tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32551212810580651692024-02-06T19:14:59.055-08:00Phillis Wheatley ChapterPhillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-13601720173685666382020-03-01T05:40:00.000-08:002020-03-01T06:31:13.557-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Engrossed by the themes of a socio-complex writer,
whose radar is en route to recover the welfare of race, womanhood and common
humanity</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An interview with Nana Yeboaa, by Darko Antwi.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">DARKO</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
If there is any single contemporary Ghanaian poem whose social depth has
engrossed audience, and received a wholesome critique, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for my Husband an Educated Fool</i> stands out. How do you feel being
the author of such extraordinary title?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: The tittle of the poem itself speaks volume, it speaks to truth
telling. As writers or authors, we are influenced by our social, cultural and
political environments. The poem was written to address an issue that was
concerning to the African woman, the influence of western education, cultures
and systems on a family unit operating in a traditional sense. The clash
between the educated (upper class male elite) and the uneducated
(village/local/lower class female).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: To what extent is your latest book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Roots of a Woman</i>, cast on the immigration experiences of the
Afro-Canadian feminine population? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: As a Ghanaian Canadian or African Canadian, I cannot speak for
the whole African Canadian population. The reason being that even though we
share a diaspora experience, the breadth and depth differs due to our various
backgrounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, in roots of a
woman, one can, I presume appreciate a yearning and appreciation of culture, of
home whether it is Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica or Haiti. There is a nostalgic
feeling of African /black motherhood and or womanhood. Collectively, we as a
group fight a common fight. That is, acknowledgement, respect and for our
families. We are black women whose voices are often silenced, however as
storytellers, authors such as myself seek to share and tell stories from home
(Ghana) and stories of experience of our new homes (Canada). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Against
the background of predominantly illiterate continent, how effective is
literature (as a tool) in the women’s rights and equality campaign?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NANA</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Illiteracy has been used to condone the African. From a western perspective, if
you cannot read and write in English or French or any colonial language (which
we predominantly do), you are deemed illiterate. In this regards, if we are to
use literature as a tool for women’s rights and equality campaign, there needs
to be appreciation for all aspects of literature, the oral storytelling as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A better development,
understanding and appreciating of the oral narratives reach and educate more
people in the hinter land. Music as part of storytelling. It’s accessible to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more people than the reach of books. This is
not to say that we do not encourage reading and writing in colonial languages
as well. A complete and equitable (equality) campaign must embrace all parts of
the African literary traditions. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As a public affairs host of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Literary Voices</i>, at Toronto’s DORC Radio, have you any sign to
believe that the next generation of the Ghanaian Diaspora may lose some basic
values of their culture to the evolving trends of the Western Hemisphere?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: The older generation who immigrated years ago has lost part of
their basic values of their culture, which they deemed backwards. As they have
castigated their cultural beliefs and taken others as their own, the question
becomes, how much could they transfer to their children. Language is one such
factor. The language which often holds cultural nuances are being lost upon our
children because of sometimes unconscious colonial mental subjugation and
elevation of colonial languages. Our traditional languages / mother tongues are
not spoken with our children. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Irrespective of this, I
must say, the recent year of return and afro beats music has made the African a
“cool cat” in the Western Hemisphere.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2009 summer interview
with Rob Taylor, you stated that “In order to fight [racial] prejudice, there
needs to be a sense of value in society, and an acknowledgment that we all
bring something positive to the world”. A decade after that statement, do you
have any cause to believe that it’s a system that requires a complex approach
than you thought? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: My understating and approach to racial injustice and how to
fight it has changed. I do believe that more writers of African descent (by this,
I include diasporas as well) need to write the narrative of the African experience.
We need a voice or presence and inclusion. We need to create and demand our
space and place in the world. We need to change our mindset, decolonize,
imagine and re-imagine Africa and her children all around the world. We need to
tell the African narrative, retell and tell of the futuristic Africa we want to
see. This is a complex approach. But it could be realized through economics,
politics, and definitely literature. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: In almost every International Day of the African Child, you have
celebrated African childhood. On that interest, could you share your hope in
the plight of the modern African child? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: I believe the modern
African child lives in an era that his life can be transformed. By this; I mean
through technology. Technology gives access to information sharing across the
globe. Access and use of hi-tech leap-frogs them into the future far advance
than ours. Through the use of technology, imaginations have been brought to
light. Scientific and engineering break-throughs have been brought about. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Albeit, that many
children still suffer due to misaligned greed by adults. The plight of the
African child can be changed when we listen, acknowledge and share their stories.
We should, as well, engage and support their hopes, dreams and aspirations. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A celebration of African
childhood has always looked at the negative of the struggles of the child, but
not the triumphs that some have and continue to achieve, thus inciting hope.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Africa is rising to
claim its place in the world. What we as adults need is to encourage an African
story that is authentic to the African, and to instill pride in our children and
the subsequent generations. We ought to teach children to dream, and to reach
impossible dreams. With visionary leaders, the African of tomorrow can and will
transform. In light of International Day of the African Child, we also
appreciate the children and youth who stood and fought for their rights.
African children also have rights. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: Apart from a few hundred released copies, your poetry, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lamentations by the Banks of the Volta</i>,
has since 2014 been available via electronic means. Is it suggestive that the
fraction of ebook sales is higher than the physical version?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: Since I work more with individual book shops, I find the sales
better, I am not an expert sales person online, so I since de-listed the book
in order to have full control.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: Your works (including anthologies you’ve been featured) have borne
your pen name, until </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">you recently introduced a middle name. Hasn’t that late
introduction affected the stability of your pseudonym brand?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: Not in the least, it has rather given the sense of completeness.
It was also a rebranding strategy and reclamation of my personhood as an
African in the diaspora. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DARKO</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: At the malfunction / collapse of major blogs and national
journals, is there any reason left, in your estimation, for writers to explore
blogging and social media platforms?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NANA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: Everyone needs an avenue to emerge from or to be listened to.
Social media has brought many unknown writers to our bedrooms. It has made
literature in its various capacities accessible to people from all over the
world. If blogging is a “thing”, then I encourage, the more one writes, the
better one gets at their arts and craft. If Facebook or Instagram is it, then I
equally encourage. Voices need to be heard, everyone’s voice matters.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read Previous Interviews <a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-street-of-books-and-authors.html">here</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tRC6WjtkMMXofdjwIrBfdgWDuLmeL80s0E1tnr367EYwmEaIR9Zd9ufDiE0uh3ammI_a8zKkCXMyJiRP9XwrCpTAE-6Z_QT2AQxTOi-lH6MhH95jwGCusdd7dHu6_JFZb2f2uZx9mZzQ/s1600/AB4NanaY+Yeboah+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tRC6WjtkMMXofdjwIrBfdgWDuLmeL80s0E1tnr367EYwmEaIR9Zd9ufDiE0uh3ammI_a8zKkCXMyJiRP9XwrCpTAE-6Z_QT2AQxTOi-lH6MhH95jwGCusdd7dHu6_JFZb2f2uZx9mZzQ/s400/AB4NanaY+Yeboah+Photo.jpg" width="253" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Nana Yaa Yeboaa</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> Credit: Philjoe Multimedia </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span data-offset-key="2tegm-0-0"><span data-text="true">Nana Yaa Yeboaa is the pen name for Bernadette Poku, a graduate of York University, Toronto. She is a spoken word artist and performance poet. Some of her poetry material have appeared in the <i>Taj Mal </i>anthology, and <i>T.dot Griot</i>: an anthology of Toronto Black storytellers.</span></span> In 2014 Yeboaa published her first collection of poetry: <i>Lamentations by the Banks of Volta. </i>Her latest book, <i>Roots of a Woman,</i> is available at Amazon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Woman-Nana-Yaa-Yeboaa/dp/1977830749"><img alt="https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Woman-Nana-Yaa-Yeboaa/dp/1977830749" border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1P-43bTx5CQ-Wkks1M0RfEvrw0WOtTLW62COYL8PuGhlLJjp86w65AWOVj1caFNV6bQRSiAK9Kz-C_o8fSGcI08hTWqma8wY3bWNec7S_oLHbE8VqBvxJf8wRV9VXzzYrAtP8OmrF2Yu/s1600/purchase+link.gif" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Woman-Nana-Yaa-Yeboaa/dp/1977830749"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="a-dynamic-image