Rich Culture Display At Asantehemaa’s Funeral

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

 

The second day of the four-day funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, was marked by a grand display of Ashanti tradition and culture at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Tuesday.

Chiefs and queens from various communities across Asanteman arrived in regal fashion, each under their distinctive umbrellas, accompanied by elders and retinues. Their entry was heralded with rich cultural expressions—some with Adowa and Kete dancers, others ushered in with the rhythmic beats of Fontomfrom and Kete drums—captivating the thousands of mourners gathered at the palace precinct.

Draped in traditional black and red mourning cloths, women observed the symbolic custom of removing earrings and necklaces, a mark of deep sorrow over the passing of the revered queen.

The highlight of the day came at exactly 12:55 p.m., when the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, made his majestic entrance. Gunshots signaled his arrival, as chiefs led the procession before the King, seated in his palanquin, appeared to rapturous cheers from the crowd. For many mourners, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I have also seen the Asantehene, King Solomon. This is the first time I have set eyes on him. Live long Otumfuo,” exclaimed an emotional Cynthia Awusi from Antoa Krobo in the Ashanti Region.

Unlike the first day, which featured traditional priests and priestesses performing rituals to pacify the grounds, the second day was dominated by cultural troupes whose performances showcased the vibrancy of Asanteman’s heritage.

According to the programme of events, the second day was dedicated to institutions and state bodies. Representatives from the Judiciary and the Ghana Bar Association, the security services—including the Ghana Armed Forces, Prison Service, Immigration, and Customs—alongside state-owned enterprises, financial institutions, public officers, and the general public, all took turns to pay their respects to the Asantehene and the royal household.

The funeral continues with more activities lined up to honour the memory of the late Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, whose legacy as Asantehemaa remains deeply etched in the hearts of her people.

FROM David Afum, Kumasi

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