DR BAWUMIA ATTENDED THE 2023 SECOND AKWASIDAE AT THE MANHYIA PALACE

Source: Samuel K. Owusu

On Sunday, the 19th day of March 2023, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, and his wife, Samira Bawumia, joined a large group of government officials and other dignitaries to attend the 2023 second Akwasidae festival of the Asantes with the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. The Vice President and his wife, along with the other attendees, were clad in traditional Kente cloth, which added to the colourful atmosphere of the occasion.

The Vice President was accompanied by a large delegation of MPs, party executives, MMDCEs, government appointees, friends, and well-wishers. The delegation was led by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and included the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the First Majority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu, the Second Majority Chief Whip, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Deputy Minister for Finance, John Kumah, and the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum among others.



Upon their arrival at the Manhyia Palace, the delegation was warmly welcomed by the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, Chiefs, People of Asanteman, and thousands of NPP supporters. The Vice President and his delegation were then ushered into the palace, where they were treated to a variety of cultural displays and performances. The festival featured drumming, dancing, and other cultural activities that showcased the rich heritage of the Asante people.

In his speech at the festival, the Vice President expressed his gratitude to the Asantehene and the people of Asanteman for their warm hospitality. He emphasized the importance of cultural celebrations like the Akwasidae festival in preserving Ghana's heritage and promoting unity and diversity. The Vice President also highlighted the government's commitment to supporting and promoting Ghanaian culture and tourism, which he said has the potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

The Akwasidae festival is not only a time for cultural celebration but also an opportunity for the Asantehene to address important issues affecting the Asante people and Ghana as a whole. During the festival, the Asantehene used his platform to call for peace, unity, and development in Ghana. He also called on Ghanaians to embrace their cultural heritage and work towards promoting Ghanaian culture and tourism.


THE OBSERVANCE

The Akan annual calendar is divided into nine months which lasts approximately six weeks but vary between 40 and 42 days in a period; the celebration of this period is called the Adae Festival. The Adae Festival has two celebration days: the Akwasidae Festival is celebrated on the final Sunday of the period, while the Awukudae Festival is celebrated on a Wednesday within the period. The Friday preceding 10 days to the Akwasidae is called the Fofie (meaning a ritual Friday). 

As the festival is always held on Sundays (Twi in Kwasidae), its recurrence could be after 40 or 42 days in accordance with the official Calendar of Ashanti. During the last Akwasidae of the year, which coincides with the Adae Kese Festival, special attention is given to making food offerings and donations for helping people. The festivals of Adae are not interchangeable as they were fixed from ancient times

The Akwasidae festival is an important cultural celebration for the Asante people of Ghana. The festival is held every six weeks and it marks the beginning of a new Asante calendar year. The Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, is the traditional leader of the Asante people, and the festival is celebrated in his honour. The festival is a time for the Asante people to come together and celebrate their culture and heritage.
Dr Bawumia and his wife are warmly embraced by the man who sits on the Silver Stool, Dasebre Osei Bonsu, Asante Mampong Hene


THE PRACTICE

The rites on this day relate to honouring personal and community ancestors. A gathering called Akom occurs in which drumming, dancing and singing are a normal celebration to honour Abosom (lesser gods in the Akan tradition) and Nsamanfo (spiritually cultivated ancestors). Food offerings include special items such as eto (mashed African yam), garnished with hard-boiled eggs. Every Ashanti celebrates this festival. For those Ashanti who does not observe the festival of Odwira, the Akwasidae is very important to commemorate their ancestors.

On this day, the Asantehene (King of Ashante) meets his subjects and subordinate chiefs in the courtyard of the Manhyia Palace. The Golden Stool (throne) is displayed on the palace grounds in the presence of the king, and people visit in large numbers, singing and dancing. The king holds his durbar on the occasion of the festival, and people have the liberty to shake hands with him. Before holding the durbar, the king goes in a procession in a palanquin decorated with gold jewellery. 

He also witnesses a colourful parade, from his palace grounds at Kumasi. Participants of the parade include drum beaters, folk dancers, horn-blowers and singers. As it is a festival of paying respect to ancestors, the king visits the Bantama Mausoleum and offers worship not only to his ancestors' chairs (stools) but also to the skeletal remains of his ancestors. It is argued that the king does not worship the stools and the ancestors, however, to pay them homage.


In conclusion, the 2023 second Akwasidae festival of the Asantes with the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi was a colourful and lively occasion that showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Asante people. The festival was attended by a large delegation of government officials, MPs, party executives, MMDCEs, government appointees, friends, and well-wishers, including the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and his wife, Samira Bawumia. 

The festival provided an opportunity for the Asantehene to address important issues affecting Ghana, including the need for peace, unity, and development. It also highlighted the government's commitment to promoting Ghanaian culture and tourism as a means of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.


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Published by: SAMUEL KWAME OWUSU (SKO)

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