The Place I Am Most Looking Forward To Going To: Kumasi Manhyia Palace Museum
100 DAYS OF STEEM : Day 46 - Monday Challenge - The Place I Am Most Looking Forward To Going To: Kumasi Manhyia Palace Museum.
The Covid 19 outbreak and its associated complete or partial lockdown, quarantine life, the stay at promo, social distancing and strict rules on public gathering have limited our taste and freedom to visit many places of our choice. I believe most of my travellers and tourists would have been sharing their countless and beautiful posts through Steem @TravelFeed and other Steem blocks than what we see now. In spite of our limited chances of travelling we still share our love of travelling. This 100 Days of Steem showcasing our effort to push Steem to the top, Monday Challenge, we are asked to spot a place we are intended to go after Covid 19 and its lockdown haven ended.
"Kumasi Manhyia Palace Museum" is my best choice I'm most looking forward to go for my second time. I planned coming to this place late January after I have visited here for last 3 years with my Students. That time we were able to visit two other places on the same trip in Kumasi, that's Kumasi Airport and Barekese Dam. But, by this time round I've planned coming here alone in order to be able to learn the rich Historic background of "Asanteman." You know the reason I can't choose any other place in Ashanti region, than coming to Manhyia Palace Museum. Apart from the site attraction that I would love watch and take few pictures, there are great cultural and historic background dated over 200 years ago. That's exactly why I'm most looking forward to to come to this place. Let's dive into the core values of some of these historical preserves, which you may also love to be at this place in order not to leave you in suspense.
The Kumasi Manhyia Palace Museum was established in the year 1925 by there then British Colonialism which was commissioned to be the private residence of the Late Nana Asante Agyemang I. During wars of claiming Asante Kingdom Nana Asante Agyemang I was exiled for 28 years after which they were able to won and defended their territory, then he was settled in Manhyia Palace here. It's interesting to note that all the historical background relating to Asante Kingdom, their late Kings till date, their queen mothers, their stool names and how they enstool their Kings have been recorded in the video form. There is a big television at their reception and interpreters to explain every thing for you to know their history.
This the entrance one side of the wall, "Akwaaba" in Akan language which is spoken by Asantes' and other ethnic groups means "you are welcomed." The wall is painted with white which signifies clear heart devoid of bad thinking. So if you come there with bad intention their Spiritual god will detect and you will be penalized. Under where the Akwaaba is written, we have Manhyia Palace Museum written boldly beneath it with that big arrow directing you of the main entrance to the palace at the left display. Asantes love trumpets and the use of drum to give appellations to their Kings, it's also their signs of given announcement to those who understand the sound of trumpet and drumming languages. There are two people, one at the right and one at the left blowing the trumpet to welcome you to the palace. In this case, when the trumpet is blown, with that unique language which is only understood by the native of Asante Kingdom, those around in the palace will hear that there is a visitor coming.
Here is the display of giant Television to telecast all the historical events of the Asante Kingdom which dated back 200 years ago from the first King and their queen mothers to the latest one. Not only the kings and queens that have been stock here, but also all the history of the Asante territories, how they are enstoolled, the various stool names and the clans who inherit the kingdom. In Asante Kingdom, it's the Queen Mother who has the authority to enstool a king but not the King rather. This help us to learn the main reason why the Ashanti's inheritance follows matrilineal system but not the patrilineal system. So, it cut across all their Kingship across Asanteman( Ashanti Kingdom). In their durbas you will hear some of the appellation they give to the Asantehene, the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as "the Kingdom that resembles King Solomon."
The image displayed here are the Late Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II found on the left, and the Queen Mother Asantehemaa. Similar of such clay models that resemble as their original images have been made for all the past and present Kings to remember them the moment you find their models here.
This is also the Late Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu who led the Asantes to the war. That war in those days was known as "the war of the Golden Stool." It was held against the British Colonialism to defend the Asante territories or Kingdom. She fought till she was able to claim the Golden Stool for the Ashanti Kingdom.
This is also the current Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II. He was enstooled in the year 1999. He has served the Kingdom and achieved many credibility to his efforts and for the Ashanti Kingdom. His Kingdom doesn't end in Ashanti region alone but also the Whole Ghana and even Africa.
Some of the strange items you may found here or when the King of Ashanti attend some functions, you may not know the their functions. One strange thing here is "Mansuo," large pot covered with this designed net. The pot is filled with water use by Kings when they attend durbars, festivals or any other public gather where it requires them to keep long. The king drink solely from this pot and not any other ordinary water.
There are also many people in the Manhyia Palace who serve Otumfuo his royal Majesty. In the displayed above is some of his servants carrying the "Golden Stool." In actual fact, there are many tools in Manhyia Palace, but it depends on the occasion and the purpose which will determine the kind of stool Otumfuo will sit on.
Interestingly, these peacocks are found here in Manhyia Palace the last time when we came here. They also serve as beautifying the scenes in the Palace, but actually I don't know their purpose of being there. They are in different colours found here and very admirable birds to see. In fact, for the first time I saw them, it even attracted my taste of coming here again.
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