KUMASI, GHANA – His Majesty King Mswati III graced a grand, colourful and cultural gathering at the Manhyia Palace to celebrate a long- cherished traditional ceremony known as the Durbar.
The King was accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMagongo, Emazinyane, Senior Prince Mguciso, Princess Tsandzile, Chiefs and his entire delegation.
Kumasi has been experiencing high temperatures since the arrival of His Majesty the King on Tuesday, but from the blue, dark clouds gathered amid the ceremony, heavens opened, as heavy rains poured.
However, they failed to spoil King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s big day nor damper the highly spirited Ashantehene warriors or silence the heavy sounds of drums.
Blessings
In fact, they soon gave way to the hundreds of Ghanaians who had come to witness this historic event held in honour of His Majesty the King to proceed with their dance and song. In Swati lore, rains symbolise blessings and a lot of them showered upon the Ashante in Kumasi.
When addressing the chiefs, the King likened the Durbar to the many cultural events emaSwati hosts annually, being Umhlanga, Incwala and the Marula festivals, which are true symbols of unity and identity.
“These are a celebration of culture preserved through the ages, now entrusted to us to vigorously pass on to our children. In a world of competing foreign influences, we must hold fast to these traditions, ensuring they remain the heartbeat of our identity,” the King said.
He said on Wednesday he was taken on a tour of the Manhyia Palace museum, where he learnt of the deep history of the monarchy and its people. The Ingwenyama said this was a crucial exercise to help keep the story of the kingdom’s existence alive and safeguard sacred emblems for the benefit of future generations.
However, the King said the preservation alone is not enough.
Superimposed
“We must modernise and document our cultures to strengthen their roles in governance and administration. Our laws must be rooted in our traditions, not superimposed foreign ideals. By codifying our customs, we ensure they are recognised globally and serve as tools for good governance,” His Majesty the King said.
He further said in Eswatini, they strive to blend tradition with progress, much like the Asante Kingdom’s remarkable local government structure for service delivery, which he had the privilege of learning about on Wednesday.
“The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s integration of traditional leadership into modern administration is a model of how culture can enhance effective governance, ensuring services reach our people while honouring our heritage.
“Your Majesty, the Asante and emaSwati share a proud history of resilience against colonial shadows. Your golden stool was never surrendered and it echoes our unyielding spirit,” the King said.
He said the people of Ghana gather to honour the Asantehene while emaSwati rally around the Ingwenyama to celebrate their shared destiny.
“Today, we stand united in our duty to preserve our cultures, not as relics, but as living forces guiding our future.
Splendour
“Now that we have experienced the full splendour of your wonderful culture, we take this opportunity to extend an invitation to His Majesty to join emaSwati for any one of our national cultural celebrations. We have no doubt that the experience shared with us will be well reciprocated,” the King said.
His Majesty the King appreciated the visionary leadership of King Tutu II, which he said serves as a beacon for African traditional rulers.
“May the golden stool continue to shine, and may Asantehene and Eswatini walk hand-in-hand, preserving our heritage, modernising our traditions and building a future where our children proudly carry our culture forward,” the King concluded.
The King was showered with gifts from the Ashante King and his people to which he expressed his appreciation.
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