Asanteman Mmra Fie

18/06/2024

Dwetɛ Kuduo
(Silver Casket)
Baafoɔ Osei Asibe, Dɛɛboɔsohene
Nana Osei Kuffour, Dwetɛkuduohene

Technically, dwetɛ kuduo is not a chair or a
stool but since it is a vital part of the Gold Stool,
it usually precedes the stool carriers when the
Asantehene is carried in the palanquin. It is
placed in front of the king’s chair and/or stool
when he is not present and this explains our
rationale for adding it to this chapter. Under
the leadership of Ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu, the
Asante forces finally captured the dwetɛ kuduo
from Bɔdwesɛanwohene Nana Adu Gyamfi in
Adanse. After unifying Asante with the Gold
Stool and adding the variety of regalia items,
Kɔmfo Anɔkye informed Ɔpemsoɔ Osei Tutu
that they needed the dwetɛ kuduo belonging to
Bɔdwesɛanwohene Nana Adu Gyamfi to ensure
victory in potential wars. According to Kɔmfo
Anɔkye, Nana Adu Gyamfi’s dwetɛ kuduo
possesses special tumi (powers) that are needed
to reinforce that of the Gold Stool. The analogy,
according to Baafoɔ Osei Asibe, is like buying
a car with no gas in it or a car without tires. In
that sense, it is fair to say that the dwetɛ kuduo
provides Asateman with ahoɔden (strength),
akwankyerɛ (guidance), nimdeɛ (knowledge)
and akokoɔduro (bravery) to successfully defend
the kingdom against aggression from potential
enemies. Further, Kɔmfo Anɔkye informed
them that victories in wars are assured once
they are able to add the dwetɛ kuduo to the
Gold Stool. Obtaining Nana Adu Gyamfi’s dwetɛ
kuduo was not easy as Ɔpemsuo fought Nana
Adu Gyamfi on seven different occasions, but
the latter’s forces defeated the Asante forces in
all the encounters. After failing to defeat Nana
Adu Gyamfi, the king, in consultation with
Kɔmfo. Anɔkye came up with a new strategy that would not require the use of force. For the
new scheme, the Dɛɛboɔsohene was sent to
Bɔdwesɛanwo as an undercover agent to capture
the dwetɛ kuduo and bring it to Kumase. After
a couple of months, he returned and reported to
his superiors that it was an impossible mission.
Faced with a near impossible situation, Kɔmfo
Anɔkye then performed special rituals for
Dɛɛboɔsohene to enable him to withstand any
spiritual forces that might prevent him from
accomplishing his mission. Following the rituals,
Dɛɛboɔsehene went back to Bɔdwesɛanwo as
a palm wine tapper and lived there for three
years. In that time, he ocassionally returned to
Kumase to report and update his superiors of
his investigations. In the process, Dɛɛboɔsohene
managed to marry Nana Adu Gyamfi’s niece and
that gave him the opportunity to get closer to the
chief’s court. Due to his knowledge of the Asante
court traditions, he endeared himself to the
courtiers and soon developed a close relationship
with Nana Adu Gyamfi. Eventually, he was
able to coordinate with the Asante forces and
coordinate a day to move in and seize the dwetɛ
kuduo. On this day, Dɛɛboɔsohene killed Nana
Adu Gyamfi and fled with the dwetɛ kuduo. With
perfect coordination, the Asante forces provided
him with cover, surrounded Bɔdwesɛanwo, and
with a surprise attack, defeated them for the
first time and finally brought the dwetɛ kuduo
safely back to Kumase. Once in Kumase, Osei
Tutu identified a carrier and created a stool for
him and as a result, we have Dwetɛkuduohene,
but Dɛɛboɔsohene is recognized as the one who
brought it to Kumase. The Dwetɛkuduohene
swears his oath of office to Otumfoɔ in addition to having access to the royal chamber. Kuduo
refers to a special container where precious items
are kept while dwetɛ is the Twi word for silver.
Dwetɛ kuduo therefore means a kuduo made
of silver (Raymond Silverman, 1983: 10-29,
examines in detail, the form and function of the
kuduo in Akan). In the past, the Akan used kukuo
(earthenware pot) or kɛntɛnku (woven basket
made from cane or the back of palm branches)
for similar purposes and expensive cloths,
jewelry, and other valuable items were placed
in it for safekeeping. As mentioned previously,
the Asantehene’s dwetɛ kuduo contains several
ritual objects that collectively give him tumi
(power) and it is always in his presence. Dwetɛ
kuduo is the last regalia item that is handed to a
newly installed Asantehene to formally complete
the ceremonies of his installation. During
processions, the carrier walks to the right of the
Asantehene and within easy access of the king. It
is placed on the king’s right when he sits in state.
In times of crises, or when judging extremely
complex land or succession cases, the king places
his right hand on the dwetɛ kuduo and it is said
to be able to transmit the ahoɔden (strength) and
tumi that he may need to negotiate difficult cases.
By virtue of his office, the Dwetɛkuduohene is
able to transmit tumi if the king places his right
hand on his heart.