Dear Blakk Rasta,
On television, you condemned the culture and tradition of Asantes on the ban on some economic activities in Kumasi, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, during the funeral of the late Queenmother of Asanteman, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom II, saying it hinders economic growth.
Cultures and traditions, if you are not aware, identify people. The good culture practices must be preserved to this day, the world all over, while bad ones, like FGM, child marriage and immolation are being scrapped.
So, for you to sound political and condemn the Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, for instructing some businesses to shut down, because to you it would adversely affect the economy, indicates your lack of knowledge about the importance of tradition and culture in the life of a people.
Before I continue, you call yourself Blakk Rasta and with the Rasta turban you wear, I can assume that you are a Rastafarian. But who are Rastafarians?
On Friday July 23, 1892, Ras Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael, was born in Ethiopia, and on Wednesday April 2, 1930 he succeeded Empress Zewditu to become Emperor Haile Selassie I and ruled Ethiopia for forty-four years. He belonged to Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and was a full Christian.
A religious movement was formed in Jamaica in the 1930’s, to worship Emperor Haile Selassie I, as the reincarnated Jesus Christ. It was named after his birth name, Ras Tafari and called Rastafari, which you worship in, as a Rastafarian. You worship Haile Selassie as the messiah who will lead the peoples of Africa and the Diaspora to Freedom and yet he was a Christian till his death.
Many Rastafarian holy days are tied to Ethiopian history and the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I. These holy days are celebrated through rituals like reasoning sessions, Nyabinghi drumming, and communal gatherings, reflecting the connection Rastafarians feel to their African heritage.
Some of your holy days are, Ethiopian Christmas (January 7); Groundation Day (April 21), a major Rastafarian holy day celebrating the 1966 visit of Emperor Haile Selassie to Jamaica; Constitution Day (July 16): Commemorates the signing of Ethiopia’s first modern constitution by Haile Selassie in 1931; Birthday of Haile Selassie (July 23):
A significant day for Rastafarians, celebrated with drumming and gatherings, honouring the man revered by many as God incarnate; Birthday of Marcus Garvey (August 17): To celebrate the Jamaican activist whose teachings are central to Rastafarianism; Ethiopian New Year (September 11):
Also known as Enkutatash, which honours Ethiopian history and is observed with prayer services and celebrations and Crowning Day: To celebrate the coronation of Emperor Haile How significant are the celebration of most of these holy to economic growth? Taking a day off annually, to celebrate someone’s visit to Jamaica. And another, annually, to hold discussions and consume cannabis and marijuana.
With these how can you accuse Asantes for ban on some economic activities when this is not an annual event? You condemn them and talk about the diverse effect on economic growth.
In case you do not know, here in Ghana, the funeral of a traditional leader is an important event, where business activities are shut down and no one must be seen around town in the night, the late royal is being buried.
When the Ga Manye, Naa Dedei Omaedru III died, there was a directive from the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II that on the day of her funeral, all shops must remain shut in Accra. And even some shop owners in Osu, which is not in the jurisdiction of the Ga Traditional Council, complied.
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 Mother, so as to ensure unified mourning, respect for the deceased, and security for the large crowds of mourners and dignitaries who gather for the traditional rites. This allows the Asante Kingdom to focus its attention entirely on honouring the royal figure, ensuring a solemn and respectful commemoration.
This is what Asantes are identified for and other ethnic groups also practice this. As stated above, it is a one-off event and so, what diverse effect will it have on the economy? Can you consider explaining to us in facts and figures, what economic loss occurred? Have you considered, how such an event boosts tourism and that it enhances the GDP growth? Comparatively, you know that the one-day off sanctioned by the Asantehene, for the funeral of the Asante Queenmother, is economically better than all the Rastafarian holy days combined.
While media practitioner, 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, you are condemning the ban on some economic activities, which is part of the culture.
Blakk Rasta, you are a Pan Africanist and yet you want us to stop practising our culture. But as a Rastafarian you annually celebrate a human as God. Tell me, between Nkrumah and Haile Selassie, who is the most important in Africa’s emancipation?
Always remember, 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.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
