As Asanteman Celebrates...Hope Rights/Privileges Will Be Upheld

Come the 26th of April, Asanteman as a whole shall celebrate a historic festival, the Odwira, nowadays termed the Adaekesee or Big/Great Adae celebration. This shall take the form of a momentous durbar of the Chiefs, Asantes, Ghanaians of all persuasions and foreign dignitaries. Gratifyingly and a further cause for celebration, it also marks the 10th anniversary of the current reigning King's ascension to the Golden Stool (Sikadwa Kofi). Daasebre, "mo ne yo". Osei ne Poku nana, ye sr3 nhyira mmorosoo ma wo. An eventful reign which has shown so far, exhibited the dynamism and purposeful leadership, which were key characteristics of Nana's predecessor, Opemsuo Osei Tutu I. Oworo kawa fa batire, mo ne dwumakese3 a wade3 abe pem sesei.

Those in attendance, shall surely be treated to a cultural spectacle, which shall the least said, leave an indelible mark in their memories. Chiefs of various ranks; adikrofo(village heads), abrempong(principal chiefs), Amanhene( Ahene Kokroko or Chiefs with vast territories under their jurisdiction) to the Occupant of the Golden Stool, and the Golden Stool itself shall no doubt proceed in state to the durbar grounds. What a stupendous gathering it shall be.

However, a significant and most unfortunate departure from the custom and time-honoured practice of Asante, hailing from the inception of Asanteman itself shall be on full display for all and sundry to witness.....I hope I shall be proved wrong though, come tomorrow. This shall, if it happens, cast a bit of dark cloud on the celebration.

Once again, the pillars upon which Asanteman rests, esp. those of the Amantuo num( foundational states of Asanteman)--excluding Kumasi state--shall be proceeding to the durbar grounds on their feet. How come? Since when did this unfortunate custom come about? It appears to have started from the time of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II..if my own observation and what I've been told is right.I've no reason to doubt.

How come today----the Occupants of the Yiadom ne Osei Hwede3 Great Stool of Juaben(i.e the Juabenhene), the Akuamoa or Amaniapong Dwete Dwa ( Silver Stool) i.e the Mamponhene, the Kodua and Okyere Abandwa of Kumawu, i.e (Kumawuhene/or representative), the Egu Ayeboafo Stool of Bekwae(i.e Bekwaehene), the Oduro ne Agyen Stool of Nsuta,i.e (Nsutahene) and the Gyebi Kankanfo Stool of Asumegya, (Asumegyahene/representative) their Queens and numerous other functionaries of high rank who by custom have always rode to such durbars in the full paraphenalia of state, being borne aloft in their respective palanquins----are today being made to walk on their feet on the soil of Oseikrom.

This constitutes a grave insult not only to the Occupants of the said Stools, but the generality of members of their Aman in general. From Nana Osei Tutu I's time to that of Nana Agyeman Prempeh II, save the Occupant of the Golden Stool, the heads of the various Asante aman, especially, those of the Amantuonum have always and justifiably been accorded their full rights, befitting their lofty statuses at durbars of Asanteman in Kumasi. All the more pertinent, in a time gone, when the Chieftaincy institution in Asanteman was at its most potent. Perhaps, if owing to a forgetfulness, it will be in order to refresh memories.

In the past, when the Bekwaehene had to proceed to Kumasi, he only did so, when the Asantehene had sent a palanquin and bearers thereof from Kumasi, to Amansie Prammire, before he will proceed to Kumasi. " Prominent among the privileges the Juabenhene(Dwabenhene) enjoys in Kumasi is his authority to wear the Akyekyerekona. This Akyekyerekona was a beautiful necklace of precious and rare beads. This Akyekyerekona belongs to the Asantehene. In the past whenever the Dwabenhene went to Kumasi to attend a durbar he rode with pomp in palanquin from Dwaben to Kumasi. It was customary for him to break his journey at a point near Kumasi called Denteso. It was here that he ordered his large retinue ( Bowdich counting as many as 40drums in the retinue of Nana Akwasi Boateng in 1817, Odwira in Kumasi) and he turned his neck sideways to touch his shoulder saying: " Bame abu me kon anti monkofa akyekyerekona me yan mo". Literally meaning that royal pride has broken my neck and so go and fetch the Akyekyerekona to put around my neck.

At this point the Asantehene who must have been awaiting the arrival of the Dwabenhene for hours at the durbar grounds would dispatch his swordbearers and linguists with the Akyekyerekona to Denteso to give to the Dwabenhene to wear around his neck. It was then and only then the Dwabenhene and his retinue would proceed to the durbar grounds or Ahenfie to greet the Asantehene "......Adu Boahen Reader by Toyin Falola.

Similar customs too were associated with the other Rulers of the Asante aman of high rank, such as the Mamponhene, Kumawuhene and Nsutahene. So then one will ask, how come it has come to this? For today, the descendants of and their Aman as a whole, such as Amaniapong and Boahene Anantuo of Mampong, Adaakwa Yiadom and Osei Hwede3 of Juaben and many others, find themselves, trudging upon their feet, on Kumasi soil? Why, has Asanteman or Manhyia for that matter, forgotten so soon, why the Rulers of such states, especially the Amantuo Num, are accorded such high privileges? Have you forgotten the pivotal roles played by Amaniapong/Boahene Anantuo, Adaakwa Yiadom, Oduro Agyen of Nsuta, Kumawu Tweneboa Kodua, Gyebi Kankanfo of Asumegya which saw the overthrow of the oppression we were all under and the consequent establishment of Asanteman.

