Atletico Madrid forward Memphis Depay has explained that his goal celebration last weekend in La Liga was aimed at paying tribute to the Asantehene Osei Tutu II.
The Dutch attacker performed the Kete dance, traditionally associated with the people of the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana after scoring against Granada in Atletico Madrid’s opening game in the Spanish La Liga.
The video of the celebration has taken over the internet with massive reactions, especially from the people of Ghana.
Memphis Depay seems to have perfected the Adowa dance ????
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 15, 2023
“The dance is from the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana and it’s paying respect to our king,” Depay told La Liga TV.
“He has a dance as well where ‘he takes, as I give’ and he takes and the kingdom is his. I have the privilege to know the king and that was a celebration for him and obviously celebrating with the team and the fans is a great feeling.”
Despite being a Netherlands international, the 29-year-old was born to a Ghanaian father and has made Ghana a regular place of vacation. The latest among his series of trips to Ghana involved a visit to the king at his palace in Manhyia.