Mampong
Muslims first settled in Mampong in metropolitan Asante, and found in Safo Kantanka, the king of Mampong, a patron. They became part of his ritual experts who provided the state and king with spiritual protection. [MAMPONG PIX] Kantanka’s son by a royal woman from Kumasi would become Asantehene (king of Asante) Osei Kwame in 1777. Osei Kwame’s father provided him with a special group of Muslim healers when he went to Kumasi as Asantehene. When Osei Kwame was destooled in 1798, his affinity to Islam was one of the charges laid against him. Islam and Muslims would, however, become an integral part of Asante: Muslims from the 19th century lived in zongo’s (strangers’ quarters) in Kumasi, and the tradition of the king of Asante having his personal Imam would emerge. In the 19th century foreign Muslims even fought in the ranks of Asante’s army and were incorporated into the Nsumankwaa (“department of medicines”) of the king as ritual experts. (Wilks, 1961).