Many are those that believe that every Asantehene wears the bulletproof wear jacket (Batakarikeseɛ) twice in his lifetime . But that is not the case and cannot be the case .
- An Asantehene wears the Batakarikeseɛ during his enstoolment as Asantehene.
- During the funeral of his predecessor .
- During the funeral of an Asantehemaa .
- Should more than one Asantehemaa die in office during his time as Asantehene , he will have to wear the Batakarikeseɛ during their funeral .
- During war in which he , Asantehene , has to be present at the war front .
- Some Asantehene , not to mention , Opoku Ware l , Osei Kwadwo , and Osei Bonsu , who fought many wars had to wear it a number of times (5 or more times) in their lifetime .
- Asantehene Kusi Obodum wore Batakarikeseɛ twice in his lifetime ; that is during his enstoolment and the funeral of his predecessor .
- Kwaku Dua ll wore it but just once in his lifetime . This is because , he died in office only 40 days after his enstoolment . He did not stay that long in office to wear Batakarikeseɛ to celebrate the funeral of his predecessor and an Asantehemaa or go to war .
In the light of the foregoing therefore , there’s no limit to the number of times an Asantehene has to wear Batakarikeseɛ in his lifetime .
KANTANKA
Source:The Kingdom of Asante
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