Photos: Colourful Asante culture on display as Asantehene marks 20th anniversary on the Golden Stool
Thousands of Ghanaians and foreigners have thronged the capital of the Ashanti Region, Kumasi, to mark the 20th anniversary of the installation of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the Asante monarch simultaneously celebrates the ‘Akwasidaekese’ festival, which is marked every five years.
Colourful display of Asante culture at its best was on a high pedestal at the Manhyia Palace Sunday, to herald the grand durbar that climaxes the 20th anniversary of enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ascended the Golden Stool as the 16th Asantehene, on April 26, 1999, having succeeded his brother, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.
Sunday’s ceremony which marks the 20th anniversary of that event is taking place at Dwabrem, Manhyia Palace, the same venue which was scheduled to host his enstoolment until it was changed to the Kumasi Sports Stadium two decades ago.
Traditional rulers from Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, Oti, Bono East, Eastern and Volta regions, who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool are in attendance. Dagbon King, Ya-Na Abukari II and chiefs from other regions are also present.
It’s virtually a showcase of Sika Kente, the traditional cloth for chiefs and royals and ‘ahenema’ (traditional sandals), as chiefs and queens arrive in turns amid the firing of musketry.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
