Ajo Writes: How Asantehene Blended Leadership with Grief

Leadership often carries a public image of strength, authority, and composure. But the recent burial rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, revealed a more intimate side of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene — a man navigating profound personal loss while upholding centuries-old tradition.

For the Asantehene, the Queen was not just a figurehead; she was his sister biologically and his mother traditionally.

From the very first day of the burial rites on September 15, 2025, he was visibly immersed in mourning, presiding over proceedings, receiving condolences, and leading rituals with solemnity.

This was a man who, despite his immense responsibility as king, was also a grieving family member, showing vulnerability in front of the nation he leads.

The procession to the Asantehemaa’s residence, the sleepless vigil, the midnight rituals, and the traditional dances with his wives are more than ceremonial acts. They are expressions of personal grief, endurance, and commitment.

Every step he took, every ritual he performed, reflected not just leadership but a profound human engagement with loss. He is a monarch who does not delegate grief; he experiences it, shares it, and allows it to guide his actions.

Lady Julia’s presence by his side underscores the human dimension of this moment.

Their shared mourning reminds the public that leaders are not immune to life’s harshest realities. The Asantehene’s visible humanity — his capacity to grieve, endure, and participate fully in tradition — offers lessons in empathy, resilience, and the intertwining of personal and public responsibility.

Modern society often separates leadership from emotion, efficiency from empathy. The Asantehene defies that division.

His actions during the Asantehemaa’s burial demonstrate that true leadership is not only about authority or protocol but about embracing one’s humanity, even in public, and navigating loss with dignity and presence.

In witnessing the Asantehene mourn, participate, and lead simultaneously, the nation is reminded of a simple truth: great leaders are not those who appear untouchable; they are those who carry the weight of duty while still being human, fully present in both grief and responsibility.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso