NIGERIANS, OTHERS ALSO MOURN aSANTEHEMAA

Day two of the traditional pre burial rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi saw a large crowd of mourners and well wishers from the Asanteman Traditional Council, others traditional areas across the country as well as from the Benin State of Nigeria. 

The day was characterized by an incessant firing of musketry by traditional executioners who accompanied some of the visiting traditional leaders as well as those from the Manhyia Palace whose display nearly frightened away particularly first time visitors to the Manhyia Palace especially at such a traditional event when real and rare traditional, cultural and customary performance and rites are showcased to the outside world. 

Day Two of the four-day pre burial and burial rites for the late Asantehemaa was specifically designated for traditional leaders who are not members of the Asanteman Traditional Council or from the Ashanti region as well as for well wishers from corporate institutions, professional and identifiable bodies. 

The Chief Mourner and Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, arrived at the funeral ground at about 12. 30 pm in a palanquin in a long retinue of members from some of the appropriate Divisions of the Manhyia set up amidst a sustained firing of musketry by his executioners and the chanting of war songs in line with Asante mourning traditions. 

Among the hundreds of mourners who took their turns to file past the body of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem and also to empathize with Otumfuo Osei Tutu, whose biological mother is being mourned, were the immediate past Vice President of the National House of Chiefs and the paramount Chief of Lower Axim in the Western region, Awurae Atibrukusu, the Head of the Yuroba community in the Ashanti region, Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Ali Alawo, who represented the Sarkin Zongo of Kumasi, the Association of Queenmothers of Ghana, a delegation from Tamale in the Northern region representing the Yana Na and chiefs from the Brong Ahafo, Central and Western regions. 

Also present to pay their last respect to the departed Asantehemaa were representatives from the Ghana Bar Association, some political parties, the Catholic Bishops Conference, Charismatic and Pentecostal Council of Ghana and other religious faiths in the country. 

There was also a delegation from the Association of Enigie in the Benin State of Nigeria led by its President, His Royal Highness, Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbaen. 

All the traditional leaders from the outside the Ashanti region also displayed part of the rich cultures and traditions of their respective traditional areas. 

For instance, the retinue that accompanied Awulae Atibrukusu carried along with them coconut, some materials made from the fibre of coconut as well as special food prepared from corn.