Asantehene receives consecrated Black Stool

Kumasi, March 26, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Saturday appeared in public bedecked with gold ornaments for the first time, since his enstoolment about a year ago.

He wore a white cloth with Adinkra motifs, had a gold-plated lace on his shoulder and gold rings on his fingers. The Asantehene sat in state at Bogyawe, Manhyia Palace, to receive the consecrated Black Stool of his predecessor Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the Golden Stool.

The Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II clad in a yellow silken cloth with white over-cloth arrived at the funeral grounds followed by the female members of the royalty of the Asante Oyoko clan.

The Werempehene, who is also the chief of Manso-Mim in the Amansie West District, on Friday night, consecrated the Black Stool at a secret place while the Bantamahene, Denyasehene, Anantahene and Dadiesoabahene, all divisional chiefs, stood on guard.

The consecration was to exorcise the spirit of Otumfuo Opoku Ware from all the gold ornament he used during his lifetime to inhabit the Black Stool, which became his permanent memorial, so that his successor could make use of them.

The durbar at Bogyawe was to welcome the Golden Stool, the newly consecrated Black Stool and all the other Black Stools in the Stool House. A long queue of the black stools escorted by the Bantamahene, Denyasehene, Anantahene and Saamanhene arrived at Bogyawe amidst musketry and the throbbing of drums and were presented to Otumfuo Osei Tutu.

As the black stools passed before Otumfuo Osei Tutu, he sat down but immediately the Golden Stool got to him, he stood up, rolled his cloth to his loins, held a shotgun with both hands for sometime before he joined the procession to the stool house.

When he returned from the stool house, he distributed palm wine to the chiefs present. He sent for the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Serebour II, the Paternal Uncle of the Asantehene, to witness the ceremony and to informed him that all the consecrated black stools have been sent to the stool house.

The various customary burial articles presented by wives of princes of the Golden Stool (Ahenema) were displayed on the grounds in front of the Asantehemaa's palace. The exhibition is known as "Yehata Ayitan (drying of customary burial articles).

A special shed "Surapata" with two apartments was erected in front of the Asantehemaa's palace. The family chalice "Abusua Kuruwa" which has the effigy of Otumfuo Opoku Ware was kept in one of the apartments.

In the other apartment female members of the royalty of Asante Oyoko clan prepared "Ekyim", a special dish with the blood of the sheep used for the consecration by the Werempehene.

The mutton was later used to prepare another dish that was sent to the ancestral home of the royalty at Breman in the night. All the royalty of the Golden Stool shaved their hair and pared their nails as a sign of cleansing.

The royalty would now put aside the black and red mourning attire, which they had worn since the going to the village of Otumfuo Opoku Ware. The hairs and nail filings were collected and deposited in the chalice (Abusua Kuruwa), kept in the 'Surapata' to signify the end of the mourning.

The Asantehene accompanied a female member of the royalty, who carried the "Abusua Kuruwa" to Breman. Before the journey to Breman, Akyempimhene, Head of the Princes and Grandsons of the Golden Stool and his team went and made a track to the ancestral home in the early hours of the day since the journey to Breman took place in the night.

On Sunday morning they went back to cover the track to signify that the way to death has been sealed off. The funeral rite ends on Tuesday, March 28 when the Asantehene would sit in state at Dwabrem to bid farewell to the paramount chiefs, and mourners and to express his appreciation and gratitude to the sympathisers.