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Ghana🇬🇭 | festivalsAdae Kese FestivalAsantehene’s palanquin, state umbrellas, talking drums, Manhyia courtyard | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Adae Kese
👀 For curious travelersfestival ranked #15
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The Asantehene appears under a state umbrella in the Manhyia Palace courtyard, and the royal drums, the talking drums and the horn blowers announce him long before you see him. Adae Kese Festival is the grand Akwasidae of the Ashanti, held at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, in the heart of Ghana. It happens about once a year, sometimes less, and runs a single day. I came by shared minibus from Accra, and the driver stopped to buy me a cold sachet of water when I got carsick. Expect kente, gold, red-and-black cloth and heavy crowds. History lovers and photographers will like it most; anyone wanting a party or short queues won't.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Ghana Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #15 festival in GhanaWhat makes it a must-see festival

Adae Kese Festival is the one date when the Ashanti kingdom shows itself in full, and that is why backpackers bend a Ghana route around it. The ordinary Akwasidae comes every 42 days, but the grand Akwasidae at Manhyia Palace brings out paramount chiefs from across the Ashanti region, each arriving in a procession with drummers, linguists and gold-topped staffs. You stand in a crowd of Kumasi families dressed in their best cloth, and strangers will explain who is who. It is also free to watch, which is rare for an event of this scale. Pair it with Kumasi’s Kejetia Market and the craft villages around the city, and you get a full week of Ashanti culture.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. The Asantehene’s durbar at Manhyia Palace: the king arrives carried in a palanquin beneath a huge umbrella, greeting chiefs seated in a wide semicircle. This is the main event.
  2. Royal drumming and horn blowing: the talking drums and ivory-style horns recite praise names and proverbs, and the sound carries across the whole palace grounds.
  3. Chiefs’ processions: each chief enters with an entourage, staff bearers and a swaying umbrella, wearing gold ornaments and hand-woven kente draped over one shoulder.
  4. Manhyia Palace Museum: the former residence of Otumfuo Prempeh II holds royal regalia, furniture and photographs, and guides explain Ashanti succession and the Golden Stool story. Entry costs a few dollars, around US$5 to 10 for foreigners, and a visit takes about an hour.
  5. Kente and cloth on display:
… read more 👉
  1. The Asantehene’s durbar at Manhyia Palace: the king arrives carried in a palanquin beneath a huge umbrella, greeting chiefs seated in a wide semicircle. This is the main event.
  2. Royal drumming and horn blowing: the talking drums and ivory-style horns recite praise names and proverbs, and the sound carries across the whole palace grounds.
  3. Chiefs’ processions: each chief enters with an entourage, staff bearers and a swaying umbrella, wearing gold ornaments and hand-woven kente draped over one shoulder.
  4. Manhyia Palace Museum: the former residence of Otumfuo Prempeh II holds royal regalia, furniture and photographs, and guides explain Ashanti succession and the Golden Stool story. Entry costs a few dollars, around US$5 to 10 for foreigners, and a visit takes about an hour.
  5. Kente and cloth on display: the crowd itself is a gallery, with Bonwire and Adanwomase patterns in every color, and you can ask what each design signifies.
The palace museum and the durbar pair well in one day, with the museum visit before the crowds fill the courtyard.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Adae Kese Festival

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One day tour at Kumasi

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Full Day Lake Bosomtwe Boat Cruisely and Kumasi City Tours

Full Day Lake Bosomtwe Boat Cruisely and Kumasi City Tours

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Private Half-Day City Tour of Kumasi with Lunch

Private Half-Day City Tour of Kumasi with Lunch

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Kumasi City Tour

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Kumasi kejetia central market tour & Traditional Local cooking food classs

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Adae Kese Festival?

