The ‘mysterious’ story of how a Mamponghene turned into a cat to evade capture by Asantehene’s forces

A fascinating episode from Asante history tells the mysterious story of Nana Owusu Sekyere Panin, a former Mamponghene known for his supposed supernatural powers. This story, documented by scholars Robert S. Rattray and Ivor Wilks, blends history with rich oral tradition and elements of the mystical.

Nana Owusu Sekyere Panin was believed to have possessed strong spiritual powers, and this made him feel invincible—even toward the Asantehene, Osei Kwame. His bold defiance and lack of respect for the king reportedly caused serious tension at the time.

To deal with his insubordination, Asantehene Osei Kwame stirred rebellion among some of the towns under Mampong’s control—namely Gyamase, Afidwase, and Edwera—encouraging them to turn against Nana Sekyere. The situation escalated, and Osei Kwame sent a powerful warrior, Ankaasehene Yaw-Amoa Ponko, to lead an attack against the defiant chief.

Faced with defeat, Nana Sekyere fled to Yeji in the Bono East Region. But what happened next is what makes the tale legendary. According to oral accounts, he was last seen vanishing into a cave after transforming into a cat—an act believed to be possible due to his mystical powers.

In his book Ashanti, Scottish anthropologist R.S. Rattray noted that while Nana Sekyere was known as a powerful magician (wa bin), the story of him turning into a cat may have been a metaphor. Rattray wrote:

“The Stool now passed again to the Tana branch, being given to Owusu Sekyere Panyin. He was a magician (wa bin). [The events of his time are obscured in a haze of myth, probably created to hide real events distasteful to his successors.] When Jamasi and Effiduase, who had rebelled, chased him to Yegi, he turned into a cat. He finally disappeared by entering a hole in the rock near Bohen (known as Boakora Bom). His drums and nahera horns are still sometimes heard on an Adae.”

This mystical escape, where he supposedly disappeared through a rock hole at Boakora Bom, adds to the intrigue of his legacy. To this day, locals say his royal drums and nahera horns can still be heard during sacred days (Adae), further embedding the story into Asante spiritual and cultural memory.

The oral tradition even compares Nana Sekyere’s escape to that of the Tafohene, Safo Akonton, who is said to have transformed into a cricket (akatakyire) to avoid being captured by Nana Osei Tutu I during a military invasion.

These stories reflect the Asante people’s tradition of blending historical facts with spiritual symbolism. Nana Owusu Sekyere Panin’s tale, like many others in Asante lore, remains a powerful symbol of the cultural depth and mystical heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom.