Akan, a. and n.
(ˈɑːkən)
Forms: 7 Arcanys, 8 Acanni, Acanny, -s, 9– Akan.
[Native name.]
The name of a group of Negro peoples inhabiting Ghana and neighbouring regions of West Africa, and of their group of languages.
| 1694 T. Phillips in Coll. of Voyages & Travels (1732) VI. 224/2 The Arcanys, who are the best traders to our ships and castles, and have the purest gold, are an inland people. 1705 tr. W. Bosman's New Descr. Guinea vi. 77 Next..we come..to the description of Acanny, whose Inhabitants..were famed for great Traders... And that which they vended was always so pure and fine, that to this day the best Gold is called by the Negroes, Acanni Sica, or Acanny Gold. 1897 J. M. Sarbah Fanti Customary Laws i. 2 The Akan language is nevertheless the parent language—the language of diplomacy and courtiers. Ibid. 3 The words ‘Akan’ (Akanfu) arose probably from the way the Mfantsifu referred to those who remained at Takieman. The word Akan to our mind means a remnant. 1923 R. S. Rattray Ashanti ix. 113 The Brong are, in my opinion, undoubtedly a branch of the Akan stock, to which the Ashanti and the Fanti belong. |