The Ashanti Beasease Shrine in Ghana is one of the oldest and most significant landmarks in the country. It is an outstanding example of the Ashanti culture and their architectural style.
Location
The shrine is situated near the town of Ejisu. The Ejisu-Juaben Municipal District is in the Ashanti region. This region is the third biggest in the country. It comprises 10% of the total land area of the country.
What to See
The shrine follows the layout of the standard Akan temple. The Asante belong to the Akan cultural group. It is composed of four interlocked edifices. Three of these buildings have an open face. One is for the attendees, the other two for singers and musicians.
The partly closed building is utilized for consultations with the priest. There is a locked room (or two) in this building. The bigger one contains the shrine.
The shrine is a kente brass basin covered with cloth. This is set on a decorated wood stool or Akan chair. Offerings are all around it. All the kuduo are filled with votive ingredients. This is the temporary dwelling place for the obosom when the priest summons them.
History
The Ashanti Beasease Shrine in Ghana was built in 1850. These temples are known as the “houses of God’s messengers”. It is here that the priestesses and priests of Akan arbitrate with the abosom.
These are the messengers of Nyanne, the Creator of all. Through these rituals, safety and fulfillment in this life can be attained.
The Asante (Ashanti) people have a long history.
From the 2nd up to the 10th century AD, the Akan city states expanded. These are descended from the Asantemanso settlement. Excavations show the archaeological settlements date back to 9th century AD.
The cultural group reached its zenith in the 1800s. The state grew in size to 388,000 square km, bigger than present-day Ghana. The state declined in the 19th century as the Age of Colonialism began.
Cost
Traveling by taxi will cost about GH1. If you are on a longer trip, the fare will be GH2.50 to 5.00 will be enough.
Other Info
Outside the shrine is the Isop tree. The leaves are immersed in water. These are utilized for the purification of an individual.
The Ashanti Beasease Shrine in Ghana is not just a temple to be admired. It also lets you examine the building methods used by the people dating back thousands of years.
