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Ghana's Living History: A Tree's 13th Century Secret
2 May
Summary
- An ancient tree guided ancestors to settle in Ghana centuries ago.
- The tree, named Santseo, was planted by spiritual leader Nana Asumbia.
- Its survival determined the ancestral group's final settlement location.
In the Ghanaian town of Apam, an ancient tree named Santseo serves as a living testament to centuries of history. Oral traditions recount that the tree was planted in the 13th century by Nana Asumbia, a royal and spiritual leader, during her group's westward migration from Akwamufie.
This hardy Piliostigma thonningii sapling was used as a marker to find a suitable settlement. The travellers would plant a seedling, and its ability to take root signified that the location was meant for them.
Their journey involved several stops, including what is now Accra, where a planted tree survived. However, a later attempt near Gomoa Buduburam failed. The group finally settled in Apam after a sapling planted at the site of a wounded elephant's death took root.
Santseo now stands between Fort Patience, a Dutch trading post built in 1697, and the Apam Methodist Church. This living marker predates both, offering a unique glimpse into pre-colonial African history and the resilience of its people.
