Funeral Rites for Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III Scheduled for September 14-18
The Ashanti Kingdom is preparing to honor the late Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the 14th Queen Mother of Asanteman and biological sister of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, with a series of funeral rites steeped in tradition and cultural significance.
Born Nana Ama Konadu, she ascended to the role of Asantehemaa in 2017, succeeding her mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II. Over her eight-year reign, she was celebrated for her unwavering commitment to preserving Ashanti traditions, her wise counsel to the Asantehene, and her contributions to maternal and child health, education, and community welfare through initiatives like supporting Mother-Baby Units at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and establishing the Nana Konadu Saviour School.
Her passing on August 7, 2025, at the age of 98, has left a profound void in the Kingdom, with tributes from dignitaries like former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who described her as “an adorable queen of grace and wisdom,” and thousands gathering for her one-week observance on August 21, 2025. The final funeral rites, known as the ‘Doteyie’, are scheduled for September 14 to 18, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, promising a grand and solemn tribute to her legacy.
From September 1 to 18, 2025, all funerals, outdoor events, and social activities across the Ashanti Kingdom are suspended to ensure undivided reverence for the late Asantehemaa, reflecting the Ashanti custom of halting other activities to honor a royal figure’s passing. Residents and community leaders are expected to adhere strictly to this directive.
On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Asantehemaa will be laid in state at the Manhyia Palace, marking the official start of the funeral rites. This solemn ceremony allows mourners to view her body, accompanied by traditional mourning rituals, including drumming, singing of dirges, and cultural displays that honor her legacy, reserved for close family, traditional leaders, and select dignitaries.
On Monday, September 15, 2025, Asanteman, the collective Ashanti community, will file past Nana Konadu Yiadom III’s body at the Manhyia Palace to pay their last respects, with mourners expected to wear traditional mourning attire, typically black or red cloth, in a communal act that underscores her role as a unifying figure.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, September 16 and 17, 2025, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will sit in state to receive dignitaries, delegations, and traditional leaders from across Ghana and beyond, with formal homage-paying ceremonies featuring traditional drumming, dancing, and recitations of Ashanti history and praises for the late Asantehemaa, highlighting her far-reaching influence.
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, a burial service will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Manhyia Palace, marked by Christian and traditional Ashanti rituals, followed by the laying to rest of Nana Konadu Yiadom III at Bremang, the royal cemetery, concluding the four-day rites. All shops and businesses in the Ashanti Region must close on this day, and residents are directed to remain indoors from dusk to dawn to observe a nighttime curfew, ensuring absolute solemnity during the sacred burial, with the Ashanti Regional Police Command enforcing compliance.
During the funeral period, particularly on September 18, major roads around the Manhyia Palace, such as Manhyia Bonjour Road, Sumankwahene’s Junction Road, and St. Anne’s Anglican Church Road, will be temporarily closed, with designated diversion routes through Asawase Police Station and Hainako Road to the Kumasi Central Mosque, and shuttle services provided from pickup points like Asawase Methodist Park and Central Mosque Car Park. Tricycles, motorbikes, and rickshaws are banned from the palace vicinity to prevent congestion, with police overseeing traffic management and security. Mourners are expected to wear traditional mourning attire and observe dignified behavior, avoiding loud or disruptive activities, particularly during the burial.
A formal book of condolence has been opened at the Manhyia Palace for dignitaries, traditional leaders, and the public to record tributes, providing an opportunity for those unable to attend to honor her legacy.
The funeral rites are a celebration of Nana Konadu Yiadom III’s enduring contributions as a guardian of tradition, advisor to the Asantehene, and philanthropist whose work in health and education touched countless lives. The emotional weight of her passing, evident in the Asantehene’s grief during the announcement on August 11, 2025, and the thousands at her one-week observance, underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to honoring her with elaborate cultural displays and homage-paying ceremonies.
The funeral rites, from the laying in state to the sacred burial at Bremang, reflect the rich cultural heritage of Asanteman, uniting people from all walks of life to mourn, reflect, and celebrate a remarkable leader whose legacy will endure in the hearts of Asanteman and beyond.
