The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Asantehemaa, Nana Yaa Akyaa II, on Sunday presided over the fifth Akwasidae festival of the year with separate traditional durbars at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The colourful event brought together chiefs, queen mothers, members of the Asante royal family, government officials and other distinguished guests, who paid homage to the Asantehene and Asantehemaa as part of the revered traditional celebration.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council, led by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, Deputy Mayor of Bobigny in France, Nana Shodu, former Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
The Akwasidae festival, one of the most significant events on the Asante traditional calendar, is held every six weeks to honour the ancestors and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Asante Kingdom.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for traditional leaders, royals and invited guests to reaffirm their loyalty and pay homage to the Asantehene and Asantehemaa while celebrating the enduring customs and traditions of the Asante people.
