difficult to overcome them.
He was an austere King with an insatiable passion for women.
He was brutal and was quick to kill without mercy even when the offence is of little weight.
One of his early burdensome actions was to increase his demands of tribute on his northern neighbors. (Bekwai, Kokofu, Kwaman and Nsuta)
These were led by Osei Tutu of Kwaman but before that time, Tutu Osei was a political prisoner in Denkyira, where he met they mysterious fetish priest Komfo Anokye.
These forces (towns) began an insurrection against Ntim Gyakari’s rule.
Ntim Gyakari was killed at the Battle of Feyiase in 1701.
This was after he had granted Osei Tutu pardon and released him from jail.
He later thought of conquering the Asantes again so he led an army to do that.
The Battle of Feyiase consolidated Ashanti Empire which replaced Denkyira as the dominant power among the Twi-speaking Akan peoples.
Prior to this battle the Denkyirahene Ntim Gyakari thought he was doing well in the war, having driven the Ashanti (Asante) forces from Adunku, Abuontem and Aputuogya.
However, this was all part of Osei Tutu and Okomfo Anokye’s plan to ambush the Denkyira troops at Feyiase.( Many rituals were done there to secure the victory)
The war was mainly between the Ashantis and Denkyiras At Feyiase, the full force of the Asante war machine fell upon the Denkyiran army, and they were routed.
Ntim Gyakari was killed by the people of Adunku from Asante Feyiase, and Denkyira’s hegemony was broken at Feyiase Akoyem. (Akomyem – the place Okomfo Anokye danced in enchantment for 40 days and nights nonstop!)
Feyiase Akoyem is now a part of Bosomtwe District which lies between Aputuogya and Esereso where the war ended.
Rituals Performed by Okomfo Anokye During The Battle
According to legend, Feyiase was inhabited around the 1630s.
The village (before it became a town) was nurtured round a mighty tree called “Feyi”.
So it was under the “Feyi” tree came “Feyi Ase” and the flourishing of that ancient town.
Before the war, Okomfo Anokye buried a live cow there.
He also instantly created a river there called “Anokye Nsuo”.
In the heat of the war he declared:
“The Asantes will win no matter what happens… The battle will never cross Feyiase Akoyem”…
This was because Ntim’s warriors were fighting so well on the battlefield.
Suddenly the battle turned against them when a tree called “Gye Aboba” (Interceptor of bullets) became alive and started intercepting bullets from the Denkyira warriors.
That area (village) at Feyiase where the tree came alive was called “Gye Aboase”
Strangely gunshots from the Asantes moved through the tree and landed on the Denkyira warriors.
Thus the tree was actively involved in the battle fighting on the side of the Asantes.
Okomfo Anokye also bathed all the Asante warriors and asked them to cross another river called “Ankua San” river after placing his talismanic flyer into the river.
Those who were able to cross the river were selected for the battle.
The powerful Okomfo Anokye proceeded to dance in enchantment for 40 days and nights nonstop as the battle grew intense.
He did this at a place called Feyiase Akoyem.
When Ntim was captured he was chewing “red kola” and was brought before Okomfo Anokye who immediately removed a white Kola and started chewing too.
Ntim’s Kola fell from his mouth when he became violent and wanted to be set free.
Anokye quickly spat the remnants of the white Kola in his mouth on Ntim’s Red Kola on the floor and it immediately germinated!
That Kola tree is still there after 300 years.
Ntim was killed and his blood was used as enchantment on the land.
