So they say; “They are this”, “They are that”, “They are that and that”. Today, I ask again, who are they?
The African is attributed to so many by fellow Africans and non-Africans alike. One that comes to mind readily is that which says that they are people who are fighting with one another. Interestingly, most of these are untrue; yes, they are mostly the figment of their own imaginations. How and why that happens, I am yet to know and promise to tell you when we meet next time.
I had one of the best moments of my lifetime when I arrived at the Vaernes Airport, Trondheim from the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam today. Upon arrival at the said airport, I could not exchange my few USD for some NOK so as to use for boarding a bus to the Trondheim town which was contrary to earlier information I had. Within minutes, an African (Ugandan to be precise) noticed this and inquired if he can be of help. Having being promised by the driver of the said bus not to worry and that that will be dealt with, I turned down his request in a humble manner. Moments after he realised that the friend of mine with me (another Ghanaian) and I are still encountering some difficulty, the gentleman got off the bus he boarded and explicitly asked us to get on board so that he could pay for us after which we could repay him when the money has been exchanged. Hey! The African? Yes, Africa’s African! The show is really yet to unfold.
En route to Moholt student village, we had some talk together. Upon arrival at the said destination, many African colleagues most of whom he was at the airport to meet were exceptional to relate to. Buddy, it was great being with these people. These are people who I just met. We walked together for several minutes during which the freshmen and women including my good self were taken to our various rooms, one after the other. This is just the beginning.
My newly found friends from the Black people’s continent just got some palatable and delicious cross-cultural continental dishes for us; yes, for all of us. We had some nice time together; ate, drank (non alcoholic!) and interacted.
It is refreshing to say at this juncture that the famous ubuntu and enviable African hospitality was at its peak again. Comrade, what a show of a true African identity! My newly found friends from Uganda and Tanzania: Mathias, Moses, Carol, Dalphin, Samuel, Daniel, Flora and the rest, I doff my hat and salute you all for raising high the banner of the African and Africanness. Let us all keep the spirit of togetherness and oneness not only when outside the continent but with one another and the world at all times for this is the greatest responsibility.
Remember, your thought today can make the world better tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
THE ROAD TO THE WEST OF THE WEST.
Yeah, it is there that the cemetery, both the Christian and non-Christian, is located. It housed the many untapped potentials of the one who would have produced the most unprecedented invention on earth, it is the home of the greatest personality whose thought would have made the world better. It is definitely the abode of that person who the world would have marvelled at should s/he be alive today. Again, it will be the resting place of you who hail from Tefle after your hard life’s work. That is the west of where it all began – Tefle P.C.G. Primary School.
It is highly a nostalgic moment today recapturing how I swept my plot which was situated closed to this same side – the west. During breakfast, we consumed the ever available and cheap-to-buy boiled maize with either coconut or groundnut with some little variations on few occasions. After this, my friends and I get to our classrooms for the rest of the day’s work. The senior colleagues at the time sometimes find their way to the west (cemetery) where they chatted and chatted till they are forced by the sound of the bell to get back to class.
The west when I found myself in JHS was the famous and highly respected Battor RC Hospital. Close to it was the assembly ground where we meet during our afternoon closing periods.
Certainly, the west at the Great SOGASCO housed the bush ‘K’ and the minor outlet to town. Visiting Bush ‘K’ was a great moment, you know. It blessed us with the upgrading of the stomach to its actual and true level. Times when it become pretty difficult for me to get there, it had mercy on me and send me some satisfying gifts through benevolent friends. Bush ‘K’, I thank you.
Memories of the Great Hall with all its superb outlook that depicts the great tower of learning at UG runs through my mind immediately. So, magnificent and visibly adoring it is. That is really great. But hey I cannot forget this too. Climbing to the top (Great Hall) is rather a breathtaking experience hence fearful to tread by almost all students. But who are you not to climb if you have problems with your grade(s)? You better start jumping there now!
This is the moment. This is the time. How many have seen, heard or imagined it? But it is real. It is the moment that I must have another encounter with a west, the west of the West. Yes, that is its name. How did it happen? Nothing much to talk about except to say that that which I have and earnestly hopes to have are all allowed by the Lord God Almighty for His service and the service of mankind. It was that blessed few seconds of a click on a friend’s laptop and encouragement from another friend who was also doing his despite the much reluctance of both the laptop’s owner and myself that got it through. Having entered the details about two times without success, I nearly gave up but hey with the voice of that colleague engineered by God, I tried again and this time, it went through. Yes, get up and on and do it again, just one more time for it might be the moment we have all been waiting for.
After the tussle of getting the ‘lorry’ fare for the journey to the west of the West, it must be made and it is being made. For the first time, I am off to the west of the West. At the entrance of the gate to this well designed and splendid looking vehicle that will carry about 380 passengers, I remembered those moments of walking for about two hours on foot at dawn just to get to school on time. How dramatic? Why this drastic change? How? Yes, I ask why and how? I realised it is the Lord.
