ɔkyeame

Speaking Through the Ɔkyeame

Level 6

Speaker → ɔkyeame → chief, and back: Ɔkyeame, ka kyerɛ Nana sɛ ... (Okyeame, tell Nana that ...), Nana se ... (Nana says ...).

How It Works

1. Who the ɔkyeame is
The ɔkyeame (plural akyeame) is the spokesperson, adviser and diplomat of a chief or queen mother. He carries a carved staff, the ɔkyeame poma, whose top often shows a proverb. The head of a court's akyeame is the akyeamehene.

2. Talking to the chief
Address the ɔkyeame and name the chief as the one who should hear, using ka kyerɛ (see Tell: ka kyerɛ): Ɔkyeame, ka kyerɛ Nana sɛ ... (Okyeame, tell Nana that ...). A traditional relay line is Ɔkyeame, tie ma ɛnto Nana sɛ ... (Okyeame, listen, and let it reach Nana that ...), with the optative ɛnto (let it reach) from Let and May: The Optative.

3. The chief's words coming back
The ɔkyeame reports with se (says; see Say: ka and se), for example Nana se ɔma mo akwaaba (Nana says he welcomes you). He may repeat the words exactly, restate them more beautifully, or simply confirm that they are true.

4. Style
Akyeame are known for rich speech: Proverbs: ɛbɛ, Appellations and Praise Names and careful titles, as in Royal Titles: Otumfoɔ, Nana. Softening hard words is part of the job.

5. Beyond the palace
The same go-between style appears at funerals, marriage talks and family meetings, where each side may speak through its own spokesperson. Knowing it helps you follow Opening a Formal Speech and Addressing People Respectfully.

Examples (6)

  1. Ɔkyeame, ka kyerɛ Nana sɛ yɛaba.

    Okyeame, tell Nana that we have come.

  2. Ɔkyeame, tie ma ɛnto Nana sɛ yɛaba.

    Okyeame, listen, and let it reach Nana that we have come.

    A traditional relay formula recorded in studies of Akan royal speech; the message follows sɛ (that).

  3. Nana se ɔma mo akwaaba.

    Nana says he welcomes you.

    The ɔkyeame reports the chief's words with se (says).

  4. Ɔkyeame no buu bɛ.

    The okyeame used a proverb.

  5. Ɔkyeame no kura ne poma.

    The okyeame is holding his staff.

  6. Akyeame no gyina Nana nkyɛn.

    The spokespeople are standing beside Nana.

    Akyeame is the plural of ɔkyeame.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing sɛ (that) where the verb se (says) is needed.

    Nana sɛ ɔma mo akwaaba.
    Nana se ɔma mo akwaaba.

    Se is the verb says; sɛ is only the linking word that. Without se the sentence has no verb. With another verb, use sɛ: Nana kaa sɛ ɔma mo akwaaba.

How It Connects

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

ɔkyeameLevel 6Speaking Through the Ɔkyeame

Learn This First

The ɔkyeame builds on respectful address.

Words in This Pattern

ɔkyeame