Asante would seem to be requesting more from the British than just gold artefacts, since it has been discovered that the treasures looted in Kumasi during the Sagrenti War of 1874 were more than just artefacts.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at a symposium held on February 6, 2024, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Sagrenti War of 1874, Prof. Tom McCaskie, Head of Birmingham University’s Center of West African Studies, emphasized that gold dust was among the spoils.
He claims that, although it is an underappreciated aspect of Asante history, it is still important to pay attention to.
He stated that a substantial amount of wealth amassed by Nana Kwaku Dua, the predecessor of Asantehene Kofi Karikari All of us were lost in the loot, and Kumasi was reduced to ashes.
Kwaku Dua was an Asante law enforcer who took great pride in his work. During the process, he amassed a substantial amount of wealth, mostly in the form of gold dust but also in other items and species.
The historian expounded on the aforementioned gold, stating that it was stored in three distinct locations in Kumasi, namely Aburaso, Breman, and Kumasi. It was subsequently bequeathed to Kofi Karikari upon Nana Dua’s death in 1867.
At Kwaku Dua’s passing, Adakakese alone had more than 400,000 ounces of gold in it. This was valued at 1.2 million pounds sterling in 1867. The Adakakase is currently worth more than two billion pounds. He also brought up the fact that there is not a single mention of the money in any war history.
“The attempt to recover the treasures that Garnet Wolseley stole from Kumasi in 1874 does not consider—and is unable to consider—the gold or gold dust that the British must have taken with them. Since it was loot—private loot—and unrelated to the cultural artifacts Otumfuo is attempting to recover for Asanteman, we are unaware of this.
This implies that the Kingdom may be prepared to demand more from the British than just artifacts. In his speech, Dr. McCaskie urged the Kingdom to retaliate for all that it rightfully deserves.
