Adae
Kese Festival
This is a very important, albeit rare celebration of the Ashanti’s.
It is held in a large open space in the capital city of Kumasi.
The festival is normally well attended and embraced by Ashanti’s
from all walks of life.
Basically, the Adae Kese celebrations are magnified forms of Sunday
Adae festivals, celebrated every six weeks in accordance with the
Akan ca lender which is based on a cycle of forty- two days and
nine months in a year. Invariably, the last Akwasidae festival is
set aside for the celebration of Adae Kese.
Adae Kese is usually held to climax celebrations of specific milestones
and achievements of the Asante kingdom. it was first celebrated
to mark the attainment of statehood of a newly celebrated people,
in the aftermath of the Ashanti war of independence, otherwise known
as the "Battle of Feyiase", which was fought against the
Denkyiras between 1697 and 1699. Adae Kese, like other Akwasidae
events, serves as the platform for pledging allegiance to the kingdom
and to affirm loyalty to the occupant of the Golden Stool which
represents the unity and embodiment of all Ashanti.
The event is marked in two phases. There are solemn private observances
which are performed at the King's palace chambers by accredited
members of the royal family and other functionaries. It includes
rituals, aimed at cleansing the spirit of the incumbent King and
the presentation of ceremonial sacrificial meal (Esq.) and drinks
to ancestral spirits. Their blessing and protection guide the kingdom
to prosperity.
The public celebrations take the form of a colourful durbar of chiefs
and queen mothers presided over by the Asantehene. It involves the
display of cherished regalia and paraphernalia accompanied by traditional
drumming and dancing as well as firing of musketry amidst pomp and
pageantry.
The Adae festival is a continuous demonstration of faith in the
vision and heritage of the Asante Kingdom, which has existed since
the introduction of the Golden Stool in 1700.
The festival is also to commemorate and re-enforce the independence
of the Ashanti people and an occasion to re-affirm each state's
loyalty to the confederacy instituted in the aftermath of the Ashanti
war of independence fought against the Denkyeras “between”
1697-1699.
It provides a platform for the King to meet and share his thoughts
with his sub-chiefs and subjects and also reward deserving ones.
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