Asantehene makes triumphant entry onto the coronation grounds

Kumasi (Ashanti), 27th April ?99 ?

The sun was high but the multitude that had packed themselves into the Kumasi sports stadium were expectant and knew that every drop of sweat they dripped would be rewarded by the spectacle they had come to see.

Finally, they were not disappointed as at about 1600 hours Otumfuo Osei Tutu arrived in his full splendour. The milling crowd rose to its feet, cheering wildly, waving white handkerchiefs, singing appellations and dancing to traditional music.

The Asantehene, dressed in "batakarikese", a talisman-studded war-dress in which the early Asante Kings went to battle, and riding in a palanquin with a bunch of leaves sticking out of his mouth, acknowledged the cheers and waved back with all majesty.

His arrival was heralded by the blowing of "mmenson", while the courtiers,

with blackened faces and led by Baffour Dumfeh Gyeabour the third, Asantehene's Nsumankwaahene (chief priest), clattered executioners' swords and chanted war songs.

After the courtiers was the Gyaase division, which escorted the Asantehene's retinue with all the stool's paraphernalia, amidst the throbbing of "fontonfrom" and atumpan (types of drums) and the booming of guns at the background, all in a splendid and grand display of the rich Asante cultural heritage.

Following at the rear were the royal guards, who epitomised the Asante military formation, as they paraded locally made guns with which the Asante kingdom fought its wars of conquest and expansion.

When the Asantehene got to the dais where the government delegation and dignitaries sat, he stopped for about 10 minutes and allowed the leader of the delegation, Ministers of State, officers of the security agencies, and Nana Akwasi Agyeman, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive who also contested for the nomination to ascend the Golden Stool, to greet him.

He continued to greet the chiefs, including Nana Osei Bonsu the second, Mamponghene and "Nwisiaahene" who had been seated for long hours, awaiting his arrival.

The Asantehene then continued to greet the assembled amanhene(paramount chiefs) of Asanteman.

He then fired three musketry - for the right wing chiefs, the Oyoko clan and the left wing - before he left the stadium in the palanquin amid cheers from the milling crowd.

The convoy of the government delegation had a hectic time leaving the stadium, as most of the dignitaries, who had sat waiting for long periods,

decided to leave even before the Asantehene had left the stadium.

The coronation ceremonies continued late into the night when the Asantehene, will see and sit on the Golden Stool for the first time, and later swear the oath of allegiance to the paramount chiefs, who would in turn swear oath of allegiance to him.

At about 1100 hours on Tuesday, April 27, the Asantehene, clad in a rich white cloth, will sit in state to receive homage and present gifts to the chiefs and other dignitaries.