Otumfoɔ / Nana

Royal Titles: Otumfoɔ, Nana

Level 6

Put the title first: Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II for the Asantehene, Nana for a chief or queen mother: Nana, mema wo akye (Good morning, Nana).

How It Works

1. Otumfoɔ
Otumfoɔ (the Powerful One) is built from tumi (power) and -foɔ (person). Among rulers, it belongs only to the Asantehene: Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II. Otumfoɔ is also a name for God, the Almighty. English-language news spells it Otumfuo. On its own, Otumfoɔ means the king: Otumfoɔ aba (The Asantehene has arrived). It is the highest title, so it stands first. His full style is Otumfoɔ Nana Osei Tutu II, and some tradition keepers say Nana should never go in front of Otumfoɔ.

2. Nana
Nana is the title of chiefs and queen mothers: Nana Boakye, Nana Yaa Asantewaa (the Queen Mother of Ejisu who led the 1900 war against the British). It is also the word you use to speak to them: Nana, mema wo akye. The same word means grandparent, and it is used for any respected elder; see respectful address. With -nom it becomes nananom: chiefs, elders or forefathers.

3. Title first
The title always comes before the name. After a name, nana is read as an owned noun, because in possessor + noun the owner comes first: Boakye nana means Boakye's grandchild. So Otumfoɔ nana ne me means I am Otumfoɔ's grandchild, a proud way for an Asante person to speak of the king.

4. Office names
Office names built with -hene can go in front of the title: Asantehene Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II. A queen mother's office ends in -hemaa: Asantehemaa (the Queen Mother of Asante). Many rulers are also praised with appellations.

5. Speaking to royalty
Never call a chief by a bare name. In a formal speech, greet Nana first, before everyone else; see formal speech openings. At court, speech to a chief often passes through the ɔkyeame.

Examples (6)

  1. Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II bɛba ha ɔkyena.

    Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II will come here tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Powerful-One Osei Tutu II will-come here tomorrow

    The title comes before the name.

  2. Otumfoɔ aba.

    The Asantehene has arrived.

    Word by Word: Powerful-One has-come

    Otumfoɔ alone names the king. No other ruler is called this.

  3. Nana, mema wo akye.

    Good morning, Nana.

    Word by Word: Nana, I-give you morning

    Said to a chief, a queen mother or an elder.

  4. Nana Boakye ne yɛn ɔhene.

    Nana Boakye is our chief.

    Word by Word: Nana Boakye is our chief

    Nana goes before the chief's name.

  5. Nananom no atena ase.

    The chiefs have sat down.

    Word by Word: chiefs the have-sat down

    Nana takes -nom in the plural.

  6. Otumfoɔ nana ne me.

    I am Otumfoɔ's grandchild.

    Word by Word: Otumfoɔ grandchild is me

    Here nana comes after the owner, so it means grandchild.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting Nana after the name.

    Boakye Nana, mema wo akye.
    Nana Boakye, mema wo akye.

    After a name, nana is read as an owned noun: Boakye nana means Boakye's grandchild. The title must come first.

  • Calling an ordinary chief Otumfoɔ.

    Otumfoɔ Boakye aba.
    Nana Boakye aba.

    Among rulers, Otumfoɔ belongs only to the Asantehene. Other chiefs are called Nana.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Otumfoɔ / NanaLevel 6Royal Titles: Otumfoɔ, Nana

Learn This First

Royal titles build on chiefly names and respectful address.

Words in This Pattern

nana