The Sagrenti War, a notable conflict between the Ashanti Kingdom and the British in 1874, is often recounted from the Ashanti perspective. On February 8, 2024, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the war, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, reiterated the Ashanti viewpoint that the British, without any provocation from the Asantes, attacked the Ashanti Kingdom and looted artifacts worth over 2 billion pounds.
However, there is more to the story than the Ashanti narrative.
Everything Fante, a pro-Fante group, presents an alternative account involving a prominent Fante woman, Kate Efua Ketse Dawson, who played a pivotal role in the events leading to the war.
A pictorial impression of Kate Efua Ketse Dawson (Credit: everythingfante.org)
Kate Efua Ketse Dawson, a wealthy Fante woman renowned for her influence and generosity, is credited with saving the Fante Nation on multiple occasions.
One notable instance was when she single-handedly thwarted an impending Asante invasion by offering £486 worth of gold to the Asantehene, Nana Kofi Karikari.
According to the account, Nana Kofi Karikari had threatened to attack Cape Coast due to its lack of military strength. In response, Kate Dawson negotiated a payoff to prevent the invasion.
The Asantehene, obsessed with gold, was astounded by the substantial amount of gold Dawson presented, which averted the attack. This act earned her the title “Ebum,” meaning “The Breaker of the Asantehene’s Mighty Balance.”
In 1873, the Asantes, still demanding more gold, faced refusal from Dawson. Infuriated, Nana Kofi Karikari launched an attack on Cape Coast, leading to the Abakrampa War, where the Ashanti Kingdom suffered a significant defeat, losing over 20,000 men.
Following this defeat, the Asantes threatened the Fantes once again. In response, Kate Dawson mobilized six other Fante women to seek British support against the Ashanti. They offered a substantial amount of gold to the British to launch a military expedition.
This intervention led to the Sagrenti War of 1874, as detailed in G. A. Henty’s “The March to Coomassie (1874).” The war was effectively planned and financed by Kate Efua Ketse Dawson and her six prominent Fante allies, as described by Everything Fante.
Source: everythingfante.org
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