Asanteman observes 40th day rites for late Asantehene

Kumasi, April 9 (1999), GNA - Asanteman on Thursday observed the 40th day rites of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the Late Asantehene. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene-elect sat in state at the Manhyia Palace to receive homage from sympathisers from all walks of life. Otumfuo Osei Tutu, in "Koben"(red cloth); his right shoulder smeared with red ochre and wearing "denkyemkye", a hat made of crocodile skin, rode in a palanquin from the Palace to the funeral grounds. Accompanied by state sword bearers, Otumfuo Osei Tutu was taken through some streets around the Palace and Ashanti New Town before returning to the funeral grounds at 1400 hours.

There was traditional drumming, singing of dirges and appellations and cheers from the crowd.

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister; Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Joana Appiah-Dwomoh; Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama, Minister of Lands and Forestry; and Commander Pius M. G. Griffiths (Rtd), Deputy Minister of Communications, were among those who paid homage. Others were District Chief Executives and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Philip E.K. Antwi.

The rest were Parliamentarians from the Ashanti Region; Paramount and Divisional Chiefs as well as representatives of some organisations and institutions.

All were either in koben or Kuntunkuni (black) cloth. With the firing of muskets at the background, the milling crowd of mourners surged forward to catch a glimpse of the Asantehene-elect, who sat in state for the first time since his installation last Monday as Kumasihene.

Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa, and her retinue as well as Paramount and Divisional Chiefs, had to move at a snail's pace to the funeral grounds because of the large crowd, which the few Policemen on duty found difficult to control.

Some members of the royal family, including the children and grandchildren of past occupants of the Golden Stool, were in their koben, their right shoulders and necks smeared with red ochre. They wore garlands made of esuan (a climbing stem) and chewed kola to signify the loss of a great monarch and the people's sense of sorrow and grief.

Asantehene Installation

Otumfuo to be installed on Monada

Kumasi, April 9 (1999), GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene-elect would be enstooled as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool and the 19th Asantehene on Monday, April 26. A statement issued in Kumasi today and signed by Mr Isaac Dadzie-Mensah, Registrar of the Ashanti Region House of Chiefs, said the new Asantehene would swear the oath of office and thereafter all the paramount chiefs in Asanteman would also swear the oath of allegiance to him.

A 24-member Enstoolment Planning Committee under the chairmanship of Nana Otuo Serebour II, Juabenhene, has been appointed to ensure the smooth and successful enstoolment, the statement said.

Rituals for the enstoolment are performed in the early afternoon at Pampaso, a historical ward near the Kumasi Prisons.

This ceremony is called "Nkowasotena" (sitting on a chair) and is quickly followed by firing of muskets at the Manhyia Palace. On the day of the enstoolment, the Asantehene-elect, pays a customary visit to the Queen of Pampaso. He sends gifts to the Queen. The gifts include a ram; flask of rum; full piece of calico; bag of salt; Kente cloth and silk cummerbund.

The Linguist, who occupies the Kankam and Nantwi Stool, takes the gifts to Pampaso.

All the items except the cummerbund are taken to the Wadie-Adwumakesehene, custodian of the "Busumuru", the most sacred State sword.

As soon as the Linguist returns from Pampaso, all items of the Asantehene's regalia except the Golden Stool and the black stool are taken in procession to Pampaso. There they are arranged and guarded by the Gyaasehene, Ankobeahene and Mawerehene, while the Paramount Chiefs and the Chiefs of Kumasi gather there.

Before the Asantehene-elect goes to Pampaso he is borne on the shoulders of Asantehene's palanquin carriers to Asantehemaa, to take leave of her and receive her blessings. She does not take part in the Pampaso ceremony.

Upon receiving the Asantehemaa's blessing, he proceeds to Pampaso borne in a palanquin, this time carried by only two strong persons instead of the normal four persons.

He would be wearing a white Adinkra (cloth with traditional motifs), a plain pair of sandals and protected from the sun by a small umbrella called "Akropon-kyiniwa".

On arrival at Pampaso, the Asantehene-elect does not greet nor talk to anyone but goes straight to the Chief of Pampaso, who would be waiting for him at Pampafie (Pampa house).

Before he enters the Pampafie he leans three times against a spear in front of the house with his back.

The Asantehene-elect then enters the stool room to remove a piece of mutton on a stool, which had been there since the morning and then pours libation with palm wine. The Pampasohemaa is called and on arrival. She refuses to enter the stool room.

She gives in after much persuasion at a price - a thanksgiving fee (Aseda). In the room, the Pampasohemaa would have the Asantehene-elect tied to her back with the help of the silk cummerbund, which had been presented to her.

The Akyeamehene on behalf of the Asante-Mamponghene, who is the Acting Asantehene, in the presence of the Saamanhene begs for the release of her ward to become Asantehene. She refuses at first but eventually she consents to release him and lets him down from her back. She then quickly changes into the calico to signify victory and happiness.

The Asantehene-elect is taken to another room, where a secret password is passed on to him.

The Akyeamehene (chief of the Asantehene's linguists) and the Nseneehene inform Mamponghene and the chiefs assembled that the Asantehene-elect has been handed-over.

Meanwhile, one state sword after the other is sent to the Wadie-Adwumakasehene summoning him to Pampaso.

He pretends unwillingness to honour the call until the arrival of the "Busumuru" sword. He gives excuses such as not being well; about to take his bath; have a meal or enjoying his siesta; eventually, he consents to turn up and collects his thanksgiving fee. Leading the procession of all the state swords headed by the Busumuru sword and clad in the kente cloth, which had been presented to him, the Wadie-Adwumakasehene arrives at Pampaso.

