10/09/2025
Remembering Nana Asantehemaa
Asantehemaa mmodwoafoɔ dancing to the tipre ne Amoakwa.
History of Tipre ne Amoakwa
Within the grandeur of the Asante court, the Asantehemaa—queen mother of Asanteman—was not only revered for her political and spiritual authority but also celebrated with the pomp of unique regalia and musical traditions. Among these stood Tipre ne Amoakwa, a distinguished ensemble created by the king for the queen mother, which became part of her ceremonial procession.
The ensemble is remarkable in its composition, blending drums and percussion (Tipre) with a wide range of ivory trumpets (Amoakwa, Nkrawobɛn, Mɔdwemɔdwe, and Patuda). Nkrawobɛn, for instance, derived its name from the red felt (nkrawoɔ) that covers the trumpet—its ahyɛnso, or identifying marker. Each of these trumpet groups had its own leader—Amoakwahene, Nkrawobɛnhene, Mɔdwemɔdwehene, and Patudahene—and the villages where they settled were named after their instruments, demonstrating how deeply embedded they became in the cultural and geographic landscape of Asanteman.
Unlike the Ntahera, Kɔkroanya, Nkofe, and Nkɔntwema ensembles, which were martial and tied to the Asantehene’s court, Tipre ne Amoakwa specialized in dance music. Their rhythms inspired choreographed responses from the Asantehemaa herself, the royal women, and the Mmɔdwoafoɔ (maidens of the queen mother’s court). In times of war, while the king’s ensembles marched with the Asante army, Tipre ne Amoakwa remained with the Asantehemaa, accompanying the women of the royal household in singing mmommome—songs of exhilaration and resilience.
Historically, their journey to Kumase is tied to the fall of Ntim Gyakari of Denkyira. With his defeat, Tipre lost its patron and wandered without a permanent home. After years of roaming, they finally found refuge in Kumase during the reign of Asantehene Kwaku Dua I (1834–1867). When they were presented before the king, they performed so impressively that they were accepted into the royal household. Tradition recalls their leader’s words: “Agorɔ yi, me srɛ na mede ato Tipre; me de apre me ti”—“This performance has saved my head, and I name my group Tipre.”
Originally settled at Pramaso (the present site of the Kumase Traditional Council offices), their large numbers soon required relocation to Tanoso, which became known as Tipre Tanoso. From there, Tipre ne Amoakwa continued to serve the Asantehemaa, their music and symbolism inseparably tied to the dignity of the queen mother’s court.
Thus, Tipre ne Amoakwa is not merely an ensemble, but a living archive of Asante history—its rhythms echoing resilience, its trumpets heralding majesty, and its presence affirming the Asantehemaa’s role as the cultural heartbeat of the royal household
