An extremely colorful durbar was organized on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to mark ‘Awukudae’, which coincided with the 75th birthday of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Overlord of the Asante Kingdom.

This grand ceremony brought together esteemed guests, mostly dressed in kente clothes, to pay homage to the revered Asantehene.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, were among the attendees, including prominent traditional leaders, clergy, political leaders, and business leaders, to mark ‘Awukudae’, the ‘Sacred Wednesday’ according Asantes tradition and customs.

Also present were national and regional security heads, heads of institutions, and civil society organizations.

The ‘Awukudae’ is observed in every 40 days in the Asante Kingdom.

The globally revered King of Asante sat in state to receive his guests, who were eager to pay homage to him.

Particularly excited to pay homage to the King were foreigners and some Ghanaians who were seeing him in person for the first time.

Notably, Tuesday, May 6, marked the King’s 75th birthday, and his guests queued and took turns to wish him a belated happy birthday during the celebration of the sacred Awukudae, which occurs every 40 days.

As a symbol of peace, good leadership, and wise counsel, the Asante monarch is admired by countless people, both within and beyond his kingdom.

In celebration of his milestone birthday, many Asantes and non-Asantes took to traditional and social media platforms to extend their warmest felicitations and wishes to the Scion of the Golden Stool.

By Thomas Awuah Asem

Kumasi