Dwetɛ Kuduo {Silver Chest}: The Constant Companion of Asantehene

Dwetɛ Kuduo- Silver Chest- is one of the regalia that never leaves the side of the Asantehene especially when he makes public appearances.

You will either spot it sitting on its golden stand beside the Asantehene when he is seated or carried on the head of a male when the King is afoot.

It contains a deity and is among the regalia that certify the authority of the occupant of the Golden Stool.

A number of symbolic regalia are handed over to an enstooled Asantehene. The last among them is the Dwetɛ Kuduo. This is handed over to him after the Busummuru sword is handed over to him at Pampaso by Waadie Adwumakaasehene.

The egg-shaped chest is always covered in a netted layer depending on the occasion. Generally, a white net is used, however, coloured nets with a black napkin are used during burial and funeral events the King attends.

Name
The name Dwetɛ Kuduo is derived from two Twi words: “Kuduo” and “Dwetɛ”.

Kuduo refers to a special container for storing something precious and Dwetɛ in the local dialect is silver.

In effect, Dwetɛ Kuduo means silver chest.

History
The history of the silver chest can be traced back to the age of the Asante Confederation when all rituals and codes had been put in place, making Opemsuo Osei Tutu the first Asantehene.

At the time, Komfo Anokye informed Opemsuo Osei Tutu that his leadership and authority would be fortified and spiritually entrenched with the acquisition of the silver chest which at the time belonged to Nana Adu Gyamfi, the chief of Bodwesango located in the Adansi enclave.

According to him, the Dwetɛ Kuduo contained a mystical authority to enforce superiority in all battles.

But from the onset, Opemsuo knew it was not going to come on a silver platter- he had to fight his way to the mystic “treasure” that wielded the power he needed.

The initial plan was to secure it through war, but this plan failed seven times, necessitating an alternative approach.

Komfo Anokye, therefore, devised a new plan—a much gentler approach to acquiring it.

The new plan was for Dɛɛbuosohene- a traditional authority in charge of shaving the hair and cutting the nails of the Asantehene- to go undercover to get it. It also failed as he had no access to the inner chamber of the chief.

When he returned, Komfo Anokye performed some rituals for his return.

This time, the Dɛɛbuosohene stayed at Bodwesango for five years as a secret agent for Asante, regularly reporting on his activities to the Asantehene in Kumasi.

He finally became successful after marrying the niece of Nana Adu Gyamfi. This privilege gave him a close relationship with the chief and his servants which gave him access to the inner chamber of the chief.

He therefore laid out a strategic plan, called for back-up from Kumasi and on the appointed day ambushed his father-in-law, killing him with the “Kumaberempon”- a dagger. There was now unrestricted access to the Dwetɛ Kuduo.

Upon his return with the “treasure”, the Asantehene deemed it unfit for the Dɛɛbuosohene to serve as a carrier of the Dwetɛ Kuduo and designated that authority to a different person who would be known as Dwetɛ Kuduohene.

Duty
The Dwetɛ Kuduo contains a deity. It must accompany the Asantehene wherever he goes.

When the King is in a palanquin, you will find the Dwetɛ Kuduo carried by the Dwetɛ Kuduohene preceding the stool of the Asantehene.

Meanwhile, it is always positioned to the right of the King when he is on foot, and when he sits, it is placed at the right side of his stool on a golden stand.

It is believed that the Dwetɛ Kuduo transmits authority and strength to the Asantehene. When he is superintending over any issue, all he needs to do is to place his hand on it and touch his heart thrice.

Chiefs
Currently, Nana Osei Kuffour is the Dwetɛ Kuduohene while Baffour Osei Assibey is the Deebuosohene.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini/Kwame Akosa