Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🗺️

Kumasi

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Kumasi is a large and busy city in Ghana.

ISS016-E-15122 - View of Ghana
ISS016-E-15122 - View of Ghana

It sits in the Ashanti Region near a lush rain forest. The city is close to the waters of Lake Bosomtwe. It is the second largest city in the whole country.

Kumasi900
Kumasi900

Many people live there, with a population of 443,981 in the city itself. The wider metropolitan area is even larger, with over three million people. It is a place where many different groups live together. The Asante are the largest group, but many Ewe and Mole-Dagbon people live there too.

Life in Kumasi is full of movement and trade.

WLA27
WLA27

The city is a major hub for business and money. It is home to the Kejetia Market, which is the biggest market in West Africa. This market has more than 10,000 different stores and stalls. Kumasi is also very important for the timber industry. In fact, half of all timber processing in Ghana happens right here.

Railway Station Kumasi 2005
Railway Station Kumasi 2005

You might even see the Kumawood film industry making local stories. These films are often made in the Twi language.

The history of Kumasi goes back a very long time.

BOWDICH(1819) p364 PLATE 11 - SKETCH OF COOMASSIE
BOWDICH(1819) p364 PLATE 11 - SKETCH OF COOMASSIE

It was founded in the 1680s by Osei Kofi Tutu I. At that time, it was the capital of the mighty Asante Empire. The name Kumasi comes from the Twi word Kumase. This means "under the kum tree."

BOWDICH(1819) p344 PLATE 9 - COOMASSIE, PART OF ADAM STREET
BOWDICH(1819) p344 PLATE 9 - COOMASSIE, PART OF ADAM STREET

Some stories say a leader named Okomfo Anokye planted the seeds. Legend says he even received a golden stool here. This stool is a very special symbol for the nation.

Over the years, the city has changed many times.

Burning of Coomassie (Kumasi)
Burning of Coomassie (Kumasi)

In 1874, parts of the city were burnt during a war. Later, the British took over the area in 1896. This led to many new things like roads and railways.

Kumasi international airport
Kumasi international airport

After Ghana became independent in 1957, Kumasi became the capital of the Ashanti Region. Today, the city has many important places like the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

It also has the Wesley College of Education.

Many people call Kumasi "The Garden City."

Halabi house in Kumasi - panoramio
Halabi house in Kumasi - panoramio

This name comes from a plan made in 1945. It is also because the city has so many beautiful gardens. The weather here is tropical and warm. There are two rainy seasons that happen every year. The first major rainy season is from March to July.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 20th anniversary celebration 3
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 20th anniversary celebration 3

The second minor rainy season is from September to November. It is a place filled with green trees and history.

403 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:BOWDICH(1819) p344 PLATE 9 - COOMASSIE, PART OF ADAM STREET.jpg
BOWDICH(1819) p344 PLATE 9 - COOMASSIE,...
File:BOWDICH(1819) p364 PLATE 11 - SKETCH OF COOMASSIE.jpg
BOWDICH(1819) p364 PLATE 11 - SKETCH OF...
File:Burning of Coomassie (Kumasi).png
Burning of Coomassie (Kumasi).png
File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-37-39.jpg
The National Archives UK - CO 1069-37-39.jpg
File:ISS016-E-15122 - View of Ghana.jpg
ISS016-E-15122 - View of Ghana.jpg
File:Halabi house in Kumasi - panoramio.jpg
Halabi house in Kumasi - panoramio.jpg
File:Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 20th anniversary celebration 3.jpg
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 20th anniversary...
File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-46-55-1-001.jpg
The National Archives UK - CO 1069-46-55-1-001.jpg
File:Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – Side view of the College of Architecture and Planning.JPG
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and...
File:Kumasi900.JPG
Kumasi900.JPG
File:Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.jpg
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.jpg
File:St Peter's Cathedral Basilica Kumasi (4).jpg
St Peter's Cathedral Basilica Kumasi (4).jpg

+ 3 more

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.