Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ashanti king Prempeh II, including the king's war attire, ceremonial clothing, jewellery,
protective amulets, personal equipment for bathing and dining, furniture, royal insignia
and some fine brass weights for weighing gold.
Constructed to resemble an Ashanti chief's house, it has a courtyard in front and walls
adorned with traditional carved symbols. Among the museum's intriguing photos is a rare
one of the famous Golden Stool. The museum also contains the fake golden stool handed
over to the British in 1900.
National Cultural Centre
ARTS CENTRE
( 8.30am-5pm)
The National Cultural Centre is set within peaceful, shaded grounds and
includes craft workshops, where you can see brassworking, woodcarving, pottery making,
batik cloth dyeing and kente cloth weaving, as well as a gallery and crafts shop.
Manhyia Palace Museum
MUSEUM
(off Antoa Rd; adult/student C10/8; 9am-5pm)
Manhyia Palace was built by the British in 1925 to
receive Prempeh I when he returned from a quarter of a century of exile in the Seychelles
to resume residence in Kumasi. It was used by the Ashanti kings until 1974; the current
Asantehene now lives in a modern compound behind the museum.
On display is the original furniture and assorted royal memorabilia. During the festivit-
ies of Adae, which take place every 42 days, the Asantehene receives visitors; it's a fairly
formal occasion but travellers are welcome.
Festivals & Events
The Ashanti calendar is divided into nine cycles of 42 days called Adae, which means
'resting place'. Within each Adae, there are two special days of worship, when a celebra-
tion is held and no work is done. The most important annual festival is the
Odwira festival
,
which marks the last or ninth Adae. The festival features lots of drumming, horn blowing,
food offerings and parades of elegantly dressed chiefs. Contact the tourist office for exact
dates.
Sleeping
Accommodation in the budget and lower midrange categories is positively lacklustre in
Kumasi.
