Royal family celebrates late Asantehene's 40th day tomorrow

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 8 April '99

The royal family and the Gyaase division of the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) will celebrate the 40th day celebration of the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, the late Asantehene, today, Thursday, April eight at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. The Gyaase division comprises the Gyaase, Mawere, Ankobea and Nkosuo. By Akan tradition and belief, the soul of any person after his death leaves for the ancestral world after 40 days and would never be seen on earth. After tomorrow, the ban on drumming and funeral celebration within Asanteman instituted after the death of the late Asantehene would be lifted. Otumfuo Osei Tutu the second, the newly-installed but yet to be enstooled Asantehene can now sit in court as a ruler but will not be expected to hold an opinion of his own, as he is presumed not to be conversant with the affairs of the state. The few days after the installation are devoted to stock- taking of the drinks, sheep, monies and other presentations made to the bereaved family and Asanteman during the burial ceremony. Following his installation and enstoolment, the new King would then begin to study the palace structures, organisation and the history of the Kingdom including court etiquette, royal manner of speech and majestic walking. On the first Thursday after his installation, which also falls, tomorrow, the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem the second, takes the new King to the stool house where he sees for the first time, the Golden Stool and the black stools. Thereafter, he is allowed to offer libation and sacrifices, this is the only occasion that the Asantehemaa is granted permission to enter the male stool house, she sees the stools in the female stool house every "Akwasidae" and "Awukudae", the 40-day calendar of Akans. The Deboasehene and Abenasehene are the experts in the King's household, its organisation and what takes place there. With teaching aid models of the palace, the new Monarch learns the whole complex tapestry of Asante custom and regal life such as how to control his speech, his thoughts, his walking when to smile and when to look serious and gloomy. The new King is taught courtesy and Asante values, culture and the great part that state drums play in it. Everything in Asante life depends on drums -"atumpan, kete, fontomfrom,and donno and dawuro". The drums call people to council meetings and to war, they also play for celebrations of religious festivals and for entertainment. He is taught to recognise each drum by its sound, to know what the combinations of the drum and sound mean, he is also taught how to dance to the tune and rhythm of all Asante drums. The models for teaching aids are called "nkraba" and the system of using them as visual and teaching aids for the schooling is called "nkrahene". The schooling is done in such a way that it does not interfere with the normal engagements of the King, it takes place in the evenings. The mornings and afternoons are devoted to routine duties such as giving out money and offering libation and sacrifices, while the schooling is going on preparations for the enstoolment ceremony are also in progress, thereafter, the final rites of the departed Monarch are discussed.