Okomfo Anokye was born in Benyin,in West Nzema-Ghana, now called Jomoro, in the late 1600s. His father was Kaku Ackah from Benyin and his mother was Maame Nkobɛ from Anosuazo,
Anokye was named after his paternal Uncle Egya-Ano who was a fetish priest. The Nzema people called him Ano kye which means Ano Junior (in English).
The Ashanti and Denkyira, who were unable to pronounce his name, called him Anokye. He lived in Anosuazo near Atuabo East Nzema, where he began his priesthood. Anosuazo later became known as Anokye because of the priests frequent visitors. Okomfo Anokye later helped King Amakye, Kaku Ackah’s Uncle, to defeat the first Europeans who came to the coast of Nzemaland.
The Denkyira’s later heard of his wonders and requested his aid. Through Anokye’s help, the Denkyira’s successfully defeated the Ashanti’s. Osei Tutu, the King of the Ashanti at the time, requested Anokye’s aid. Anokye went to Osei Tutu’s aid in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Empire, with a group of his tribesmen and women. King Osei Tutu gave Anokye land to settle on after he helped them to defeat the Denkyira. The land given to Anokye to settle on was named Nzemaa right there in the Ashanti region.