The Akwasidae Festival is a magnificent Ashanti celebration that focuses on ancestral reverence, remembrance, and recognition of past kings and noble feats. It is a celebration of the Golden Stool as well as a cultural vibrancy that brings the Asantehene, sub-kings, and subjects together at Manhyia in Kumasi.
Preparation, obligations, and allegiance
The Ashanti kingdom is made up of social groups led by clan heads who are compelled to connect the past’s life force with the people. The Asantehene, or Ashanti king, is summoned to oversee the pledging of allegiance to the Golden Stool, arguably the most sacred symbol within the Ashanti kingdom. Akwasidae exemplifies the sheer magnificence of the Ashanti people’s golden heritage. Between 1697 and 1699, the Battle of Feyiase, also known as the Ashanti war of independence, provided an opportunity to reaffirm indivisibility.
The Akwasidae celebration is an exciting spectacle in which the spiritual and physical collide. Ancestral worship is central to Ashanti culture. In Akan, “adae” means “resting place,” and Akwasidae is when past kings are summoned to bestow their blessings on the people. The preceding Saturday evening, known as Memeneda Dapaa, sees elderly women of the stool carrying totemic songs to the palace grounds prior to Akwasidae. Drums and horns play harmonies, and dancing continues until the wee hours of the morning, enticing the spirits of the dead. The Manhyia Museum is one place to learn more about the event.
Visit Manhyia Museum during Akwasidae
The Manhyia Palace Museum displays historic objects, including rare artifacts from the apex of early Ashanti civilization. The design, layout, and atmosphere highlight the most important aspects of West African kingship. A shrine is made up of lifelike wax figures of previous Ashanti kings. One such figure is the highly regarded Prempeh I, who returned from exile in Seychelles after a quarter-century absence. During the Adae or Akwasidae celebrations, which take place every 42 days, Kumasi attracts visitors from all walks of life. The Asantehene receives visitors and meets his sub-chiefs during the celebration.
Purification of the black stools
Akwasidae is divided into two parts: aside from the main public celebrations, there are solemn, private ceremonies that include rituals for eulogizing the incumbent king and the presentation of ceremonial sacrifices to the ancestral spirits. The purification of black, ancestral, hand-carved stools is part of the celebration on these days.
The stools are placed on a raised dais to pay homage to the deceased kings, and the Asantehene, divisional kings, and elders visit in order of precedence. The dead kings are served mashed yam and strong drinks. To revitalize and breathe new life into the spirits, sheep’s blood and entrails, including the lungs, are smeared on the stools.
The Golden Stool
The Golden Stool is a historic and arguably the most sacred symbol that Okomfo Anokye commanded from the sky into the lap of Asantehene Osei Tutu during the 17th century. The stool is 18 inches high, 24 inches long, and 12 inches wide, and it is never allowed to touch the ground or be used as a seat. Every new king is lowered and raised without ever touching the Golden Stool. The Asantehene sits close to the installed Golden Stool at Akwasidae. The Golden Stool has always represented unity within the Ashanti kingdom since its inception.
Spectacular sights, costumes, colours
A fine durbar of kings, queen mothers, elders, and the people is presided over by the Asantehene during public celebrations. At the palace grounds, golden regalia, umbrellas, palanquins, and paraphernalia add to the glow, which is interspersed with drumming and dancing from various cultural bands.
The Ashantis’ enormous wealth contributed to the development of the society into one of the greatest in Africa, to the point where it now stands out as the leading custodian of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage. Traditional rulers usually wear mourning clothes known as “kuntunkuni” during Akwasidae. The array of colors that engulfs the atmosphere as fontomfrom, kete, and mpintsin drummers and horn players fill the air with music for the seemingly endless dancers and singers is a notable feature.
Centre For National Culture, Kumasi
This popular space, located near Kejetia Market, houses the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum of Ashanti History, a library, bookstore, exhibition hall, and the popular eatery Kentish Kitchen, which serves delicious and locally-made foods like fufu and jollof. Works by local artisans are also available for purchase, including some very talented painters and woodworkers.
