In a BBC interview on the Ashanti Kingdom titled, “The Golden Stool – History of Africa,” local heritage expert, Osei Bonsu, explained how this works by pointing out that gold is a very important object in Ashanti tradition.

He claims that everything in the vicinity of the king and other chiefs is made of gold or is at least gold-plated.

“Gold is used for all the ornamentation. The items that have been covered in gold are more than just gold; they have been etched with symbolic significance.

They are aware of the best times and days to wear them. You don’t wear the regalia that you want to wear every day. Depending on the circumstance. It’s all black and red with gold when it’s honoring someone’s death,” he remarked.