Abuakwa observes funeral of late Okyenhene and Queemother

Kibi (Eastern Region) - The Chiefs and people of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area have began a 10-day final funeral rites for the late Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II and the Okyenhemaa (Queenmother), Abrerewa Nana Sekyiraa II, at Kibi.

The Funeral rites known as "Odupon ayie", which began on Friday involve traditional drumming, blowing of horns and firing of musketry. It ends on Sunday.

The five divisions of Okyeman, Adonten, Nifa, Benkum, Oseawuo and Gyaase, led by their Divisional Chiefs, have been assigned a day each between Monday and Friday to mourn.

They would fire musketry and pour libation as the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and Okyenhemaa, Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua, sit in state.

The late Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku, who was the 33rd Okyenhene, died in March last year after a 23-year reign and was buried in August while Nana Sekyiraa, died in 1997.

On Monday, the Adontehene, Osabarima Kena Ampaw, dressed in batakari (battle dress) and riding in a palanquin, led a large retinue of Chiefs and mourners to the forecourt of the Ofori Panin Fie (the Okyenhene's palace) to pour libation and fire musketry.

Women wailed and sang dirges in remembrance of the late Okyenhene and Okyenhemaa.

Osabarima Agyemang III, the traditional father of the Okyenhene, who led Chiefs and mourners from Asiakwa and the 61 towns and villages from the Nifa Division also arrived in a palanquin on Tuesday to mourn while the Okyenhene and the Okyenhemaa sat in state to receive sympathies and donations.

Accompanied by the Gyaasehene of Okyeman, Osabarima Dakwa Woe II, the Okyenhene had earlier exchanged greetings with the other Divisional Chiefs and hundreds of mourners.

An exhibition of pictures on the life of the two has been mounted at the State Council Hall (Patosoro).

On Saturday, Osagyefuo Ofori Panin would don the "feared Okyem-batakari", which would be the third time in living memory to be exposed.

According to Okyeman chronology, he would be following Osagyefuo Bediatuo Ofori Panin, who wore it to war against the Asantes in 1717 and Beyeeman Nana Sir Ofori Atta, in 1927 at the Odwira festival.