a-stretch-vertical" data-a-dynamic-image="{"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41fJtgkquSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg":[324,499],"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41fJtgkquSL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg":[225,346]}" id="imgBlkFront" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41fJtgkquSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="260px" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-77890555093357798852020-01-17T10:14:00.000-08:002020-01-17T10:52:21.068-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Fascinated by the diasporan Ghanaian writer, whose cathedral collection has been a fibre of literacy to the modest suburb of her homeland</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">An interview with
Sylvia Arthur. By Darko Antwi</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b></span></span>: </b></span>How significant
is the role of libraries in developing economies?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>:
I think libraries play, or can play a hugely significant role in developing
economies. For one, I think they provide an invaluable resource for people with
limited access to quality education, and I don’t just mean children but people
at all stages of life, including and, even, especially adults. For many adults,
there’s a stigma attached to having little formal education and libraries offer
a non-judgemental, safe environment for people to improve themselves for
economic as well as for personal reasons. In many developing economies, schools
are unable to provide children with the kind of education they need to meet the
demands of and compete in the 21st-century. Libraries are in a unique position
to fill the gap between what’s being taught in school and what isn't, and also
to bolster what's being taught. There are many other skills, soft and hard,
that library can develop too. Unfortunately, I think libraries are completely underrated
in Ghana, perhaps because the economic outcome of using one isn’t immediate. In
economically straitened environments, we tend to focus on things that produce
instant results to meet our immediate needs. If you're a parent or child, and
you're faced with the choice of going to a library or going out and making
money, however small that money may be, you will, of course, choose the latter
because investing in literacy is a long-term payoff and, in many developing
countries, survival is utmost in our minds on a day-to-day basis. Libraries can
play a role not just in surviving but thriving, socially and economically. But
we have to recognise that and invest in them accordingly.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: In her August 2019 Daily Graphic
article, <i>We don’t read, that’s the problem</i>, Elizabeth Ohene stated that
“the non-reading culture [of Ghanaians] is not limited to primary schools, but
to universities, and homes.” How real is such a perception to your research
knowledge?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">SYLVIA</span></b>: I think Madame
Ohene is simply stating the obvious. From the work I've done in<span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> communities across Ghana
over the past two years, it was evident from the start that reading is an alien
activity for many, if not most people. What’s more disturbing is that this runs
across the class and social spectrum. I’ve found that middle-class Ghanaians
hardly read and neither do the elites. There’s a lack of understanding of the
importance of literacy and reading and the benefits it brings. This problem
won’t be overcome until we recognise that the best developed economies in this
world are fully literate economies. In addition to class and education, the
problem is also one of town versus country, male versus female. In fact, our
problem or our inability to recognise the importance of literacy runs deep.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: As reported in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Voice</i>, you ‘believe in literacy for
all, regardless of social-economic status” and you seek to “develop programmes
and events that meet the people…” Could you explain how dyslexia sensitive the
programmes are to your mass target?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: This isn’t actually something we’ve
worked on, but we’re looking into doing more with people with disabilities,
both physical disabilities and learning disorders so thank you for raising such
an important but often overlooked point.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Little Libreria is your school
library project that serves over a thousand children in deprived communities.