Have you forgotten the assistance Amaniapong of Mampong, Adaakwa Yiadom of Juaben and others gave to Osei Tutu I,(even before the establishment of Asante) in the numerous encounters in the Kwaman region which entrenched his rule and lordship over all else in the immediate vicinity of his state? Need I elaborate? Are we giving credence to the adage, " Ampa Asante Nkae"?

Have the monumental efforts of -----Okyerefuo Adaakwa Yiadom at Feyiase, before that his declaration at Osei Tutu's court in Kwaman to which he swore and carried out, that of his descendants Osei Hwede3, Nana Akrase I, Osekyere Akuamoa Boaten Panin I also known as Osekyere Nyempene ( remember what happened at Kasampire Rock Mountain, above the Nyempene River...at a time of grave threat to Asante, following an invasion, which Asante after having lost much ground initially only succeeded in turning around upon the arrival of Akuamoa and his forces in the time of Okowia Osei Kwadwo...in the north westerly direction from Kumasi), Kwabiri Ameyaw and Okatakyie Akwasi Boateng I ( remember his aversion of the near disaster at Akatamanso and prior to, his capture of Nsoko Ni Agyei in a previous encounter), even that of Nana Asafo Agyei I...remember his contribution of a strong contingent of over 10, 000 under the command of Mmorontuohene Yaw Okyere---been so soon, forgotten or discountered or devalued?

Have that of Boahene Anantuo also of Feyiase fame and other pivotal contributions of his descendants been forgotten? Have that of Tweneboa Kodua, Obremponkese3 a owo ne biribi die, a principal chief in his own right with vast territories for whom the pressing problem of that day, he didn't suffer..being far removed, yet sacrificed his life to bring about a victory nonetheless...been now discarded?

Even within the Kumasi state, there are some principal chiefs who by right have to borne in palanquins. So why aren't we seeing such. Kyeremanten attests, that even the Akrafohene of Manhyia, being a holder of a very important office is borne in a palanquin during state processions. Well, do we see such these days?

Perhaps, I ask, is it a question of our principal chiefs, especially that of the amantuo num, being too lame? Looking on feebly while their rights are trampled upon in such blatant disregard? Ahhh, how come today, a Juabenhene, a Mamponhene, a Kumawuhene, a Bekwaihene, Agonahene ( descendant of Okomfo Anokye) are seen walking in a procession during the celebration of an Odwira or Adaekesee? How the sight of this makes my blood boil...How infuriating, How demeaning? How diminishing/belittling? Why have the Rulers of such foundational Asante states allowed such a breach of custom of to place? Hmmmm, I wish Nana Yaw Sarpong II of Juaben was still around...this would have resulted in fireworks. Nana Sarpong II, would have made unequivocally clear, and demonstrated it, what the consequences of such a deliberate breach of the rights of his state would have been. Those who are in the know, know what happened at Manhyia, when someone there, a son of the Stool, had the temerity to misalign his seat in relation to the Occupant of the Golden Stool's own. Sadly, to this day, his successor, looks on for such a breach to be committed continually.

During the mini-Adaekesee celebration of Asanteman held on the 19/04/2009 in Kumasi, for instance, something even more insulting was witnessed. How come the Bantamahene was riding in palanquin, and the Rulers of the Amantuo num states walking? Just how come....what explanation in Asante custom and usages is there for this? Are we now being told, that the Bantamahene is superior to the Mamponghene, Juabenhene say? Ahhh, abotesem ara kwa!! Amanee3 akyia!

During the restoration of the Asante Confederacy, in 1935 and documents attest to....all the Asante Odwira or Adaekesees held by another very visionary King of Asante, Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, the Principal Chiefs of Asante, already mentioned and that of other loyal stools in Bono such as Wenchi etc all were accorded fully, their rights and privileges...i.e they rode in state in their palanquins in full regalia. In Akan custom, aside the Principal Ruler/King, other chiefs of high rank, particularly those who consented to join a state, have contributed enormously say in warfare or by virtue of other means, have by right and custom, the privilege of being borne aloft in a palanquin on state occasions.

How come then, this strange development/deviation in Asante custom of recent time? More so, when Asante came about, owing to the unification of equally ranked states with one selected to be the leader. I.e primus inter pares or the 1st among equals. Or are we now being told, that the Kumasi state is superior in ranking to Mampong, Juaben, Bekwai, Kumawu and others? So it appears.

You Rulers of Mampon, Juaben, Nsuta, Kumawu and others, arise from your slumber...let has seen the sense of independence, and firebrandedness with which your predecessors so contributed enormously to Asanteman. How can you look on sheepishly, while your innate rights have been so trodden upon and thrown asunder?

Those elders/advisors at the Palace in Kumasi, should know, that only when they fully respect the customary rights of the other component/pivotal states of Asanteman, shall there be, strong Asanteman, strongly unified and worth sacrificing for as of old.

I hope this aberration of Asante custom shall be rectified as soon as possible. Failing which, the Rulers of the other Asante states of high rank, the members of the Amantuo Nnum, on such national celebrations/festivals of Asanteman, should send respectively, representatives. That is one of the legal mechanisms of expressing a disapproval in Asanteman. The centre shall surely get the message. Enough of this insulting abuse of rights and privileges.

Nana Akrase (Son of Juaben) London, United Kingdom