The Seychelles Islands have commemorated the 100th anniversary of the return of Asantehene Nana Agyeman Prempeh I to Kumasi from exile with a two-week photographic exhibition, The King in Exile.
Officially opened on November 11 at the Seychelles National Library in Mahé by the country’s President, Wavel Ramkalawan, the exhibition celebrates Prempeh’s resilience and legacy.
President Ramkalawan, a Canon of the Anglican Church, praised Prempeh’s endurance during his 28-year exile and highlighted his embrace of Christianity. The opening ceremony was attended by descendants of Prempeh residing in Seychelles, Ghanaian residents, and dignitaries.
The exhibition, curated by historian Ivor Agyeman-Duah, Cecille Kalebi of the Seychelles Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, and Ghanaian Honorary Consul Kwame N. Acquah, explores the impact of Prempeh’s exile and the courage of Yaa Asantewaa in leading the 1900 Anglo-Asante War. The curators described the event as “a tribute to Asante resilience and a symbol of cultural ties between Ghana and Seychelles.”
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa and Seychelles, Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage, urging Ghanaians to draw inspiration from Prempeh’s patriotism.
She announced that the commemoration will continue in Ghana with a three-day celebration, starting on November 22 with a symposium at the Osei Tutu II Hall, followed by a mini-durbar on November 23, and a memorial service at St. Cyprian Cathedral in Kumasi on November 24.
The exhibition also features Kente textiles from Bonwire and other weaving communities, curated by Maame Konadu Mintah of Mintoma Limited. It has attracted significant attention, offering visitors an immersive look into Asante culture and history. honours the enduring legacy of Asantehene Prempeh I and his role in shaping the cultural identity of the Asante people.