If such exercise is off your regular subscription, how do you plan to sustain
or advance its reach?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: First of all,
everything we do at Libreria is completely self-funded. Since we opened in
December 2017, we’ve always operated at a loss. At no point have subscriptions
ever covered even the basic running costs of the library. With that in mind, I
believe almost everyone can contribute to the development of literacy in Ghana
in their own way with whatever resources they have. The Little Libreria we have
in schools in Ashaiman and Kumawu are completely funded by myself. We’ve been
fortunate enough to have a few like-minded people contribute to our cause, such
as the Library Laughs event in London in October 2019 organised by comedienne,
Athena Kugblenu, which raised over £400. This kind of programmes help with the
sustainability of our Little Libreria and other literacy initiatives, and we’ll
continue to fundraise as much as we can. I’m committed to the sustainability of
everything we do but we obviously can’t do it alone.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Given the capacity, do you see
any relevance in shelving standardised books that are written in Ghanaian
languages?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: I'm not sure I
understand what you mean when you say standardised books, but I definitely see
the relevance of having books written in Ghanaian languages in the library for
various reasons. One, I think it's important that Ghanaians, in particular, and
Africans, in general, recognise and appreciate the fact that we come from a
literary heritage. That heritage has often been seen through the prism of an
oral literary tradition in terms of griots and storytelling, however, we also
come from a written literary heritage, and the more we can see literature in
print in Ghanaian and other African languages, the more we’ll understand as a
people that literature is something that belongs to us. Secondly, there’s an
ongoing debate about the preservation of local languages and this is embodied
in the argument about what language we teach children in at school. If we
continue to teach children in English as a matter of course then I believe it's
important that we have books in local languages to complement that teaching and
to formalise and preserve Ghanaian languages. Which brings me to my third
point. Obviously languages are living things that are constantly evolving. One
way to preserve them, at least in a particular point in time, is to have them
written down. I think we’re beginning to appreciate this fact, and the
necessity of encouraging the creation of literature in Ghanaian languages, more
and more. There are various initiatives such as the Write Ghana Competition and
Festival that are doing what they can to reinforce the importance and relevance
of writing in Ghanaian languages, and I understand from various writers who
write in local languages that it's difficult for them to get published because
publishing gatekeepers don't feel there’s a market for this work. It's important
for us as readers and as consumers to create that market and to sustain
it. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: At the 2019 PaGya! Festival,
panelists (that include personnel from Ghana Library Authority) discussed the
need for private and public library partnership – towards an efficient
facilitation of literacy. Have you ever considered the possibility or the
advantages of partnerships?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: Yes. It’s something we’ll be actively pursuing in 2020.
The problems are too significant to be tackled alone.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: In your quest to invest in a
literate African society, versus the prospect of commercial success, what
exactly do you mean when you claim that your subscription “charges are just
explicit’? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: Actually, the meaning
behind the statement has nothing to do with commercial success. What I mean by
that is that, in the West, libraries are funded by taxes. Unfortunately, in
Ghana, we have a tendency to believe that libraries are free because they’re
not paid for with cash from our pocket. Libraries are not free. Libraries are paid
for by taxpayers. It's just that, because the money is taken at source, it's
not “seen.” We charge a subscription and, therefore, the charge is upfront and
you do see it and feel it. But it's no different from if the money was being
taken from taxes. Sadly, we see the state of public libraries in Ghana today
and part of the reason for that, I'm sure, is because of a lack of investment,
at the root of which is a lack of public funds or, at least, a lack of
willingness to allocate whatever public funds are available to libraries. In
the UK and US, there’s a long tradition of private libraries; in Ghana, not so
much. So we’ve been doing something new.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: As read from several articles,
and your Chatham House essay, your literary stock is predominantly works by
writers of African descent. Why the priority?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: My immediate response
to that question is, why not? We’re based in Africa and why shouldn't the
literature we offer our readers reflect who they are and their experiences as
individuals and as a people? But to elaborate or to expand on that, African
writers, particularly in the West, are not given the platform they deserve and,
by that, I mean an equal platform to their Western counterparts so we aim to
redress the balance and recognise and celebrate our gifted continental and
diaspora writers. In addition, we collectively, that is, those of us who are in
a privileged position to have influence on the thinking of others, have a
responsibility to decolonise our mindsets. In schools and in universities, the
emphasis has always been on works by Western writers, whether we’re speaking
about the arts and literature or the sciences. This gives the impression that
Africans have had no impact on history and on the world, which is clearly not
the case. By showcasing the depth and breadth of writing by Africans and people
of African descent, we hope to show that we have a literary heritage to be
proud of and, perhaps, the people who need to know that most are not
Westerners, but Africans themselves who’ve been led to believe that we do not
possess a literary heritage. What we do can hopefully contribute to dispelling
that myth.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: At the function of electronic and
mobile libraries, is there any logic not to fear a future decline of stationary
services like Libreria?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: Yes and no. I think
that, as with all the talk about the death of the physical book with the
emergence of e-books and audiobooks, which has not proved to be true, in fact
quite the opposite, I also think there will always be a place for libraries.
