Communication with the King, chiefs or the fetish priest must pass through the Okyeame. As a symbol of his authority to speak to the King and chiefs the Okyeame carries a staff, an okyeame poma. The fininal on top of the poma normally symbolises an Asante proverb or saying.
Credits: www.africaonwheels.pbworks.com/w/page/1491864/Ashanti%20Okyeame/page/1491864/Ashanti%20Okyeame
Some Asante Traditions
The transmission of customs and beliefs from generation to generation has and will always be a part of the Asante culture. In the days of old where the world was considered in modern day terms as not technologically savvy, our ancestors had their own way of passing on their culture handed to them by their fore-fathers without recording devices. How? By oral tradition. Our ancestors would gather around a fire at night and tell stories of their lineage and culture to the little ones instilling in them a sense of identity. Much of these customs, beliefs and practices have been modernized but when it comes to royalty, the undiluted forms are still maintained. A few of these customs are captured in the videos below.
The Akans of antiquity developed a system of encoding the Akan language into a range of sounds and dance rhythms and this video captures the recitation of royal accolades exalting the King at a ceremony. The drum type reciting the accolades and providing rhythm to the enacter of the recitations is the talking drum - Fontomfrom.
It is through oaths that the prerogative of the King to command the obedience of his subjects (which is the substance of real authority) is given the force of personal commitment by his subjects. This video captures a traditional oath-taking ceremony by a sub-chief before the Omanhene (King), kingmakers and some members of the New Juaben traditional area.
Tradition
The transmission of customs and beliefs from generation to generation.