Africa, Ashanti & Azonto
The origins of the azonto can be found within the Ashanti people and their Kingdom (which now mainly resides in its respective region of Ghana).
It was said that somewhere in the 16th century a great chief by the name of Nana Azonto was walking through a jungle next to his village. Upon entering the humidity and being confronted by a swarm of insects, he began to pat himself down vigorously. As it has been noted by many anthropologists and historians, the Ashanti are a very rhythmic people. Nana Azonto managed to shield the insects and mosquito’s away from him by patting and moving his body with complex co-ordinated body movement.
Upon returning to his village, he showed the rest of them his technique. Over the following months this travelled through all the tribes in the Ashanti region. And this continued through oral history, up until the present day where this ritual is repeated by Ghanaians and many hip life musicians.
This is the way many Ghanaian’s like to show their respects to the great Nana Azonto. And the ritual has continued to be enjoyed by many Africans in the continent and also within the diaspora.
Reblog if you have Azonto in your heart.
This is such an amazing history. Azonto is truly a strong and tested tradition, reaching all the way into the 16th century. Long live the memory of the great Nana Azonto.
For all the true Nana Azonto disciples out there.
(via naijabarbie)