Physical libraries provide what e-books and audiobooks cannot; community
through physical meeting places where discussions and debate and ideas can be
exchanged. Of course, this can also be done online, but the human contact is
not the same. That said, I’ve often felt restricted by having a physical place.
Our outreach has been the most rewarding and fulfilling work that we’ve done
and having a physical library has sometimes been a burden. However, I doubt we
would've had the impact we've had without having a physical space. The role of
a physical library is so much more than a repository of books. It’s a community
centre, it’s a greenhouse, it’s a social service, and it’s a haven. It just is.
Its value can’t be quantified.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Two years since you established
Libreria, do you think it has been worth leaving London for a task that has
posed many risks and demanded extreme sacrifices than
imagined? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 14.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>SYLVIA</b>: Yes. That’s the short
answer! If anything, I’ve gained a lot more than I've lost. Yes, there's been a
financial toll, and the impact on my time and career has been immense, but I’ve
also learnt a lot and met many interesting and good people from all over the
world who I wouldn’t otherwise have met. I’d do it all again but with many
adjustments based on the experience and insights I’ve now gained.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Biography</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sylvia Arthur is a British-Ghanaian nonfiction writer whose work explores
themes of identity, diaspora, politics, and place. Her writing has been
published in <i>The Guardian, the BBC</i>, and <i>The British
Journalism Review </i>and her essay, “Britain’s Invisible Black Middle
Class” was curated in the anthology, <i>Know Your Place: Essays by the
Working Class for the Working Class. </i>She holds an MA<i> </i>in
Narrative Nonfiction Writing. She has been awarded fellowships to Hedgebrook
and Santa Fe Art Institute and received a grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation
via 516 Arts to produce a publication on immigration and art produced in and
about the US-Mexico border region.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spirited about literary advocacy in Africa, Sylvia opened Libreria<b> </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ghana<b> </b></span>in December 2017
to give Ghanaians access to books that weren’t easily obtainable whilst amplifying
the voices of Black African writers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-street-of-books-and-authors.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Go to interview archives </span></a></span>Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-14330533638632791112019-12-25T09:24:00.002-08:002020-01-17T10:17:34.076-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In
Hindsight: Of Losing Count of Days, Getting Lost in Daydreams and Learning to
Live on…</span> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Short Story by Aisha Nelson</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">…the
sun sieves through the half-drawn lace curtains, casting dancing patterns of
light and shadow on my pillow and on my face. I recoil myself on the bed. I
spread away the fluff-y and sheet-y things on the bed. I let my eyes shut. Then
for eleven, just eleven more seconds, I let myself soak in the wonder and
warmth called Sun.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thursday,
another school day, is finally here. I am supposed to love school, but truth
remains that it is teachers like Mr. Bawa and friends like Elorm; it is other
people like the woman at the canteen who always dishes and hands out food with
a smile and like the school principal who once helped me redo my shoe lace; it
is things like freshly sharpened pencil on crisp new paper and like iced asana I
buy and drink after school; it is experiences like watching that woman who paints
somewhere on the way home from school and like chatting with that man who takes
late afternoon strolls with a parrot on his shoulder; it is only all these
things about school that I love – truly and fully. And then there is Our Day,
today Thursday, the last and party day of school, a day that promises to be all
kinds of beautiful.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
in my usual greased and easy tumble, I leave my bed and bedroom and skip to the
kitchen. Telltales of breakfast in the process of getting made fill the kitchen:
on the tiled surface beside the sink, an opened pineapple jam jar; in the
kitchen dustbin beside where I stand, roughly halved shells of uncooked eggs;
on the kitchen table, the remaining bread from the day before yesterday; and of
course, in the whole of the kitchen, the ever so bright taste of Papa’s
signature Pine-ger juice!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
where is Papa himself? And where is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>
basket that is supposed to contain a world of sweetness-es and deliciousness-es
for the super beautiful day that this Thursday is? I let these pass. I go to
begin my part of the morning chores. I do not forget to let my right index
finger trace nothing on the wall, as I walk the inner corridor to the bathroom.
