Events Outline as Asanteman Buckles for Odwira Festival for First Time in 64 Years
Asanteman is lacing its boots for the highly anticipated Odwira Festival later this year to cleanse and revitalize the Kingdom’s soul.
This will be the first Odwira in 64 years.
Outlining a host of events to mark the cleansing festival, the Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, underscored its significance.
“All these will be done to consecrate the soul of Asanteman. Since the last in 1961 by my uncle, it has not been observed. We will do it for the soul of Asanteman to be revitalised.”
Events
Per the outline read by Otumfuo at the Asanteman Council on March 17, 2025, the festival will begin on the last day of October, which falls on a Fofie —nine days after Awukudae and nine days before the next Akwasidae.
The ensuing week will be used for a cleanup exercise across the Kingdom.
“The whole of Asanteman will be cleaned,” Otumfuo noted, adding that Asanteman will, on November 9, hold a mini Akwasidae Festival.
On November 14, emissaries will be sent to Sewuahene to remind him of his responsibility to supply yams for the festival.
The Odwira activities themselves will begin on November 17.
“That Monday, I will go to Bamprase, Akyeremafe, Bantama, and Bremang. Nana Hemaa will meet me at Bremang. From Bremang, I will proceed to the Cultural Centre, where I will put on my outfit.”
The King will host traditional priests on Wednesday, November 19, and then visit stool houses on the morning of November 20 before a durbar in the afternoon.
On Friday, November 21, Agonahene will lead a procession to the Manhyia Palace to present his regalia.
This will be followed by a grand durbar hosted at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, November 22.
“There will be a grand durbar where persons who have served Asanteman well will be honoured.”
Otumfuo will, on the following day, visit Bampenase, Asokore Mampong, and Subinso.
The next two days—November 24 and 25—will be dedicated to the Bosommuru Sword.
On Wednesday, November 26, the Asantehene will visit Esereso for consecration and then wait at his Palace for Sewuahene to deliver his yams the next day. This will be followed on November 28 by a ‘Sumangoro’.
These activities will be capped with a grand Akwasidae Festival at the Manhyia Palace on November 30.
Preparation
All chiefs who are expected to play ceremonial roles in the festival have been urged to make the necessary arrangements.
These include Bantamahene, Asemhene, Menyehene, Agonahene, and Sewuahene.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
