Last weekend we traveled 5 hours north to Kumasi. In Kumasi you will find the palace of the Ashanti King. It is not open to visitors, but the museum is. Long ago the Ashante nation was composed of clans, each with their own king. At one point it was determined that they would have more power if they all gathered together and selected a King to govern them. When they gathered together, the drummers began drumming, a cloud of dust arose, the magician called to the ancestors of the Ashantemen, and the magician danced until he fell. Then a deafening sound was heard and out of a cloud fell a Golden Stool which landed on king Osei Tutu. The ancestors had selected the king. A once weak people, they became very strong. The Golden Stool became the symbol of their power. No one ever sat on it and it was always hidden because of its value, being of pure gold. In 1925 the British came into Ashanti land searching for the Golden Stool, because of its value and also to break the power of the Ashante nation.
They could never find the stool, but they captured the King of the Ashanti nation. He was exiled to Cape Coast. When his followers made their way to Cape Coast the English sailed the Ashanti King to the Seychellles Islands. The Queen Mother fought off the English. She took up arms and led the army against the English. She hid the golden stool in the forest. After 30 years the king was finally allowed to return. The English had built a palace for him, but he refused to occupy it until the Ashantemen paid for it. Because of her valiancy in the wars, the Queen Mother is highly honored. She chooses from her family line the next King when the King in power dies. The king must have a perfect body. He must not draw attention to himself. He is modest, generous, and helpful. He is to have good character and be an example to everyone.
The present King of the Ashante's is her son and has been in power for 10 years. The old palace is now a museum. Pictures are not allowed, but our guide for the day got special permission to let us photograph a few things.
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