As always. Or as almost always, except for the days Papa’s voice follows me to
the bathroom, even if briefly, to make sure I get there and finish early my
business in the bathroom. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
Thursday, while tracing that nothing on the wall with that my finger, I
discover a new exception. The exception, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i>
is on the ironing thing always standing lone and empty on the corridor – except
when someone is standing there ironing one piece of clothing or several. The
exception, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i> is one of my Sunday
church clothes on the ironing thing. I stop the tracing. I start to relive the
time I must have told Papa that students were asked to wear mufti to school this
day, a Thursday. I find no such experience to relive. So I start to remember when,
if, I ever told Papa that I was asked to wear nice clothes – like Sunday church
clothes – to school this Thursday, this Our Day. There is not even a flake of
such a memory. And I do not think to dream up such a thing. Because this is a
matter of one the abiding facts of this life and world: a Thursday is a day
like any other but it still is a Thursday and no other day, no Sunday.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I go to the bathroom to do every-thing in the name of cleaning up myself. I am
in the middle of these-things when I hear a very familiar and sweetly clanging
sound, the chime of the clock at the Post Office far up the street somewhere on
which my house stands. I am not sure which of the early morning hours the chime
means. And there still is no sign of Papa, no Papa telling me to hurry up or to
do or not to do one thing or the other on a weekday morning like today. This
should make me happy, I know. But not when it makes me miss Papa, even if
vaguely. So I hurry and leave the bathroom. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
find Papa in the living room, wearing one of his favourite house clothes,
looking very much like he has already taken his bath, yet lightly sweating from
picking and flipping through and sometimes putting aside one paper thing or the
other from a drawer box he must have fetched from somewhere else in our home, a
box now sitting on the center furniture piece in our living room. I pause and
look at Papa. He rightly reads the question in my look. Papa answers:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Go
on, please. Do what you have to do. I should be done with this soon. I got a
call and now have to find something before going out today.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
return to my bedroom. I do every-thing in the name of dressing up. I put on the
clothes I know I am supposed to complete my dressing up for today with. Apart
from taking a tad longer than usual to find my comb, nothing particularly new happens
while I am doing these-things. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
return to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the place</i> I first saw Papa this
morning. Papa does not look like he is done with his box business. He feels me
around, for he suddenly raises his head from the box to look at me, but his
eyes and attention return to the box, soon, before he asks and adds:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why
are you in school uniform? We are already very late today.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
don’t remember my teacher saying students are to wear mufti to school today”, I
say.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Papa
stops looking and picking from the box. He briefly closes his eyes, sighs
heavily, looks away from me and the box, and makes the face of someone trying
very hard to remain patient and polite. I do not know what to make of this his
reaction, but if anyone is to ask me, I will say I am the one who is supposed
to be making that face. For what with my not finding him in the kitchen to
greet and chat with briefly before setting out on my morning chores? What with not
knowing where, if, he was in the house – at the time I was out of bed? What
with no basket of Our Day goodies today? What with my Sunday church clothes on
the ironing thing – only mine and nothing of his? And what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i> with this his frantic poring over this box and its paper
things, in the middle of the living room, on a weekday of all days, and at a
time he himself says we are already terribly late for I’m-still-not-sure-what?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally,
Papa actually speaks: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
not sure what it is you are talking about. At all. Go get your clothes from the
ironing thing. Go find and eat your breakfast – I’m done preparing it. I should
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> be done with this thing and be
dressed up by the time you are done.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But
Papa –”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No
But–s. Please. Just go do as I say so that we are not later than we can really help
it.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
walk away. To go do as Papa has said. The only cheer in walking to the ironing
thing to pick my Sunday church clothes and changing from my school clothes into
those Sunday ones, and the only magic in going to get and eat my breakfast, was
the Pine-ger juice part of it all. But for this, morning chores are never this
heavy, never this much of a drag. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
return to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">place</i>. Papa is no more in the living room, but the box is, and
beside it, a fat pack of paper things bulging and threatening to spill out of a
worn yellow-orange envelope.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now,
I do not know what to think. Really. Not anymore. For I can bear getting forced
to wear church clothes to school today, but I do not think I can survive this
morning without seeing an Our Day basket – forget what I previously said
about this morning and cheer and Pine-ger juice and magic. Meanwhile, the box continues
to sit with a large presence and some saucy aura in the living room, a presence
that suffocates me out of the living room and the whole house, an aura that
reminds and mocks me about the absence – or is it lack? – of an Our Day basket
in the living room and in what seems to be the whole house. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
just do not know what to think, and especially so after I suddenly hear the rev
of the car engine from the compound and soon after that, Papa calling me from
somewhere in the compound and asking that I bring the envelope beside the box
in the living room to him. Even when I don’t understand him, even though I do
not at all agree with him, I think I am getting used to doing as Papa says.
