Otumfuo at Buckingham Palace

Why is Otumfoɔ Ɔsɛi Tutu II, Asantehene; being shielded by an Umbrella as he was welcomed by King Charles III, to Buckingham Palace in London?

The explanation will follow as you read.
First, a little historical background courtesy of Kofi Ellison, from Asuonwun, Amanse; Asante Kingdom; as to Why and How Asante retained authentic AKAN Customs, that other Africans turned away from and, shied away from. This will provide a historical context to interrogate how and why other Akan, and other Ghanaians desperately try to this day, to unleash negativity unto things Asante. When they do that, they actually mimic and follow their British master's voice.

Asanteman, remains the quintessential Akan polity. Asanteman upholds ancient Akan Customs, and Akan belief systems, that Our Ancestors practiced for thousands of years in Egypt. Our Ancestors brought it along in their centuries of migrations from Egypt following the Muslim conquest of Ancient Egypt in 642 AD/642 BCE.

The Europeans, significantly this same British, in their colonial quest, turned fellow Akanfoɔ, and others against Asante. The respect the other Akan States, and other entities, had for Otumfoɔ Asantehene and Asanteman, turned into Envy; Hatred; Animosity; and outright Insults. It was the result of a calculated Divide and Rule policy orchestrated by the British.

Hence, their negativity, even as Otumfoɔ Asantehene soars like the Eagle, and the Falcon (Ɔyokoɔ) that He is. The detractors don't see it as a glory moment for Ghana and Africa.

That explains the Asante aphorism, "Sɛ Obi Nyaa Saa bi a, Anka Ɔbɛyɛ Bi." If only it was in their turf.

It all goes back to the year 1831. It begins the historical situation and provides the historical context.

By the Ango-Asante Treaty of 1831, which ended the Anglo-Asante War of 1826; Britain decoupled other Akan States from Asanteman. Britain and Asanteman agreed to set the boundary at the river Pra.

The "British Protected Territories," (i.e., "protected" from Asante domination and vassalage, later called the Gold Coast Colony); and the Asante Nation remained Two separate entities from 1831 to 1946.

In 1946, Asantehene Ɔsɛi Agyeman Prempeh II, and the Asanteman Nhyiamu (Asanteman Parliament) agreed to merge the Asante Nation with the Gold Coast Colony. The Asantehene was invited to Accra to preside over the promulgation of the 1946 Constitution (Burns') to affirm the union.

In 1844, the Chiefs in the British Protected Territories, under the leadership of Ɔdɛɛfoɔ Kwadwo Tibo (Otibo Panin), Dankyirahene, delivered a three-sentence statement to the new British governor Commander Hill at the Cape Coast Castle. Why?

The Chiefs wanted his assurances that, like his predecessor Captain George MacLean, he would stick to the 1831 Anglo-Asante Treaty, and protect them from Asantehene Kwaku Dua Agyeman Panin, and from Asante incursions and control.

The 1844 Statement which was later misnamed as the Bond of 1844, was nothing but a three-sentence repudiation of Akan Customs which the signatories concluded were still being practiced and enforced by Asanteman. With the additional anti-Asante propaganda of the European Christian Missionaries, these authentic Akan Customs were then bastardized as "Heathen" and "Fetish."

Thus began the era of the European political and missionary campaign to damage the unrelentingly, fiercely independent Asante People.

Correspondingly, others of the Gold Coast colony, either stopped completely, or diluted ancient Akan practices when their States were decoupled from Asanteman in the year 1831, to eventually form the Gold Coast Colony.

The collective angst of the people foolishly throwing aimless darts cannot therefore be cured. It emanates from a uniquely precolonial trepidation of Asante, still afflicting in the post-colonial polity.

The British meanwhile, came to their senses in 1916, and decided to learn about Asante, the better to relate to Asante. A British Army Colonel, Robert Sutherland Rattray (R.S. Rattray) was commissioned to travel throughout Asanteman. He wrote Books on Asante History; Asante Arts and Religion known as Anyamesom; Asante Ethics and Proverbs, Asante Law and Constitution, etc. Thus educated, the British disowned every negativity they had falsely manufactured towards Asanteman.

We fought the British to a standstill. British direct colonial rule of Asante lasted from January 1902 to January 1935. The Asanteman Federation formed in 1701, and disbanded by the British in 1896; was then "restored" in 1935.

There are many so-called Kings. But only Ɔsɛi Tutu Ɔpemsoɔ Nyamekese was invited. We didn't ask to be invited. We are comfortable in our own accomplishments. We politely previously declined the invitation to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, while others were prostrating to be invited. Otumfuo Asantehene does not travel for such purposes.

Where are those who joined the British to fight against Asante in 1824; 1826; 1863; 1873-1874; 1896 and 1900. Why were they not invited.

Questions relating to a claim that the use of Umbrella is to protect one from Rain, and excessive Sunshine, exclusively are misleading.

In Akan Tradition and Governance, the main purpose, is much deeper than protection from Rain and Sun.

Asanteman use umbrella, to shield the Ruler from unseen spiritual forces which may want to do harm to, or challenge the sanctity of our King at any moment. When Otumfoɔ enters a Room, our beliefs is that the umbrella has swept all antagonizing, forces present; and neutralized whatever powers therein. The Kyinikyimfoɔ afterwards rolls the Umbrella, and keeps it by his side.

Yes, people do ask such questions. I've written about it previously.

People think it's odd that the Umbrella known as Kyiniyɛ is used in an enclosed space. There is no oddity in this ancient practice pursuant to Asante (Akan) Custom, and our Spiritual beliefs.

The question arises from a lack of knowledge in Akan cosmology, and how our King, and Chiefs are protected.

It makes sense to Asanteman. We've been doing that for centuries. We proudly stand by our Customs, Traditions. and Culture.

Of course, Umbrellas also connote Power. "Ɔhene Kyiniyɛ, ebi da ebi akyi;" captures the power structure succinctly.

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