Brief history of Vume (Hume) in Lower Volta Basin, who originated from Denkyira Kingdom

Biography of Odeefuo Boa-Amponsem III ,Denkyirahene (1923-2015)

History Of The Agona Clan (The Three Brothers of Denkyira Kingdom)

The people of Vume originated from the then Denkyira Kingdom. The Vumes initially as an Akan speaking group Migrated from Denkyira during the disintegration of the Kingdom by the Asante defeat in the Ntim Gyakarl War. During that war, a very powerful War General of a section of Denkyira Group called NANA AKORNOR led his people through migration from a place called Dawire.

They travelled through many places, crossed the Volta River and finally founded and made the first permanent settlement in the Lower Volta Basin which they orginally named and called ‘Hume’, an Akan name meaning ‘Rest’.

While at Hume, Nana Kwafo Akoto, a onetime Chief of Akwamwu and his people sought military assistance from Nana Akornor and his men against the allied forces of the Krobos, Gas and Adas and Akornor readily led the combined Hume/Akwamu Army and heavily defeated the allied forces of the Krobos, Gas and Adas. He therefore ruled both the Humes and the Akwamus as their overlord. Nana Akornor for that matter was described as the new chief of Akwamu in the history book entitled ‘The short History of Ghana by E.W. Ward’. According to this book, Nana Akornor fought and won many wars, defended and protected the lives and the lands of his people — (Ref. Pages 18 and 19 speak about Akornor’s military leadership roles).

Some important Chiefs who helped him as his Wing Chiefs in some of his major wars were : Afutu Kwaku Addo, Kata, Otuo Banahene and Asem-Nkwanta. Some other brave Chiefs and Elders in some of his wars were Odiotuo, Buakyi, Addai, Posodua, Kumsa, Gyidi/Gidi, Gyan/Ga, Kokotako, Denyi etc. Two brave women who assisted Nana Akornor and his men during the wars were called Adobea Aketse and Adokuwa.

Dr. E.K. Amenumey in his history book entitled the ‘The Ewe in Pre-Colonial Times’ also proved that the Denkyira immigrants settled at the Lower Volta Basin now called Tongu founded ‘Hume’ which was later named Torgorme and Vume — (Ref. Pages 4, 13, 16 and 17 proved and confirmed the origin of the Humes).

Infact, HUME was corrupted to VUME.
STATUS : Based upon his bravery and having distinguished himself in tactical military roles and as the War General of his people, Nana Akornor with his Wing Chiefs and Elders was established and fully recognized as the Paramonunt Chief (Omanhene) of both Akwamu and Hume. As a result, two titles Okokoanko or Okoanko and Okatekyie were conferred on him.

REGALIA: Nana Akornor therefore possessed and had his paramount Black Stool, the orginal trumpet or horn, the original Dawuro and a special sword or knife for special rites.
He had the Tutu, Opasanka, Apetia and other traditional drums and other articles in a Paramount Chief’s regalia.

VUME DUGAME SETTLEMENT : While at Hume, the Akwamus waged another war against the Humes as a result of envy and jealousy. Unfortunately, the Akwamus sadly lost this battle. After the defeat of the Akwamus and upon the information of the Akwamus’ plan to launch a counter attack on the Humes, Nana Akornor himself, the stool, some of his Chiefs and Elders including some people, moved in canoes down stream the Volta River and settled at a new place now called Vume Dugame for the security of the black stool, leaving Asem Nkwanta as the Benkumhene, Gyidi as the Omankrado, Odiotuo as one of the Chiefs and some other Chiefs and Elders to take controt of the Hume / Torgorme lands and the remaining people. There had been no settlement before the arrival of Akornor and his Group.

VUME KPOVIADZI SETTLEMENT : After settling at Vume Ougame for sometime, another war broke out between the Adas and Akornor’s Group and as usual, the Adas were defeated and again, as the safety of the stool was paramount, a section of Akornor’s men and some Chiefs including Akornor himself had to cross the Volta River with the stool and settled at another new place now called Vume Kpoviadzi.

Before leaving Vume Dugame, Otuo Banahene as the Adontehene and Addai as the Omankrado were charged with the responsibility of taking control of Vume Dugame lands and the remaining people. Three Chiefs, Afutu Kwaku Addo the Nifahene, Kata the Kyidomhene, Kumsa, Kokotako and their Elders accompanied Nana Akornor and some people to Vume Kpoviadzi for the security of the stool.

VUME SREKPE AND VUME GBELEME SETTLEMENTS : After Nana Akornor and two of his Wing Chiefs had lived together at Vume Kpoviadzi for sometime, it became necessary, proper and more convenient for the Kyidomhene and Kumsa, their Elders and people move further to find and settle at separate new settlements of Srekpe and Gbeleme now among the Mafis and Aves respectively while the Nifahene and Kokotako with their Elders and the remaining people remained at Vume Kpoviadzi with their Omanhene.

DEATH OF AKORNOR: After a while, Nana Akornor returned to Vume Dugame where he felt sick and finally died.
REGENCY: After the death of Nana Akornor I, there were four Regents, namely : Denyi, Adienti, Kwadzo Ladzekpo and Kwasi Amediku who performed various functions during the long vacancy of Akornor Black Stool.

OATHS : The people of Hume / Vume have some Oaths. The first and the greatest oath Is ‘Mekae Nana Akornor Ahaban Akwasidae’. This oath reminds the Humes of aSunday when some of Nana Akornor’s brave warriors were killed by surprise attacks in their war with the Asantes. The second oath is ‘Mekae Akornor Nyame Ntae’ which also reminds the Humes of a bloody fight against the Akwamus in which some important lives were lost.

VUME RELIGION : Traditionally, the Vurnes worship a goddess called ‘Ahaban’ an Akan word corrupted to ‘Axava’. There are two shrines : one and the oldest is at Hume Torgorme and the second one is found at Vurne Dumgame. Vumes don’t practice the “Trokosi’ System.

ASAFO PERFORMANCE : The four main Vume settlements / divisions and their surrounding villages perform the same Asafo and sing their Asafo songs in the Akan language. They use the same Asafo drums like Opesanka and Apetia and Dawuro excluding Tutu, the paramount drum which is sounded only when and if the Omanhene sits in state on special occasions.

LOCATION OF VUME TRADITIONAL AREA: The Traditional Area cuts across the whole of Tongu which has been currently demarcated into three poiitical districts namely : South Tongu, North Tongu and Central Tongu Districts.

Vume Dugame which has no surrounding village is located in South Tongu. Vume Torgorme with its surrounding villages is located in the North Tongu while Vume Kpoviadzi, Vume Srekpe, Gidikpoe No. 1 including their surrounding villages are located in the Central Tongu. As for Vume Gbeleme, it is located in the Akatsi North District but owes allegiance to the Akornor Stool.

OCCUPATION : The main occupation of the Vumes are farming, fishing and pottery. Pottery is made solely by the women.
ENSTOOLMENT : Having hailed from the Akornor Royal Family, Alexander Yao Tatra and having gone through the necessary traditional processes, was nominated, selected and customarily enstooled the Fiaga (Omanhene) of Vume Traditional Area on the Akornor Paramount Black Stool at Vume Dugame in 1960 and was dully gazetted as such in 1973. Vume remains a unique and an independent state.

The current Omanhene Torgbe Akornor II Fiaga  Of Vume Traditional Area has inherited the Black Stool, the original Dawuro, Trumpet / Horn Sword / Knife and other Regalia.

Source: Torgbe Akornor II Fiaga (Omanhene) of Vume Traditional Area