Odwira Festival 2025: Programme Unchanged Despite Asantehemaa’s Passing
The programme for the Odwira festival celebration will remain unchanged despite the passing of the Asantehemaa.
Sources informed The Thunder in Kumasi on Sunday, August 24, that all activities will proceed as planned. For now, all attention is focused on the burial rites of the Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, scheduled for September 14-18, 2025.
Asanteman spirit
Odwira 2025 will be the first celebration by the Asante Kingdom in 64 years.
According to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, this event will significantly revive the spirit of Asanteman amid recent challenges. He stated, “All of this will be used to revive the spirit of Asanteman. So long as the Golden Stool abides, any opposition will be in vain. Let anyone who wants to try. Let us believe in Asanteman. I pray for strength and life for all of you so we can work together for the betterment of Asanteman,” the King stated during an Asanteman Council meeting on December 16, 2024.
Activities
Per the outline read by Otumfuo at an Asanteman Council on March 17, 2025, cavities for the celebration include:
[ 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲]
– Fofie Som-Kesie
– The ensuing week will be used for a cleanup exercise across the Kingdom. The whole of Asanteman will be cleaned.
Nana Hemaa will meet Asantehene at Bremang. from Bremang, Otumfuo will proceed to the Cultural Centre, where he will put on my outfit.
[ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲] – Akomfuor da – The King will host traditional priests. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲] – The Asantehene will pay visits to the various stool houses in the morning, followed by a grand durbar in the afternoon. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲] – Agonahene will lead a procession to the Manhyia Palace to present his regalia. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲] -There will be a grand durbar where persons who have served Asanteman well will be honoured. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲] – Otumfuo will, on the following day, visit Bampenase, Asokore Mampong, and Subinso. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟓- 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 & 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲] It will be dedicated to the Bosommuru Sword. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲] The Asantehene will visit Esereso for consecration and then wait at his Palace for Sewuahene to deliver his yams the next day. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓. 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 ] – Sumankwaahene of Otumfuo hosts Suman-goro ceremony. [ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 ] Grand Akwasidae Festival at the Manhyia Palace.
