Thousands Join In The Asantehene�s Anniversary Celebration

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium was on Sunday turned into a magnet, pulling in thousands of people from all walks of life, to share in the joy of the celebration of 15 years of the enthronement of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as the 16th Asante King. Some traditional rulers and people, started trooping to the place as early as 0600 hours dressed in different patterns of �kente� - traditional cloth. Big multi-coloured umbrellas had formed a canopy, presenting extra-ordinary beautiful scenery with and intrinsic cultural dance performances and traditional drumming, reverberating the stadium. Security was tight with military helicopter hovering in the skies to ensure that the event passes off peacefully. President John Dramani Mahama flew to Kumasi on Sunday evening to be part of the history-making event and also there were former Presidents Jerry Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufour together with their Nigerian counterpart, Olusegun Obasanjo. Other powerful and influential traditional leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, Oni of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu and the Kabaka of Buganda, King Ronald Mawenda Mutebi II, were present to add colour to the occasion. The highly-treasured and revered sacred Golden Stool (Sika-dwa Kofi), the unifying force behind the Asante Kingdom, which is rarely seen in public, was on display The Asantehene, resplendent richly designed traditional cloth, adorned in gold ornaments and carrying a shot gun rode to the durbar grounds in a palanquin from Asafo-Abrotia under the canopy of big umbrellas, accompanied by a large retinue of chiefs and attendants and amidst �kete�, �mpintin� and �fontomfrom� drumming, clattering of the executioners� swords and praise singing (kwadwom). The procession was be led by �samanka� a (brass pan) containing some traditional herbs believed to provide the King with spiritual fortification and the �dwete kuduo� - a silver pot full of gold dust, symbolising the opulence of the Asante Kingdom.