Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is set to celebrate his 25th anniversary on the golden stool this week, much to the delight of revelers and residents in the Ashanti region.
On Friday, April 26, 2024, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will mark two decades and a half since he ascended the throne as the sixteenth occupant. In honor of this milestone, the anniversary planning committee has lined up a series of activities, including a musical jamboree from April 22 to 26, 2024.
Starting on Monday, April 22, queen mothers from various Asante paramountcies will showcase Asante cuisines at the Manhyia Palace. From the popular Fufu to ancient delicacies like “Akau” and “Mampong at3ky3”, the queen mothers and community members will display local foods from different traditional zones of the Asante kingdom.
Wednesday, April 24, will be a traditional rest day known as Awukudae, where the Asantehene will receive monarchs from Ghana and other royals from the West African subregion. Traditional rulers and dignitaries from Nigeria, Niger, and other countries are expected to attend.
On the eve of the anniversary, Thursday, April 25, spectacular fireworks displays will light up vantage points in the city, followed by a grand musical carnival. Residents around various parks and squares in Kumasi will witness the magnificent pyrotechnics celebrating the King’s remarkable leadership.
The evening will also feature performances by some of Ghana’s top musical acts at the Jubilee Park.
The festivities will lead up to Friday, April 26, the exact day of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s enstoolment in 1999. A non-denominational thanksgiving service will be held to offer praise for the protection and guidance of the ancestry and God, along with the unveiling of an official post stamp.
The celebration will culminate on May 12 with a grand Durbar at the Manhyia Palace to mark the King’s 75th birthday. Chairperson of the 25th anniversary committee, Juabenhene Nana Otuo Siriboe II, emphasized the ban on political paraphernalia during the events, urging attendees to celebrate the King and not their political affiliations.
The celebration, which began on February 6, 2024, with the re-enactment of the Sagrenti War, is scheduled to end on November 24, 2024.
