Fante or Mfantse are part of the Akan ethnic group located in South Ghana in the west Africa sub Region. The Fante people are mainly located in the Central and Western coastal regions of Ghana. Over the last half century, due to fishing expeditions, Fante communities are found as far as Gambia, Liberia and even Angola. Major Fante cities in modern Ghana include Kasoa, Winneba, Agona Swedru, Tarkwa, Oguaa (Cape Coast), Edina (Elmina), Mankessim, Sekondi and Takoradi.Gambia, Liberia and even Angola. Major Fante cities in modern Ghana include Kasoa, Winneba, Agona Swedru, Tarkwa, Oguaa (Cape Coast), Edina (Elmina), Mankessim, Sekondi and Takoradi.
Talking about the fante language, it is an Independent language with different dialects spoken across the region (Agona Mfantse, Gomoa Mfantse, Ekumfi Mfantse, Eyan Mfantse, Ajumako Mfantse, Asikuma/Breman Mfantse, Oguaa Mfantse, Nkusukum Mfantse etc). However, there is only one approved written and learned dialect of this language. The Mfantsi language is a mixture of Etsi and Bono. That’s why we say “Bɔrbɔr bɛto etsi, Esti fri tsitsi” meaning, Bɔrbɔr (Group from Techiman) came to meet Etsi (Indigenous inhabitants of Mankessim at that time), etsi is from ancient days. These are some of the well known spoken dialects;
1. Mankessim/Nkusukum Mfantse: This dialect is spoken by the people of Mankessim, Saltpond, Anomabo and their surrounding towns. It is also the approved learned and written dialect of the Fante Language. The first Fante bible was written using this version.
2. Oguaa/Edina (Cape Coast/Elmina) Mfantse: This dialect is spoken by the people of Cape Coast, Elmina, Ekon, Moree, Eguafo, Komenda and their surrounding areas. There’s not much difference between this dialect and Mankessim/Nkusukum dialect. The Fante Methodist Hymns Book is written in Cape Coast Mfantse
3. Abora Mfantse: Spoken by the people of Asebu, Abura Dunkwa, Abakrampa, Edumfa and their surrounding towns. There’s some difference in pronunciations of some words and their tones in this type of dialect compared to others.
4. Gomoa Mfantse: Spoken by the people of Gomoa Ojobi, Fetteh, Krakraba, Apam and all Gomoa towns. There’s some difference between this type of dialect compared to Cape Coast or Mankessim Fante.
5. Agona Mfantse: Spoken mainly by the people of Nyakrom, Swedru, Abodom, Nsaba and their surrounding towns. There’s some difference between this dialect and the ones spoken in Cape Coast or Mankessim. This dialect is mostly spoken by Kwaw Kese.