“The passing of Nana Konadu Yiadom III, my beloved senior sister, the Asantehemaa and Mother of the Golden Stool, has left an emptiness in my heart and in the soul of Asanteman. It is not easy for me, as King, to put into words the depth of my grief, for the Nation has lost a mother, and I have lost not only a sister, but one of my greatest pillars of strength”. – Tribute by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene.
AKWAABA: Come to Asante (Ɛsa nti: because of wars) and you will hear many folktales, one of which is that when the dead go to Asamando they return to share food and drinks with the living, Aberewa (old lady/woman) is imbued with so much wisdom that a panel settling a case will have to “consult” aberewa for guidance and judgment.
We Asantes have our enviable culture, and we believe in certain traditional norms, believe in traditional systems, and we are ready to die for our Kings and Queens – because they are an embodiment of the Asante nation. Thus, it does not bother us to carry our Kings and qmQueens in palanquins.
You may have read Kwadwo Nyantakyi’s historical book: The Kingdom of Asante, and he writes; “Legends have it that some of the clans of Asante Nation originated from a hole at Asantemanso near Essumeja … Some … state that their ancestors descended from the skies … when the Asante clan chiefs united under Nana Osei Tutu, they were forbidden to relate their past history since that would sow the seed of disunity …”
The late Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom III (Asantehemaa) born as Nana Ama Konadu in 1927 and enstooled in February 2017 as the 14th Asantehemaa (on the death of her mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II) went to the village (kɔɔ akuraa) on Thursday August 7, 2025.
The one-week observance was held on August 21, 2025 and four days were set aside for the dɔte-yie (the “dust to dust, ashes to ashes” rites echoed in Genesis 3:19; “… for dust you are and to dust you shall return”).
Manhyia was hectic throughout the four days earmarked for the ceremonies. The turn of the Judiciary and the Ghana Bar Association came on, on Wednesday September 17, 2025 – the time when the “main” Bar was attending the 2025 annual conference at Wa. The book of condolence was signed by Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, the inheritor of the embattled Georgina Torkonoo and the affable, soon-to-be Chief Justice, for the Judiciary and Lawyer Anaglate for the Bar.
The main event was held on Thursday, 18th September, 2025. Before the day, an order had been issued for the closure of shops, banks, offices and schools. It was virtually a holiday. The Central Business District; (Kejetia, Adum, Ashanti New Town) as well as Asafo, Tech (Ayigya) and even all the small towns and villages like Pakyi, Pankronu, went to sleep early (before 6 pm) – even the mad people had apparently got a hint of the “curfew” and could not be seen anywhere. Baffour Kantankrakyi, Asantehene’s senior linguist clarified the order, so as to dispel fears of violating the 1992 Constitution saying “Asanteman will go silent”.
A man who allegedly insulted Asanteman, saying on social media “only fools will obey the order and sleep” – the video went viral; we saw Mustapha beaten to pulp by ghosts and in another clip he was seen apologising profusely for his mis-statements.
Transport operators, pharmaceutical shops, restaurants were exempted from the order, but there were no passengers, nor sick people, nor famished itinerants. Like Millicent Afum, majority of Asantes hailed the order, stressing, “As a society, despite the advent of “modernity” we must jealously guard our culture” OR the woman who noted: “Da koro pɛ, w’annidi a wonnwu” OR Rastafarian Blakk Rasta’s condemnation of the ban, “beautifully” chastised by Hon. Daniel Dugan in “The Chronicle” of September 23, 2025: “…
Get educated that it is part of tradition and culture to temporarily ban economic activities in Kumasi during the funeral and burial of the Asantehene or Queen, so as to ensure unified mourning, respect for the deceased and security for the large crowds of mourners and dignitaries … this one-off event … Nana Aba Anamoah looked at the positive sides and beauty of the funeral with culture at its best, emphasising on how it united Ghana with the presence of other ethnic traditional leaders … Asanteman honours and respects the tradition and culture God gave to Asantes. Your diverse opinions would mean nothing. God specially created Asantes as they are”.
You could not have missed the horse dancing to the fine adowa; nor the fetish priest who sat on his stool and did the long distance to the funeral ground… OR the unmanned hut that moved on its own.
All the dignitaries who mattered were there in their numbers; His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, the President of the Republic, former Presidents Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo; Hon. Addo Kufuor, Hon. S. K. Boafo, Asiedu Nketia, Julius Debrah, Hon. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister … Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of foreign countries, Ambassadors, High Commissioners (U.K., France, USA, Germany, China, UN, Nigeria, Cote d’lvoire, Togo, Russell Dlamani and Thuisile Dladla – Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini) – Eze, The Ibo King (in Ghana) although appearing gorgeous with a large entourage might have expected to “shake hands” with Otumfuo, just as Yagbonwura did, but the security men thought “bowing” was adequate.
Kwaku Bonsam could have suffered a similar fate, despite the “spraying” of cedis. The presence of the people from Anlo signified the bond of friendship between Anlo and Asante in the 18th century that culminated in the ceding of land in Anlo for Asantes and land in Kumasi for the Anlo people (Anloga) under Kwaku Dua I and Awadada Axorlu I (Anlo kotsiklolo, naketi deka nor dzomebinu – Anlo the united state, one firewood is able to prepare a meal …) Business-men including Kwame Despite, the East Legon Executive and Nick Danso of ICUMS were there.
The body of the Asantehemaa lay in state in a well-decorated closet. The mixed choir group: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Saviour Church were where the body lay,
pouring out scintillating songs. The funeral service was held in the open, and our brother, James Osman Adjei could be seen moving up and down among them our good friend, Prof. Yinka Sarfo.
Nana awu o, yɛmmua nna, so off to Brother man’s spot at Patasi. The Director of the pub with open arms made available to us various drinks (beer, Guinness) and some food – all gratis.
In the funeral brochure the soothing and powerful words of ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor was poignant: “A quintessential royal of Asante, Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom III was ordained by destiny to inherit the illustrious matriarchal throne of her revered ancestors, custodians of the stool since the inception of the Asante nation, some 350 years ago”.
Need we say anything more? Except to remind readers that it was a solemn occasion and our mother, Nana Konadu, is lying peacefully at Bremang.
