On the hunt for adventure at
Lake Bosomtwe Whether you believe it was formed by a crash-landing meteorite or the wishes of a water goddess, Lake Bosomtwe is a magical place. Adventurer Selorm Ernest Sosu meets the people who call it home.
I
have heard many stories about
My interaction with some elders in
Lake Bosomtwe so I took a trip
the community revealed that the lake
to Banso and Appau – two of the
is seen as a very sacred place to the
sacred, ancient towns that surround
Ashanti people who live in the area. It
the lake – to satisfy my curiosity.
was considered taboo to use a regular
My journey started in Kumasi
metal or iron to touch the surface of
Muruntuo. From here I set out on
the lake and today fishermen on the
foot. Few motorists take this undulat-
lake, which is filled with tropical tilapia,
ing road, which rises in height before
use a very unusual type of boat.
descending to the lake and ending at Banso. Descending from the hills on foot
The craft are little more than a
SACRED PLACE Lake Bosomtwe
season to appeal to the gods to protect them. Some of the people here are converted Christians, though
plank of wood, which the fishermen
many continue to seek traditional help
sit on top of while using plates or
in bad times or against diseases.
for a walk of about 25 minutes reveals
just their hands as makeshift oars to
beautiful views of Lake Bosomtwe.
propel themselves. However, these
Origin story
It is the largest natural lake in West
days there are a couple of modern
Among the most interesting of the
Africa and is filled mainly by rainwater.
boats that traverse the lake.
traditional beliefs among these
During the rainy season, three main
The water level of the lake contin-
welcoming communities concerns the
water bodies serve as sources: the
ues to rise, meaning over the years
origins of Lake Bosomtwe itself. The
river Ebor, lying between the town of
lakeside villages have had to keep
name ‘’Bosomtwe means ‘Antelope
Abono and Adwarfu; Abriwa, located
moving up the hillside. Visitors will
God’ and it is said that the lake was
between Banwuso and Appau and
notice that many of the villages are
discovered by an Ashanti hunter who,
the third, Kantakyi, located between
named with numerical suffixes that
in 1648, was chasing an antelope that
Agyaman and Bruokwa.
reveal how many times they have
disappeared into the lake.
Lake legend
had to relocate on higher ground.
The hunter was named Akora
More clues to the rising water
Bompe and he was a native of Kokofu
How the lake got here is still unclear.
levels are the numerous tree trunks
Many geologist and researchers from
growing in the lake, some of them
all over the world have visited this
more than 300 years old. When it
beautiful natural lake surrounded by
was smaller, Lake Bosomtwe used to
green vegetation and mountains in an
have 30 villages surrounding it, but
to hunt. It was Akwasidae, the
effort to discover its origins.
now there are just 23 with the rest
scared 40th day on the Ashanti
swallowed up by water.
traditional calendar, when nobody
Lake Bosomtwe’s surrounding looks like a crater, suggesting it may
36
dugout canoe or for any form of
and continued through Bekwai to
Each village has its own fetish grove
NATURAL BEAUTY The lake at dawn
Asaaman, one of the earliest Ashanti settlements. He and his dog, Daakyi (future), were on the trail of game. It was a strange day to choose
is supposed to go hunting, but
have been caused by an explosion or
or shrine and rituals are performed
instead attends a festival to honour
the impact of a meteorite.
during the intense rainfall of the wet
the gods of the land.