It is that moment of sitting with the indigenes of the west of the West not just in one vehicle but on one stretch of a seat. Martin Luther King Jr. and his comrades suffered on the train and buses of Montgomery but today it is possible that a not too long ago smallish boy can come this far. That is how far the human race has come. The kingly treat given on this refined foot cannot escape the information hungry pen of mine. Oh, it is true. Yes, it is true.
Having been on this journey for about eight hours must remind me of walking for about two hours. This is how far the Ghanaian child has come.
It is one of remembrance. It is one worth celebrating. It is one worth meditating on. It is one worthy of …
Several ‘wests’ have I encountered but this is the west of the West, one with a distinct feature. Many are those who have gone there and have made the best out of it; lives have been changed from worse to better and economies of nations have and continue to be transformed by that single experience. That is how far they have come. I cannot also pretend to say that I have not seen many who had not made anything out of it.
This is the moment for the Promising Child of Africa for the World. Will the road to the west of the West be used to make the world a better place to live in or not? With the Lord God on my side, I promise that victory beckons again. Yes, it beckons from all sides of the globe; not just from the west of the West but from north, south, east, central and the west. Yes, humanity can be better off for it is possible.
Folk, remember, your thought today can make the world a better place tomorrow. Think about it.
(written while on the road to the west of the West on Wednesday, 10th August, 2011).
It is highly a nostalgic moment today recapturing how I swept my plot which was situated closed to this same side – the west. During breakfast, we consumed the ever available and cheap-to-buy boiled maize with either coconut or groundnut with some little variations on few occasions. After this, my friends and I get to our classrooms for the rest of the day’s work. The senior colleagues at the time sometimes find their way to the west (cemetery) where they chatted and chatted till they are forced by the sound of the bell to get back to class.
The west when I found myself in JHS was the famous and highly respected Battor RC Hospital. Close to it was the assembly ground where we meet during our afternoon closing periods.
Certainly, the west at the Great SOGASCO housed the bush ‘K’ and the minor outlet to town. Visiting Bush ‘K’ was a great moment, you know. It blessed us with the upgrading of the stomach to its actual and true level. Times when it become pretty difficult for me to get there, it had mercy on me and send me some satisfying gifts through benevolent friends. Bush ‘K’, I thank you.
Memories of the Great Hall with all its superb outlook that depicts the great tower of learning at UG runs through my mind immediately. So, magnificent and visibly adoring it is. That is really great. But hey I cannot forget this too. Climbing to the top (Great Hall) is rather a breathtaking experience hence fearful to tread by almost all students. But who are you not to climb if you have problems with your grade(s)? You better start jumping there now!
This is the moment. This is the time. How many have seen, heard or imagined it? But it is real. It is the moment that I must have another encounter with a west, the west of the West. Yes, that is its name. How did it happen? Nothing much to talk about except to say that that which I have and earnestly hopes to have are all allowed by the Lord God Almighty for His service and the service of mankind. It was that blessed few seconds of a click on a friend’s laptop and encouragement from another friend who was also doing his despite the much reluctance of both the laptop’s owner and myself that got it through. Having entered the details about two times without success, I nearly gave up but hey with the voice of that colleague engineered by God, I tried again and this time, it went through. Yes, get up and on and do it again, just one more time for it might be the moment we have all been waiting for.
After the tussle of getting the ‘lorry’ fare for the journey to the west of the West, it must be made and it is being made. For the first time, I am off to the west of the West. At the entrance of the gate to this well designed and splendid looking vehicle that will carry about 380 passengers, I remembered those moments of walking for about two hours on foot at dawn just to get to school on time. How dramatic? Why this drastic change? How? Yes, I ask why and how? I realised it is the Lord.
It is that moment of sitting with the indigenes of the west of the West not just in one vehicle but on one stretch of a seat. Martin Luther King Jr. and his comrades suffered on the train and buses of Montgomery but today it is possible that a not too long ago smallish boy can come this far. That is how far the human race has come. The kingly treat given on this refined foot cannot escape the information hungry pen of mine. Oh, it is true. Yes, it is true.
Having been on this journey for about eight hours must remind me of walking for about two hours. This is how far the Ghanaian child has come.
It is one of remembrance. It is one worth celebrating. It is one worth meditating on. It is one worthy of …
Several ‘wests’ have I encountered but this is the west of the West, one with a distinct feature. Many are those who have gone there and have made the best out of it; lives have been changed from worse to better and economies of nations have and continue to be transformed by that single experience. That is how far they have come. I cannot also pretend to say that I have not seen many who had not made anything out of it.
This is the moment for the Promising Child of Africa for the World. Will the road to the west of the West be used to make the world a better place to live in or not? With the Lord God on my side, I promise that victory beckons again. Yes, it beckons from all sides of the globe; not just from the west of the West but from north, south, east, central and the west. Yes, humanity can be better off for it is possible.
Folk, remember, your thought today can make the world a better place tomorrow. Think about it.
(written while on the road to the west of the West on Wednesday, 10th August, 2011).
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