Traditional priests 'kick start' final funeral of Asantehemaa Afia Kobi Sɛɛwaa Ampem II

Traditional priests from all walks of life converged at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Friday to kick start the final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Sɛɛwaa Ampem II, who died a year ago.

As custom demands, a four-day burial rites, known in Akan as 'Doteyie' [soil] was held from January 15 to 19, 2017 and the final funeral rites is being organised a year after the death from December 1 to December 15, 2017.

“Dote” in Akan refers to soil. Thus ‘Doteyie’ connotes the rites performed before the Queen Mother was interred.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II enstooled a successor, Nana Ama Yiadom III, the only surviving daughter of the late Nana Afia Kobi Sɛɛwaa Ampem II in February.

Read also: Otumfuo selects new Asantehemaa

After 111 years on Mother Earth, 39 of which was spent as the 13th Queenmother of the Asante Kingdom, the late Nana Afia Kobi Sɛɛwaa Ampem II was given the final farewell on her journey to the "village" on January 19, 2017.

She was buried under the cover of darkness at the Breman Royal Mausoleum (Ban mu) at dawn.

That was after her remains had made a brief stopover at the Bantama Royal Mausoleum for the final traditional rites.

Some Ashanti chiefs and queenmothers had been buried at the Bantama Mausoleum and, traditionally, there is the belief that the Asantehemaa had to meet and interact with them before moving to her final resting place at Breman.

A number of activities have been scheduled for the final funeral rites from December 1 to December 15, 2017.

Below are some photos from the first day's event. PICTURES BY KWADWO BAFFOE DONKOR