The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II received massive cheers from his subjects as he rode around Kumasi Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
Otumfuo visited Adum, the central business district of Kumasi, to perform a rite as part of the celebration of Awukudae festival.
The Awukudae festival happens to be one of the two main Adae festivals of the Asante people. The Asanthene arrived at Adum in a long convoy of expensive vehicles. Among the vehicles was an antique Rolls Royce which the king rode in.
Upon seeing the convoy of their king, many of the traders and other people around the Hello FM area in Adum trooped to the street to cheer him on.
In a video, one woman who was so excited could not help but get closer to the streets while others raised their hands in hailing their king.
Otumfuo’s antique Rolls Royce 20/25
The Asantehene’s Rolls Royce is known as 20/25. The model was manufactured between 1929 to 1936. Information available on the internet indicates that a total of 3,827 20/25s were produced, of which over 70% are still on the road today.
This particular one being used by Otumfuo Osei Tutu is about 86 years old and has been used by three Asantehenes. Otumfuo Osei Agyemang Prempeh II was the first to use it in 1935.
According to an Asante historian Safo Kantanka, Prempeh II first used during the durbar for the reunification of the Asante Confederacy in 1935.
After Prempeh II’s passing in 1970, he was succeeded by Opoku Ware II who used the car in his 29-year-old. Osei Tutu II is thus the third Asantehene to used the car after succeeding Opoku Ware II in 1999.
Wednesday’s Awukudae festival came just two days after Osei Tutu celebrated the 22nd anniversary of his ascension of the golden stool.