Pauline OdhiamboThe vibrant rhythms of African culture filled the United States, thanks to a rare visit by Ghana’s Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
One of the highlights was the celebration of the historic Akwasidae Kese Grand Durbar at Bowie State University in Maryland on 30 August.
Akwasidae is a sacred Akan festival held every sixth Sunday, usually in Kumasi, where the Asante Kingdom has its cultural capital.
The festival honours ancestors, the king, and the Golden Stool, which is traditionally believed to house the soul of the Asante people.
The event affirms Asante identity, drawing thousands from across the US.
The Asantehene urged unity among Africans both at home and in the diaspora, saying the Asante community “was built on unity, not division.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he was “overjoyed” to join the celebrations.
The Asante Nation, a cultural organisation that promotes Asante identity and heritage, noted that the visit goes beyond culture. It aims to strengthen Ghana-US ties and promote investment.
On 31 August, the King and his entourage held talks with the US Chamber of Commerce and other officials, including former UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in Washington, D.C., on possible economic partnerships.
He also signed an MOU between Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he is Chancellor, and Virginia State University for student exchanges and research.
He declared, “the era when Ashantis were perceived as not valuing education is long gone.”
For Ghanaians, especially the Asante people across the US, the visit which ends in the first week of September, is a powerful affirmation of heritage, linking ancestral roots to American life.
Although the Asante king has no constitutional political power, he is hugely respected for cultural leadership, justice, and development.
King Osei Tutu II ascended the throne in 1999, succeeding his uncle, King Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, who died after a three-decade rule.
The Asante Kingdom, currently in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, has existed for centuries.
It was once one of the most powerful kingdoms in West Africa before European colonialism.
The Asante people are renowned for gold, the iconic Kente cloth, and fierce resistance to colonial rule.
