Ashanti Kingdom Mourns: Manhyia Palace Offers Free Food to Honour Late Asantehemaa
- Manhyia Palace served free traditional meals to mourners during the Dote Yie rites for the late Asantehemaa
- Women in black distributed yams, eggs, coconuts, and more as part of Ashanti customs honouring the Queen Mother
- Ghanaians reacted online to the hospitality and culture on display at the four-day funeral rites in Kumasi
As part of the ongoing funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, Manhyia Palace has opened its gates to serve free food to mourners and attendees.
Source: Instagram
The palace showed a bit of its cultural hospitality and caught the eye of many on social media. The 'Dote Yie' ceremony started on September 14 and is scheduled to conclude four days later.
Now, in a trending video, as visitors paid their respects to the revered Queen Mother at Manhyia Palace, who died on August 7, 2025, at the age of 98 years, large quantities of traditional Ghanaian dishes were being distributed.
The food was prepared in accordance with Ashanti customs. The delicacies included yams, plantains, eggs, peeled coconuts, bread and tea, among many others. Women dressed in black attire distributed to the attendees, many of whom could be seen consuming it.
The gesture of providing free food is deeply rooted in Ashanti tradition, where hospitality and communal sharing remain significant to cultural events like this.
Watch the video below:
Funeral rites: Asantehene arrives at Manhyia Palace
Earlier, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made a majestic entrance at Manhyia Palace to participate in the final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.
The revered monarch was carried on a palanquin under a grand red and gold canopy, symbolising the richness of Ashanti culture, while traditional drums and chants echoed through the palace grounds.
Source: Twitter
Dressed in black royal attire and surrounded by regalia, his arrival captivated mourners and dignitaries gathered for the four-day Dote Yie ceremony, held from September 15, 2025.
The "Dote Yie" ceremony, meaning "lying in state," is an important part of the funeral rites for a royal figure in the Ashanti Kingdom. For this ceremony to be carried out, the body of the deceased is displayed for the public eye, accompanied by cultural rituals and performances.
Free food at Manhyia Palace sparks reactions
YEN.com.gh collected reactions from Ghanaians who watched the video on Instagram. Some of the comments are below.
Reset_intell said:
"Let's start calling funerals a black party. 🥳 🎉 😎"
Efyastonevy wrote:
"Please, when is the funeral going to end, cos I need to be in Kumasi. I can’t be left out fr this kind of enjoyment. 😂😂😂"
Keishawilliams14 commented:
"Proud Ashanti. 🔥❤️🙌😍"
Nana_wusua questioned:
"Na Jude wohe??"
Asantehemaa funeral rites: Otumfuo’s daughter grabs spotlight
YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s daughter, Dr Caryn Agyemang Prempeh, drew attention as she attended the Asantehemaa’s funeral.
Dressed in black and red mourning attire, she wept over the queen mother's passing while maintaining her composure.
Social media users praised Dr Caryn for her simple yet elegant mourning style, with many admiring her dignity and class.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
