1st Akwasidae: Manhyia Brews With Cultural Beauty
The blend of musketery, royal fontomfrom sounds, and scenes of rich Asante culture and tradition is brewing an incredible beauty at the Dwabrem grounds of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
It is the first Akwasidae Festival of 2025, and it is a grand one, drawing thousands from across the country and the world to the seat of the Asantehene.
Paramount and sub-chiefs of Asanteman were ushered individually into the premises of the Manhyia Palace with the majestic tune of the fontomfrom and intermittent firing of the muskets.
Among the chiefs present are Tepamanhene Nana Adusei Atwenewah Ampem, Yamfohene Nana Ansah Adu Baa, Sampamanhene Nana Samgba Gyafla II and Nkoranzamanhene Nana Kwame Baffoe IV.
The festival has also drawn dignitaries including President John Dramani Mahama, unsuccessful Presidential candidate Alan Kyerematen, former Energy Minister Kyerematen Agyarko, Member of Parliament for Asawase, Hon Muntaka Mubarak, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof Rita Akosua Dickson and National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
Attendants opted for traditional outfits. Persons you may come across inside the Palace are either in white or kente apparel.
The Asantehene breathtakingly bedecked in gold ornaments and a kente outfit rode in a palanquin to the durbar grounds on January 19.
According to a linguist of Otumfuo, Kyeame Nsuase Poku, this particular Akwasidae is an ancient practice of Asanteman known as “Afenhyiasom”.
In an interview with Opemsuo Radio’s Kwame Awuah Nimfour, he said this particular festival demands the attendance of all traditional authorities making Asante.
“During this, all traditional authorities in Asanteman come to pay homage to the King and seek his blessings for the new year,” he said.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
