Nsa agudeɛ (prestige bracelet),

late 19th–20th century

Since the fifteenth-century formation of Akan states, rulers known as ↄmanhene or asantehene have announced their power, displayed wealth, and deflected evil by wearing ahentadeɛ (gold regalia). The ahenkyɛ is the most common Asante crown. The ovals and triangles form a musuyideε (cross) that protects the wearer. A pendant, which resembles triangular asansatoↄ (hawk tails), is carved with patterns and covered in gold leaf to emulate protective gold amulets containing Qu’ranic verses that arrived via trans-Saharan trade routes. It was worn to obtain protection, but not necessarily to indicate Muslim faith. Rings exclusively adorned the fingers of chiefs, who often placed two or more on each hand. Solid or gold-leaf bracelets, however, ornamented both chiefs and the queen mother.

Other adornments symbolized rank and prestige for members of the royal retinue. The Ↄkyeame poma (staff of office) derived from silver-topped European canes introduced in the seventeenth century. Once held by the chief, they are now the insignia of office for the chiefs’ counselors and spokespeople. Their carved finials frequently refer to proverbs with deliberately ambiguous meanings. The carving on this staff possibly means, “When the vulture gives the hyena advice, he heeds it,” alluding to a mutual understanding between like-minded individuals.