Without greeting anyone he enters Pampafie, there he removes the sheath of the Busumuru sword and passes it on to the Asantehene-elect. Some of the important stool regalia are handed over to the Asantehene-elect on the day of his enstoolment.

They include Boman state umbrella, which was originally made by King Osei Bonsu (1799-1824). So named because the King is eulogised as "He who brings his enemies (other states) to their knees". The next is the "Dwete Kuduo" (silver treasure casket) in which are kept the Asantehene's odd requirements such as gold dust, which he would require to make purchases or give away as gifts on leaving the Palace. Whenever, he sits in state it is placed to his right. It is believed to be one of the earliest booties, which Opemsoo Osei Tutu snatched from his defeated enemies.

It is believed that it sometimes feels heavy in the morning and when that happened was regarded as an augury for a wind fall in the course of the day.

The Wadie-Adwumakasehene places on the head of the Asantehene-elect the "Denkyemkye" (hat made of crocodile skin), which was made by King Osei Tutu when he was recalled from Akwamu to succeed his uncle, Obiri Yeboah as Asantehene.

Thus adorned with the Denkyemkye, the Asantehene-elect comes out of the stool room and standing before the 'Piese' spear and surrounded by the players of the Asantehene's Aprede drums, whose music was the favourite of Opemsoo Osei Tutu, he takes the oath of office and dances to the tune of the drums.

After this, holding in his right and left hands the Busumuru sword and the "Apemasanata" (a shield), respectively, he rejoins the assembled chiefs and people and dances to "Fontomfrom" music. The Wadie-Adwumakasehene changes from his kente cloth into calico that had been given to him earlier, the Asantehene-elect also returns to the room and changes into his military garment, the "Batakarikese". The Akyeamehene is sent to inform the Mamponghene that the Pampaso ceremony is over and the people should meet the Asantehene-elect at Pramakeseso or Bampanase.

The messengers bearing the "Bosompra" State, sword goes to Asantehemaa with the same message. Meanwhile his palanquin for the procession would be ready to take him away.

The Asantehene-elect in his palanquin arrives at Bampenase to show that he would be capable of commanding the Asante forces on the battlefield.

Kokofuhene; Nsutahene; Gyaasehene; Ankobeahene and the Mawerehene would have by then taken the Golden Stool to Bampenase. On alighting from his palanquin, the Asantehene-elect walks to the Asantehemaa, the Oyoko Amanhene led by the Juabenhene, Kronti and Akwamu Chiefs; right wing chiefs headed by the Mamponghene, Adonten Chiefs, Kyidom and Gyaase Chiefs and the Akyeame (linguists). When he gets to each of these groups the Asantehene-elect fires his musket and the group fires back, he then exchanges greetings by shaking of hands with the respective group heads.

After the firing ceremony, the Asantehene-elect retires to the Palace and all the chiefs follow suit to get ready for the enstoolment ceremony, which takes place at midnight. At midnight all the chiefs except Mamponghene arrives at Bampenase in simple attire. They come with small groups of people, with their small umbrellas. Admission is restricted. The Asantehene-elect, however, is richly dressed in white adinkra, which he later lowers to the waist and goes to the ceremony wearing the "Mpaboakese" (the big sandals) originally worn by Opemsoo Osei Tutu (it is regarded as the head of the Asantehene's sandals). He also wears the denkyemkye; an iron neck wear, the "Awoso"; gold necklace of bells, the "Afodoo"; military kit,(Ntoa) and carries with him the Busumuru and Mponponsuo state swords. He completes his dressing in the presence of the Juabenhene at Bampenase.

The Chief Stool Carrier and his colleagues bring the Golden Stool to Pramakeseso. It is placed on Banwoma (a broad piece of hide of an elephant's ear) at the centre of the area. Guarding the stool with their "santuo", guns would be the Juabenehene and the Nsutahene. The Asantehemaa, the Kokofuhemaa and the female members of the royal family stand at some distance to watch the procession.

The chief stool carrier gives a signal to the Gyaasehene to inform the Asantehene-elect about the ceremony to "outdoor" the Golden Stool. The Asantehene-elect sends the Mponponsuohene, another state sword keeper, to inform the Mamponghene that he and all the participants are ready for the enstoolment ceremony.

The Mamponghene accompanied by his Chief Linguist immediately leaves his position and takes his place with the right wing Amanhene as the Adontenhene of Asante.

The Asantehene-elect is placed on the Golden Stool and proclaimed as Asantehene.

For this Mamponghene supported by the right wing Amanhene, hold the right arm of the Asantehene-elect. The Essumegyahene supported by the left wing Amanhene hold the left arm. The Kyidomhene with the support of the Kyidom chiefs, the Kronti and Akwamu chiefs and the Gyaase, Ankobea and Manwere Chiefs hold his waist, right foot and left foot in that order and place him three times on the Golden Stool.

The Ahemaa of Asante and Kokofu and the women around shout praises and thanksgiving. The enstooled Asantehene rides in a palanquin to the "Mmeda" room at the Palace to rest while jubilation and merrymaking continue. In the morning of the following day, the Jamasihene, custodian of the Asantehene's treasure casket (kuduo); accompanied by custodians of other kuduo in Asanteman come to anoint the Asantehene for, which they are paid a fee.

With the anointing ceremony over, the Asantehemaa, the Amanhene, custodian of the casket and other chiefs come to pay homage and bless the Asantehene.

A thanksgiving present in money together with two flasks of rum and four sheep are sent to the Mamponghene and similar presents are made to the other Amanhene and chiefs.

With the Asantehene's permission they all depart to their various towns after the Asantehene has announced the date for the great funeral (ayikese,) in honour of the departed Asantehene. Intermittent purification rites follow the enstoolment ceremony.