Tano Sacred Grove - Spiritual Heart of Bono

Sacred Tano River and ancestral forest grove

Bono Manso served as the capital of the powerful Bono State from approximately 1295 to 1740 CE. This UNESCO-recognized archaeological site reveals the sophisticated urban planning of medieval West Africa, with ruins of the royal palace, market areas, and burial grounds. The site was central to the trans-Saharan gold trade, with merchants traveling from North Africa to exchange salt, textiles, and Islamic goods for Bono gold. Archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery, beads, brass artifacts, and evidence of iron smelting, demonstrating the kingdom's technological advancement. The tragic history includes its role in the slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries, when Bono Manso became a collection point before captives were marched to coastal forts. Today, the site features interpretive centers explaining the kingdom's rise and fall, its political structures, and its lasting influence on Akan culture. Local guides, many descended from Bono royal families, share oral histories preserved for centuries. The annual Bono Manso Festival commemorates the kingdom's heritage and honors ancestors