People & Places: Dɔte Yie - Traditional burial ceremony

Dɔte Yie is an Akan traditional burial rites that precedes the final funeral rites.

The term "Dɔte Yie" is derived from two akan words: "dɔte," meaning soil, earth, or ground, and "Ɛyie," meaning funeral.

Put together, it refers to the ceremony performed for the body to be put in the grave, before the final funeral rites.

While the Asantes have their distinct version, dɔte yie as a concept can be observed among other Akan groups and even beyond. 

Historically, dɔte yie was necessary when bodies couldn't be preserved for long, enabling the family and community to prepare for the final farewell.

In the case of royals, such as chiefs and queen mothers, dɔte yie plays a crucial role in facilitating the enstoolment of a new or substantive chief or queen mother.

The newly enstooled leader is then responsible for performing the final funeral rites of their predecessor, ensuring continuity and respect for tradition.

The specific customs, rituals, and days of celebration can vary depending on the community or royal house performing the rite.

The duration of dɔte yie varies, with some ceremonies lasting up to four days or more, depending on the status of the deceased and the traditions of the specific community.

During this period, traditional rituals and customs are performed to honour the deceased and prepare for the final farewell.

The level of grandeur and rituals may differ for royals, chiefs, and queen mothers, reflecting their unique positions and roles in society.

Dirges and traditional drums, such as Atumpan, kete, and fontomfrom, are played to demonstrate collective grief and celebrate the deceased's life.

The deceased is laid in state, allowing mourners to pay their respects and file past the body.

Funeral gifts, such as gold dust, cloth, drinks, and money, are presented as spiritual offerings and practical support for the deceased's journey into the ancestral world. 

A four-day dɔte yie ceremony for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, was this week held at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, undertook the initial traditional rites, paving the way for Asanteman and other mourners to pay their last respects.

Thousands of mourners from across the country and beyond filed past the remains, paying their respects to the late queen mother.

The Asantehemaa's dɔte yie was a grand affair, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Asantes. 

The ceremony demonstrated respect for the ancestors and reinforced traditional values.