Adae Kese is held at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi roughly once a year, on a Sunday fixed by the Asante calendar's 42-day Akwasidae cycle, and the day runs from morning into the afternoon.
  • Best part: The Asantehene receives chiefs in durbar, with drumming, umbrellas and gold regalia. Arrive early to get a spot with a view.
  • Weather: Expect 23 to 31°C (73 to 88°F), humidity, and sudden downpours in the rainy months. Bring a hat, water and a light rain jacket.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed three to four weeks ahead. Prices rise about 20 to 40 percent around the date.
  • Crowds: Roads near the palace close early, so walk the last stretch and leave before the afternoon rush.
Confirm the date with the palace or the Kumasi tourism office a few weeks out.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Stay in central Kumasi, close to Adum and the Kejetia market area, if you want the easiest access to Manhyia Palace. Adum has the most budget beds, plenty of cheap eateries and shared taxis, and it stays lively until evening, so you are rarely alone on the street. Expect dorms or simple rooms at roughly US$10 to 25. Nearby Asafo and Bantama suit travelers who prefer quieter streets and local neighborhood life, and both are a short taxi ride from the palace. Areas around KNUST, in the east of the city, attract students, volunteers and long-stay backpackers, which makes them the best bet for meeting … read more 👉
Stay in central Kumasi, close to Adum and the Kejetia market area, if you want the easiest access to Manhyia Palace. Adum has the most budget beds, plenty of cheap eateries and shared taxis, and it stays lively until evening, so you are rarely alone on the street. Expect dorms or simple rooms at roughly US$10 to 25. Nearby Asafo and Bantama suit travelers who prefer quieter streets and local neighborhood life, and both are a short taxi ride from the palace. Areas around KNUST, in the east of the city, attract students, volunteers and long-stay backpackers, which makes them the best bet for meeting people and sharing rides. Whatever you choose, pick somewhere you can reach on foot or by a short ride, since taxis are scarce around the palace on festival morning. Take a taxi back after dark rather than walking.
Best hostels in Ghana


Best quality hotels in Ghana

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Adae Kese Festival costs a backpacker roughly US$45 to 90 a day, including a bed in Kumasi.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 10Watching from the palace grounds is usually free or carries a small fee. Reserved seating costs more.
AccommodationUS$10 to 40Dorms and guesthouses cost less in low season. Rates climb around the festival date.
Local transportUS$3 to 10Shared taxis and short private taxi rides around Kumasi. Fares rise on festival morning.
Food & drinksUS$8 to 18Street snacks cost US$1 to 3 and a plate of fufu with soup US$3 to 6.
MiscellaneousUS$5 to 12Photo permits, small tips to guides and donations, plus water and sunscreen.
Total Daily BudgetUS$66Based on high-season accommodation, with some room for extras.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in Adae Kese

Festival day around Manhyia Palace is a snack crawl. Vendors on the surrounding streets sell kelewele (spiced fried plantain), roasted groundnuts, boiled corn and meat pies, while women ladle out steaming waakye and jollof from big pots. For something properly Ashanti, find fufu with light soup, pounded to order and eaten with the fingers of the right hand, or kenkey with fried fish and pepper sauce.

Cool down with sobolo (hibiscus drink), fresh coconut or sachet water, which is sold everywhere. Palm wine appears too, usually from roadside sellers.

Bring small cash in cedis, since most stalls do not take cards and change is scarce. Portions are generous, so share a bowl if you are grazing. Lines form quickly after the durbar, so eat before it ends or wait an hour.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Adae Kese

Adae Kese Festival takes place about once a year, sometimes less often, at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. It falls on a Sunday in the Asante 42-day Akwasidae cycle, so the exact date shifts each year. The ceremony runs from morning into the afternoon, so arrive early.
Attending Adae Kese Festival costs little for the event itself, usually US$0 to 10 depending on seating and any photo fees. A realistic daily budget in Kumasi is US$45 to 90 with a bed, food and local taxis. Dorm and guesthouse beds cost about US$10 to 40 and get pricier around the date.
Adae Kese Festival generally does not require advance tickets for general viewing at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. Reserved seating or special access may need arranging through the palace or a local guide a few days ahead. Beds are the bigger concern, so book three to four weeks early.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Ghanaian festivals near Adae Kese

Explore more nearby:

  • Akwasidae Festival—42-day cycle, Sunday durbar, talking drums, palace courtyard| 0 km away
  • Nkyidwo Festival—Techiman, Bono traditional area, chiefs’ durbar, thanksgiving| 24 km away
  • Panafest—African diaspora, Cape Coast Castle, cultural performances, reconciliation| 182 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Many travelers turn up at Adae Kese Festival expecting a loose, stage-style event and arrive late, in shorts and bright clothes. Get there early, wear dark or traditional cloth, keep your left hand quiet when greeting, and ask a local to confirm the date with the palace beforehand.

✈️ When did I visit Ghana?
Ghana I visited in December 2024, starting in Accra following the coast, then up north to Mole National park to finish in the Volta Region.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Ghana, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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