Otumfuo Osei Tutu in a palanquin
Mourning and thanksgiving yesterday heralded the royal funeral at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi as hundreds of well-wishers joined a durbar of chiefs to pay their last respects to the late queen mother of the Asante Kingdom, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.
The Asantehemaa, who clocked 111 years and reigned for 39 years after succeeding Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko II, died at the Manhyia Palace on Monday, November 14, 2016.
She is the 13th queen mother of the Golden Stool which is occupied by her son, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
She was laid in state with chiefs, diplomats and other dignitaries filing past to pay their last respects after the Otumfuo had left the place momentarily.
The ceremony, traditionally called “Adoteyie,” was a great spectacle of its kind, bringing the Ashanti Regional capital to a standstill as people from all walks of life raced to the palace to mourn with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The Asantehene led chiefs and people of Asanteman to begin activities marking the burial rites of his late mother at the event that was attended by many international dignitaries, including Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of the Benin Kingdom in Nigeria.
Also in attendance were President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former UN Secretary General Busumuru Kofi Annan, Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin and former Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor.
As at 7am yesterday, paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, linguists, traditional priests and other people, who were donned in black mourning cloth – kuntunkuni – started arriving in droves at the venue for the funeral.
Otumfuo rode to the funeral ground in a palanquin under the canopy of large umbrellas amidst throbbing sounds from the traditional drums, horn blowers and clacking of executioners’ swords.
Otumfuo was seen chewing cola nut which signifies the greatness and severity of his grief regarding the demise of the late Asantehemaa.
Each minute of the king’s journey to the funeral ground was marked by the firing of musketry by his royal artillery unit, while the chief priest of Manhyia also performed intermittent rituals to neutralize any perceived demonic powers.
Several police officers, military personnel, Red Cross officers and medical staff were deployed to the venue under the scorching sun.
Outside the funeral ground, curious people were seen deeply engrossed in conversation with one another and some jostling one another to catch a glimpse of what was happening.
“It’s a day of history that may never come to meet us again,” said one of the announcers who were running commentary on the event.
Nana Steals Show
President Akufo-Addo was the toast of the huge mourners at the Manhyia Palace.
The solemn event changed into near jubilation the moment it was announced that President Akufo-Addo had arrived.
Virtually all the mourners stood up spontaneously as if they had rehearsed it to welcome the Ghanaian leader.
It was the first time that Nana Akufo-Addo was stepping at the Manhyia Palace as president.
There were deafening cheers all over the venue, even before the MC of the event could finish announcing Nana Akufo-Addo’s arrival.
The loud chants of ‘Nana o, Nana o’ that welcomed Nana Addo really shook the foundation of the funeral ground.
Otumfuo Consoled
The Ghanaian leader, who stormed the palace with a high-powered delegation, consoled the Asantehene, who was sitting in state.
Otumfuo and the president exchanged pleasantries after which the latter’s delegation also empathized with the monarch.
President Akufo-Addo mourns with Otumfuo
Oyoko Clan
In a speech read on behalf of the president by Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (aka Wontumi), he said Nana Akufo-Addo is from the Oyoko Clan and that its leader is Otumfuo.
He therefore stated that the death of the Asantehemaa is a huge loss to Nana Akufo-Addo.
Delegation
Nana Addo’s delegation included ex-President Kufuor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo, among others.
Former President J.A Kufuor in the company of Mr Kofi Annan and wife
Ministers-designate, NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) and other top officials of the ruling party were also there.
From Ernest Kofi Adu & I F Joe Awuah, Kumasi