The late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, was laid to rest after a four-day funeral rite, traditionally referred to as ‘Doti Yie’.
The ceremony started on Monday, September 15, 2025, and ended on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
According to the dictates of tradition, residents of Kumasi were warned by executioners of the Ashanti Kingdom to stay indoors hours to the sacred procession; a process that precedes the interment of the late Nana Konadu Yiadom III.
Executioners from the Manhyia Palace issued stern warnings suggesting that any person who is caught roaming the streets of the designated route for the sacred possession could be killed.
The rites shrouded in secrecy has left many wondering what exactly happens on nights of sacred royal burials.
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The Asante Nation, a pro-Manhyia social media handle, in a post on September 19, 2025, shed some light on what transpires on the night, a royal like the Asantehemaa is buried.
The post indicated that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, led the night time rituals before the burial of the late queen mother.
According to the post, the Asantehene escorted the mortal remains of the queen to Bantama, a suburb of Kumasi.
As custom demands, the Asantehene leads the solemn procession to the royal cemetery where the burial is done.
“After presiding over the day’s ceremonies, the Asantehene will also oversee the rites done on that night. In line with tradition, at 9 pm, His Majesty will accompany the remains of Her Royal Highness to Bantama Bamu for rituals lasting until midnight.
“From there, the King will lead a solemn procession with the remains to Breman Bamu, the final resting place, but he first has to pass through Abusuakruwa,” part of the post reads.
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After the burial of the late Asantehemaa, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is expected to return to his palace to continue the rituals until 4:00 am on Friday morning, September 19, 2025.
After the ritual, which involves the royal wives of the Asantehene, he would go through a purification process to mark the end of the rites.
“Upon returning to the Manhyia Palace, the Asantehene will perform the traditional ‘kete dance’ with his royal wives (Aheneyere) from 2 am until 4 am, after which he will send them away with customary drinks.
"Finally, at exactly 5am on Friday, coinciding with ‘Fofie’, His Majesty will undergo a purification rite, after which he will don white cloth, marking the close of the rites,” the post said.
See the full post below:
THE AFTERMATH OF THE ROYAL FUNERAL
— The Asante Nation (@Asante_nation) September 18, 2025
Following the four-day funeral, the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will perform the final rites for the late Queen. She will be laid in her royal casket and carried to the Dwabrem grounds of the Manhyia Palace, where a burial… pic.twitter.com/9PL8LOtEdY
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