Kumasi
/kuːˈmɑː.si/noun
Kumasi is a major city in Ghana and the historic capital of the Asante Kingdom.
Did you know?Kumasi became the royal capital of the Asante Empire, whose golden regalia and sacred traditions centered on the spiritual authority of the Golden Stool.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Akan
kum ase
“A traditional interpretation meaning “under the kum tree,” referring to a tree associated with the site.”
17th–18th Century
Twi
Kumasi
“The established name of the Asante royal settlement in the forest region.”
18th Century
English
Coomassie
“An older English spelling used by European writers for the Asante capital.”
19th Century
English
Kumasi
“The modern standardized English form of the city’s name.”