The Manhyia Palace is set to unveil the returned looted Asante royal regalia to the public on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
To promote Ashanti history and tourism, the looted Ashanti Golden Royal regalia and other valuable ornaments by the British during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth are slowly making their way back to their original base after 150 years.
The first batch of artefacts arrived in Manhyia Palace over the weekend, followed by the second batch on Monday, February 5, 2024, under tight security escort from Kumasi Airport straight to the Palace and the directory was handed over to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the afternoon.
Nii Kwate Owoo is a Ghanaian international filmmaker who had the rare opportunity of seeing looted artefacts from different African countries by the British.
He said he didn’t believe what he saw when he entered the basement of the British Museum some 50 years ago.
Among the treasures he saw were those stolen from the Asantehene’s palace when the British demolished the royal palace with explosives and stole the ornaments during the 1874 Sagrenti War.
“It was like a time travel when I left the office of the quarter and went down into the basement, 50 feet under the ground when we landed in the aroma of our ancestors. I mean, I’m talking about all these artefacts that have been hidden. You know there is an aroma that came to overwhelm me. I could smell it; it was almost like they were saying you are welcome to our great-grandson. Spiritually, I felt the scent of our ancestors’’ he explained.
One and a half centuries later, the stolen treasures from the palace are returning to their original place after an agreement between the Manhyia Palace and the UK government.
Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II whose traditional title is ”Otumfuo’s Hiahene,” confirmed to Kasapa News the first batch of seven treasures from the Fowler Museum has arrived.
“The Fowler Museum in California has delivered seven precious gold items to Manhyia Palace, which will be on display on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at a durbar of chiefs in Ashanti Palace, where the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will sit in state. Those things that were taken away from our grandfathers many years ago have now found their way back home,” he disclosed.
He added, “The remaining 32 ornaments from the British Museum are expected to arrive in April 2024. The mere thought of returning the treasures to their roots excites Nii Kwate. It is a step in the right direction. I mean, who could imagine that after 150 years, these looted precious ornaments could return to their original home’’ he asked.
However, the big question demanding answers from resident historians in Manhyia Palace, Sarfo Kantanka, is: how substantial are these artefacts to the Asante Kingdom?
“Now that the items have returned to their origin people are going to follow up by coming to the museum to observe what has been returned to know all the interesting stories from the time it was looted away and its return. Note that this is of economic importance to Ghana and for that matter, Asanteman because it will boost tourism,’’ he said.
The Asante gold artefacts are the ultimate symbol of the Asante royal government and are believed to be invested with the spirits of former Asante kings.
In May this year, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will mark 25 years of his ascension onto the Asanteman golden stool.
During the celebration, All the returned 37 treasures are expected to be displayed during the anniversary including the precious recognized Ashanti Golden stool. The collections range from the original sacred Mponponsuo state sword dating back 300 years to other silver and gold ornaments.
With the Mponponsuo sword, all Asantehenes traditionally swore their oath of office, and paramount chiefs their allegiance to the Asantehenes (Kings of the Asante Kingdom).
