The Ashanti Kingdom is observing one of its most solemn and historic moments as thousands gather in Kumasi for the funeral of Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on 7 August 2025 at the age of 98.

The late Queen Mother, who reigned from 2017 until her death, played a pivotal role in the governance and cultural life of the Asante Kingdom. Her passing has triggered a week of elaborate traditional rites that have transformed Kumasi into a city of mourning, reverence, and cultural display.

Citywide Shutdown

From 14–18 September 2025, the Manhyia Palace has directed the closure of schools, banks, markets, shops, and offices to ensure that the entire city pays its respects. Residents have also been instructed to observe curfews at night to allow sacred rituals to proceed undisturbed.

The shutdown underscores the stature of the Asantehemaa, whose position as mother of the kingdom commands deep respect across Ashanti and Ghana as a whole.

Day-by-Day Rites

• Sunday, 14 September — Funeral rites commenced at Manhyia Palace, with chiefs, queen mothers, dignitaries, and mourners converging to begin the official period of mourning. Traditional drumming, dirges, and processions set the tone for the solemn days ahead.
• Monday–Wednesday, 15–17 September — The core rituals continue, featuring cultural displays, paying of homage by chiefs and royals, and symbolic movements of the body to traditional mausoleums. During these days, Kumasi has been under strict observance of funeral protocols, with public entertainment and social gatherings suspended.
• Thursday, 18 September — The rites are expected to reach their climax, with final burial ceremonies and the official laying to rest of the late Queen Mother. Kumasi will remain completely shut down as the Asante nation bids farewell to its matriarch.

Cultural Traditions on Display

The funeral is a vivid expression of amammerɛ (Ashanti culture) and amanneɛ (ritual traditions). Among the customs observed:

• Dress Codes: Mourners wear black and red cloths, with chiefs and royals adorned in rich kente regalia to signify both grief and honour.
• Hairstyles & Symbols: Royal women may wear densinkran, a mourning hairstyle unique to Ashanti queen mothers.
• Processions & Drumming: The movement of the body from palace to mausoleums symbolises the journey to the ancestors, accompanied by drums and dirges that are both spiritual and ceremonial.
• Hierarchy of Respect: The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, presides over the ceremonies, receiving homage from chiefs, queen mothers, dignitaries, and ordinary citizens alike.

A National Moment

The funeral of Nana Konadu Yiadom III is not only an Ashanti affair but also a national moment, attracting leaders, dignitaries, and mourners from across Ghana and beyond. For many, it is both a time of mourning and a celebration of the Queen Mother’s long life and legacy.

As the rites conclude on 18 September, the Ashanti Kingdom will have reaffirmed its cultural identity, showcasing to the world the enduring traditions that continue to shape Ghana’s social and political fabric.

Press Release

Kumasi, Ghana – 17 September 2025

The Ashanti Kingdom is in mourning as thousands gather in Kumasi for the funeral of Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on 7 August 2025 at the age of 98.

The final funeral rites, running from 14–18 September 2025, have brought the Ashanti capital to a complete standstill. By order of the Manhyia Palace, schools, markets, banks, and offices remain closed, while nightly curfews allow sacred rituals to proceed.

The ceremonies began on Sunday, 14 September, with chiefs, queen mothers, and dignitaries paying homage at Manhyia Palace. From Monday to Wednesday, traditional rites, processions, drumming, and homage-paying continued, with the movement of the body between royal mausoleums symbolising the Queen Mother’s journey to the ancestors.

On Thursday, 18 September, the rites will reach their climax with the final burial and official laying to rest of the Queen Mother.

The Asantehemaa’s funeral is marked by rich cultural displays: mourners in black and red cloths, chiefs in kente regalia, traditional drumming and dirges, and sacred mourning customs such as densinkran hairstyles for royal women.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, presides over the ceremonies, reaffirming the Ashanti Kingdom’s cultural heritage and hierarchy of respect.

The funeral of Nana Konadu Yiadom III is not only a moment of mourning but also a celebration of her legacy as a mother of the nation and a custodian of Ashanti traditions.