Akan culture has been in America since African people were enslaved by Europeans and brought to the Americas. The culture was maintained by adapting to the times based on the circumstances. This can be seen in the language and culture of the African Diaspora. For example, in the naming of the children or in funeral rites.

Akom Kese was born out of the Akan Culture presented by Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu I. Who in the late 80’s and 90’s organized weekend long conferences at Howard University. These conferences focused on the tenets of Akan culture. Namely, the naming ceremony, puberty rites, marriage, and funeral rites. In addition to providing a venue to rekindle friendships and family ties.

An Akom is a spiritual gathering of the community were the gods and ancestors are invited to commune with man. Akom is a Twi word that means “to posse” and kese is a twi word for big. So literally Akom Kese is “the big possession.”

Twenty-five years later, Okomfo Dr. Kwesi Amoa longed for the atmosphere that a Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu I first established. He thought long and hard of how to recreate the magic of Nana Dinizulu and decided to organize “Akom Kese”. The vision was to create a group of people who would carry this mission.

In 2013, Okomfo Dr. Amoa began having individual conversations with community members about Akom Kese. During these conversations he sought to assess the demand and wishes of the community.

In 2015, Okomfo Dr. Amoa organized the initial planning committee. This committee was comprised of himself, Okomfo Akosua Baakan, Okomfo Afua Ababio and Okomfo Fofie Abaogyewa. The intent was to resume a conference that was dedicated to teaching the community in the Americas about Akan culture. He specifically choose the word “Akom” to describe the gathering because many of the shrines that have since come to America are not of Akan origin and the term “Akom” is more universally applicable.

The planning committee convened in 2015. Subsequently formal presentations were made to the major Akan shrine houses requesting their participation and explaining the intent of such gathering.

The first Akom Kese was in 2016 at Roy Wilkins Park; New York City.  It also coincided with the 45th anniversary of Akan’s in America. The event was a beautiful occasion and was attended and supported by Onipa Abusia, Banafo Bsonsumfie, The Temple of Nyame, Spirit Central, ASUO, Circle of Light, Adade Kofi Shrine House, and Obatampa Abosumfie.

In 2017, the conference was held in Washington, DC area. This conferenced focused on hearing the vision of the elders for the Akan culture for the next 50 years.   Guest speakers were Nana Ansaa Atei, Nana Kwesi Agyeman, Nifahene of Akans in America, and Nana Adzua Opare, Okomfohene, Onipa Abusia. The event was well attended and provided a time to for our Akan nation connect and re-connect. In addition to listening to the vision of the elders, the priests came together and created an agreement for their standards of behavior.

In 2018, the format of the conference changed from a one-day conference to three-days. This allowed for greater interaction among participants. It was also hosted in Wilmington DE, as this was a destination that was midway between two of the cities that had biggest Akan communities (Washington, DC and New York, NY).  During this conference, the guest speaker was Dr. Kwasi Konadu, who presented on the connection of Akan people to the United States. As a powerful accompaniment to the previous conference and its focus on eldership, a platform was instituted for the young people to have a voice to express their concerns to the community. Sessions were also conducted on songs and protocol.

2018 also marked the official incorporation of the Akom Kese Planning Committee as a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. This was a very crucial step in the committees work because it was the beginning of an official structure of the organization. This included the implantation of its with rules and bylaws. Okomfo Dr. Kwesi Amoa was elected as the President/Executive Director. Okomfo Akosua Yiseral was elected as the Vice-President. Mrs. Andrea A. Amoa was elected as the Treasurer. Okomfo Dr. Angela Tano McMillians was elected as the secretary.  Nana Asamoah Sarpong, Okomfo Efua Sloan, Okyeame, Wofa Y. Tyus, and Nana Ama Willock were installed as a board members.

In 2019, the conference, again, was held in Wilmington, DE, with an eye on understanding and determining the role of eldership.  There were also important sessions on the creation and maintenance of ancestral alters, relationships, and issues that were unique to men and issues that were unique to women. This conference also marked the first time a symbolic ritual was conducted from elders to young people.

In 2020 and 2021 due to the restrictions that were imposed throughout the country in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the conferences were held virtually.

In 2022, we convened our conference in Miami, FL. In 2023, we gathered and had a great time in Richmond, VA. This year, we will convene in the Washington, DC region. We are pleased to welcome our community to our conference (Friday, August 2, 2024 to Sunday, August 4, 2024).  Register today. We look forward to a powerful conference and to your attendance.