Manhyia Stops Rains for Funeral

IN WHAT can best be described as pure display of supernatural powers, two imminent downpours were last week stopped from disrupting funeral proceedings at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

This was during the grand funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who joined her ancestors at the age of 111.

The grand funeral rites attracted scores of important dignitaries from across the globe, including the presidents of Ghana and Togo, to the Manhyia Palace, and the rains could have disrupted the funeral and also brought embarrassment to the Asante Kingdom if nothing was done.

On both occasions, the Chief Priest of the Asantehene, Baffuor Asabre Kogyawoasu Ababio, the Nsumankwahene, reportedly performed certain rituals which prevented the heavens from opening to release the rains.

The first incident happened on Thursday, which saw President Nana Akufo-Addo, his vice, Dr. Alhaji Bawumia and other top dignitaries in attendance.

In the course of the programme, it started drizzling and everything pointed to the fact that it would rain heavily that moment.

This prompted the Nsumankwahene and his subjects, most of who are fetish priests and priestesses, to quickly perform some ‘magic’ to stop the rain.

The second incident was on Saturday, which was the day that the Black stools of the past Asante Queens were supposed to appear in public.

It rained across the entire Kumasi Metropolis in the morning and residents expressed fear that it would disrupt the programme. But surprisingly, not a single drop of rain fell at the Manhyia Palace area.

Even though most mourners, especially the chiefs, heaped tons of praises on the Nsumankwahene for a good job done, he refused to take any praises, saying “God deserves the glory”.

The Otumfuo’s Chief Priest, however, confirmed that the ‘Nsumankwa’ Division of Asanteman performed some rituals to hold back the rains.

By: Afua Sarpong Amankwa/ thePublisher