THE GENESIS OF KUMERICA

The phenomenon of Kumerica and Kumerican started as far back as in the 1800s. It isn’t a phenomenon which just popped up yesterday or today. It has been in existence since 1800s. The idea that Kumasi people always want to behave as if they are the most important people in Ghana and Africa at large, is an innate characteristic. People from Kumasi have always dressed and behaved in a kind of self-esteemed and self-pride principles from the very day all the Asantes were united by Okomfo Anokye under the auspices of OTUMFOU OSEI TUTU I. The Asantes and Kumasi have lived in a kind of lifestyle full of luxury and bling. This lifestyle is typically portrayed by all chiefs and paramount chiefs, elders, and to crown it all is Otumfou, The King. How gold is used to dress the Occupant of the Golden Stool tells us our origin and lifestyle. A lifestyle or an origin born out of luxury, gold, bling, beauty and colour.

As early as those days, as I could remember in 1980s and 1990s, when people used to wear bling and glits of gold chains, diamond chains, silver chains, rings, earrings, necklace and wristlets to show off their wealth and good life in Kumasi especially in occasions like funerals and festivals. These Kumasi residents, or Kumasi natives naturally born to dress good, to look nice to impress even when they don’t have money. I remember those days we used to or people used to wear big clothes and big trousers called baggies, with chains all hanging around them with blings and shinning stuff.

Due to their royal lineage, they have always considered themselves to be the most important, proud and self-praised people. They talked with pride, confidence and swag even when what they are saying is not true. They will convince you to believe them. Believe it or not, every important phenomenon or infamous things are created and brought by them. No wonder they believe themselves that without them Ghana will not be Ghana. Asantes and the Kumasi people are the king-makers of Ghana. Majority of important projects, and things are done by them. And whether by the blessings of Godallah or not they perfectly lie at the centre of Ghana, and bridge the gap between the southern part of Ghana and the Northern part of Ghana. Asantes live on the land of gold, therefore royalty is for them. They are the heart of Ghana. Majority of the rich people in Ghana are from Kumasi and Asantes, by extension Akans. In terms of influence, they have command over virtually everything in Ghana and beyond. Not to talk of music, they are originators of hiplife, hilife, kete, adowa etc. Every good thing comes from there. There was a time, people were called Jay Rule, Eminem, 50 cent, 2Pac, or people used to say “stop being Jay Rule Jay Rule” or “stop Jay Rule Jay Rule things”. This was because in the 1980s and 1990s the Kumasi people dressed in baggies with gold chains and rings hanging around their necks, wrist and trousers; portraying the lifestyle of those black Americans.

Although in those days the term “Kumerica or Kumerican” was not used, but the concept of luxury lifestyle and display of wealth was with them by then. They were created and born into such lifestyle. Superstitiously, they are the very people in this world who were united by and with gold sent down from the heavens (that’s the Golden Stool), and which eventually became the unity spirit (unifying spirit) and soul of their very existence. Twi, the most easiest language in Ghana if not in the world, is spoken by them. It is the most dominant language use in Ghana for communication. Kente, a cloth which is a symbol of riches, good life and royalty is made by them and used by them. Interestingly, the Asantes are the most populous people in Ghana. People like Kwame Despite, Dr Kwaku Oteng, Sam Jonas …. . are from the same very people called Oseikromfou, the Asantes. Dress to impress was part of the Asantes and Kumasi in particular, so it was not something which started in 2020. You can’t talk of music and songs and ignore the Asantes, the Oseikromfou. How do you talk of hiplife without Yaw Asanti (aka Reggie Rockstone), King Sark, Obrafour, Lord Kenya, Okyeame Kwame etc; Adadamu without Ampado, Akwasi Ampofo Adjei, hiplife without Lumba, Amakye Dade, Kojo Antwi etc.

So the term “Kumerica” or “kumerican” came coincidentally at the time this phenomenon of dress to impress took a different level. This term was coined by these young Kumasi residents who believed that it is their turn to continue the legacy of dress to impress. There is no any other people who are so united and proud of themselves than the Asantes. Even on a sick bed or in their grave they will act to show their identity and self-esteem and pride. They’re naturally created differently in so many ways. It’s either you join them or you leave them because you can’t war with them. And the bond between them is stronger than Apartheid. I’m not just proud to be Asante or Oseikromni but I’m also overwhelmed by our identity, unity, strength, riches, royalty, resilience and hardworking. They are the very people who started trading (buying and selling) locally before the Europeans arrived in Ghana. They are the very people who fought with the Europeans first in Ghana. Even at the time of the independence of Ghana, the Asantes were still not ready to join Ghana as one nation, and wanted to live also as an independent nation.

Kumasi is the only city in Ghana with a city/state flag called Kumerica flag. Kumerica flag was adapted from the flag of the United States of America. It was adapted in the middle of 2020 by the youth of Kumasi who nicknamed themselves as Kumericans and called the city [Kumasi] as Kumerica. Popular among the founders of the Kumerica movement are Blaq Foreigner, Armani Sossa, Bra Benk (Bernard Benk), David Germain Portfolio MC (as the PRO), Zoro-King (as the President), Akatafuo group (Akata Boys), City Boys, Asakaa Group, Kwaku DMC, Kawabanga, Reggie, O’Kenneth, Jay Bahd, Prince of Kumasi, Ypee, Oseikrom Sikanii, Yaw Tog, Obey, GAK, Phaize, Phrimpong, and some groups of young  guys from Tafo, Krofrom, Ashtown, Santasi etc.

Some principal members include Archipalago, Hayford No-more-Walls, Kaakyire Y3dehye3 (KYD), OKYEAME KWAME, Flowking Stone, Nana Sei (Strongman Burner), Papa Kumasi, kweku Flick, Bigscout Nana Prempeh, King Paluta, Amerado Burner, Sister Sandy, Reggie Rockstone, Zion Felix, Cabum, Lilwin, Naby, and all Kumericans in Kumerica. As to who first exactly or officially designed or created the Kumerica flag is still unknown. It popped up on the social media in the middle of 2020. Again, who initially or first called himself or coined and brought the term (name) [Kumerica] is still unknown. It is believed to have been coined by or brought by some groups of those young guys I mentioned above. Some Kumericans believe the very group of people who coined and brought the name Kumerica are Blaq Foreigner and Armani Sossa.