In a recent episode of Africa’s LSP Podcast, Ebenezer Kobinah Offen, a Fante teacher and translator shared insights about the Fante language. According to Ebenezer, the word ‘Fante’ derived its roots from two words ‘Fan’ meaning half and ‘Tsew ‘ meaning to tear or divide, thus together it is known as Fantsew (the half that has been divided). However, because the other Akan speakers could not say Fantsew, the language became known as ‘Fante’, (also known as Fanti, Fantse or Mfantse). Fante is part of the Akan group of languages.
Fante is spoken in Ghana and other parts of Africa
The native speakers of Fante are mainly located in the Central Region of Ghana. The Western Region of Ghana as well as Western-North have a substantial number of the population being native Fante speakers. All other parts of Ghana have Fante speakers just as other Akan languages. Gambia, Liberia and Angola are some African countries with Fante speakers.
According to the 2020 Population and Housing Census of Ghana, there are 6 million speakers of the Fante language. They form 13% of the Akan population.
Fante is the only variety of the Akan language that has words ending with consonants. The other varieties like Asante Twi, Akuapem Twi, Bono Twi and Ahanta Twi do not have this characteristic. Ebenezer further touched on the Phonological and Phonetic features of the Fante language including its vowel harmony.
Listen to the full episode HERE and other amazing conversations on African languages.
