Hundreds of mourners have converged on the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to join the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in performing the one-week funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.
Nana Konadu, elder sister of the Asantehene, died on August 07, 2025, after a short illness, having reigned as queen mother for eight years.
The palace and its environs were filled with mourners clad in the traditional red and black, including chiefs, queen mothers, traditional priests and priestesses, clergy, Imams, political leaders, corporate executives, and ordinary citizens.
Traditional drums, dirges, and music from groups such as Kete, Adoa, and Nwomkro filled the air, accompanied by performances from dancers and cultural troupes.
Born in 1927 to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, and Opanin Kofi Fofie, Nana Konadu was deeply schooled in Asante traditions. She ascended the stool in 2017 after her mother’s passing.
Her reign was marked by compassion, service, and philanthropy, particularly in maternal and child health. She supported hospitals, vulnerable families, and community initiatives, earning respect as a custodian of tradition and a symbol of Ashanti womanhood.
Her passing marks the end of a reign that combined traditional authority with a modern sense of social responsibility.
To Asanteman, she was more than a queen mother — she was a symbol of justice, a mother to the vulnerable, and a custodian of Asante values.
Details of her funeral arrangements will be announced by the Asanteman Traditional Council in due course, but for now, the Kingdom unites in mourning a matriarch whose life embodied service, equity, and love for her people.
