Home - 'He spun in fire without burning' – 102-year-old woman recounts Okomfo Anokye's childhood

A 102-year-old woman who grew up in the same community as the legendary traditional priest, Okomfo Anokye, credited with playing a key role in the formation of the Asante Kingdom, has recounted stories about his childhood, offering a rare glimpse into his early life.

In a video shared on social media by Ghana Nation Media on November 4, 2026, the centenarian narrated stories about Anokye's birth, unusual childhood experiences, extraordinary abilities and mysterious disappearance.

FLASHBACK: The story behind Komfo Anokye and his Ewe twin brother

According to her, Anokye was born holding a fly-whisk, and his ancestry could be traced to Asante Agona.

She recalled that even as a child, he displayed abilities that distinguished him from other children.

"Whenever he went to the farm with his mother, he could spin in the middle of a fire without being burnt," she recalled.

The woman also narrated that on one occasion, Anokye planted plantain, which became ripe on the same day, allowing people to harvest it.

"He planted plantain and it was harvested the same day," she recalled.

According to the centenarian, Anokye declared that he was going away to find a remedy for death but never returned.

"He said he was going to look for a cure for death, but he never returned," the centenarian recounted.

His disappearance remains one of the mysteries surrounding his life and forms part of the oral traditions passed down through generations in Asante.

Anokye is widely remembered for his association with Asantehene Osei Tutu I and the Golden Stool, the sacred symbol of Asante unity and authority.

Oral tradition credits him with summoning the Golden Stool from the heavens to establish the spiritual foundation of the Asante Kingdom and affirm Osei Tutu's position as its first king.

He is also associated with several extraordinary accounts, including redirecting rivers, performing miraculous cures and demonstrating supernatural control over nature.

He is said to have planted a sword in the ground at the site of what is now the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. The sword remains firmly embedded in the ground, with tradition holding that removing it would bring disaster upon the Asante Kingdom.

His name is also linked to Awukugua, where items attributed to him, including sandals and a stone slab bearing an Oware game, are found.

See the video below:

A 102-year-old blind woman narrates the life, legendary miracles and mysterious disappearance of the renowned traditional figure, Komfo Anokye, who is said to have vanished and never returned. https://t.co/x9PLcFEJU8— GHANA NATION MEDIA 🇬🇭 (@Ghana_Nation1) November 3, 2026

JKB/BAI

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