July 3rd Kings Palace

We visited the King Palace today. He was away though. The palace was built in 1925 by the British. Upon the return from exile of the Asantehene Nana Prempeh I from the Seychelles Islands, the building was offered to him for use as his residence. This was because prior to the Asantehene's exile, his old palace had been burnt down in the a war. The war was fought between the British and the Asantes because of the refusal of the Asantehene to give the Golden stool to the then governor of the Gold Coast. The King sits on the Golden Stool whenever he conducts royal business. Prempeh I only accepted the palace back after he had paid for the cost of the building in full.Two kings lived in the palace, namely Otumfuo Prempeh I and Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, the 13th and 14th Kings of the Asante Nation. The old palace was converted into a museum in 1995 after the new palace was built.Opoku Ware II was the first king to live in the new palace, which he occupied until his death in 1999. Asantehene Osei Tutu II, currently resides in the new palace. They have wax figures of the previous kings in the museum. They are so real looking it was scary! In the courtyard are drums and chairs and boat-type woven carrying baskets which are used to transport the king from place to place. The King is carried in these baskets as he does not walk long distances. The selection of the King is via matriarchal order. She selects the king but the King selects the First Lady. So currently the First Lady is the current king's mother. It was a little confusing. Selections are only made from the Royal Family. They had certain artifacts in the museum (the palace is now a museum and the King lives in another building on the same site--didn't know if I mentioned this). Anyway, the artifacts are just stored there and are used currently for certain occasions. Every 6th Sunday the King receives homage from his people and it is a big ceremony. Cool eh?