The gold regalia
On green stands.
Dan Sloan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Sir Amugi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nichoooo — CC BY 4.0 · Collins Twum-Yeboah — CC BY-SA 4.0 · jbdodane — CC BY 2.0
Manhyia Palace Museum occupies the old palace of the Asantehene, the Asante king, in the city of Kumasi. It is a white two-storey building with red columns, and it shows how the kings of one of West Africa's strongest realms lived. The name means «gathering of the people» in Akan, and the new palace close by is still the home of the present king. The British built this palace in 1925, after demolishing the original Asante palace with explosives during the War of the Golden Stool. They had been impressed by the size of the old palace and its contents, which included rows of books in many languages. Asantehene Opoku Ware II later built the new palace nearby, and the old one became a museum. A guide leads you through rooms of royal furniture, gold jewellery on green stands, ceremonial objects and paintings of Asante kings and queens. The tour explains how Asante rule worked and the place of the Golden Stool in the life of the people. Trees shade the forecourt, and a sign on the wall by the entrance reads «Akwaaba», meaning welcome. Kejetia Market is about 1 km away in a straight line and Lake Bosomtwe about 31 km. The tour is guided, and photos may not be allowed inside, so ask at the entrance. If your visit might fall on Akwasidae, held every six weeks, ask for the date, as the king then appears before the people at the new palace.
On green stands.
Furniture and ceremony.
White with red columns.
Manhyia, Kumasi, Ghana
No, the museum is in the old palace, and the present king lives in the new one nearby.
An event that recurs every six weeks, when the king appears before the people, so ask for the date ahead.