This morning.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I go pick the envelope and walk out of the rooms, to the compound, and as it
later turns out when I get to the main house door, to Papa, in the car’s driver
seat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I step out of the house main door
and Papa asks from the car that I lock the door. I find one of many keys in a
bunch already inside the keyhole. I lock the door. I join Papa inside the car,
to I-still-don’t-know-where. As I firmly shut the front passenger seat and give
the envelope to Papa and he turns to put it on the back passenger seats, Papa
asks me to remind him to pass by Prof. Hammond’s. I am not sure when exactly
Papa wants me to do this reminding him, but I am too tired from doing as he
says to ask or say anything to him again, too tired to even care to turn to
look at what he is wearing. All this morning.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Soon,
the car emerges from our compound onto the road and into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rest</i> of the world, and as I quickly and
painfully learn, into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i> world,
the living and lively world outside of my fluid and fantastic day-dreams. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sooner,
my mouth opens in the roundest O. My eyes must be more white than brown or
black or whatever. And even if they are visibly not much distance from the
backrest of my seat in the car, my chest and shoulders are not pressing into
the backrest either. My confusion is not hidden. My confusion confuses Papa,
who asks, with more worry than urgency:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Is
there a problem? Is the seat belt too tight for you?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
nod, not sure if in the affirmative or otherwise or other. I nod again, now emerging
from my confusion, like the car recently did from our house and caused all this,
all this my confusion:</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 40.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">People. People all about the street.
People wearing their Sunday bests on a Thursday morning. People who definitely
are confused…</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
it all happen gradually and quickly at once. My lips return to touching each
other and to trying to form the semblance of a smile that is supposed to say
All Is Well. But all is not. My eyelids leave their flare and they close
further than usual, in keeping with the countenance of my recently taking in new
knowledge, and my trying to find a place in my sense of reality to tuck this
new knowledge. My chest and shoulders ease a little too hard into the backrest,
telling everything about my humbling defeat, my defeat by the source of all
this my confusion:</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">People prancing up and about the world. People going about
their lives on Thursday as if it is a Sunday. People who my confusion should
rather belong to… </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My
confusion flood subsides into a mere trickle. So I now can afford to think and
think hard and far. Seconds run into minutes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
think about how I do love Sundays and Sundays’ churchy things, but truth
remains that it is the organ man who likes to check in on us children after
church and won’t leave the room until he has shaken hands with everyone –
especially, and a little too eagerly, our beautiful Sunday school teacher; it
is friends like Kay and Nana; it is the woman who always brings lots of pineapple-flavoured
sobolo and crunchy polo to sell, and some more to give away to children she
thinks are particularly well-behaved at church that Sunday; it is meeting my
Uncle Akwasi again, and outside of my house; it is the promise of stories of
old filled with colour and life, stories brimming with people and events, stories
full of many things warm and wondrous like Sun, stories running over with the
spirit of things essential for living and living <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vividly</i>; it is all these and some that I love – not only truly and
fully, but also…also…well, also <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vividly</i>
– about Sundays.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
think harder and farther than Sundays and my love-s for it. The minutes run
from just a few to close to an hour. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
ask Papa, absent-mindedly, still lost in the world and trickling confusion of
my thoughts and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vivid</i> day-dreams:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Papa,
what are people supposed to do when they lose count of the days?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“They
probably should be happy, especially if they are living well and so, lost
count. Otherwise, they will need help.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Help?
Help with what?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Help
with whatever could be making them lose count of the days.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
see. Thank you, Papa. But what I really mean is, what are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people</i> supposed to do when they confuse…no…when they…they mistake
one day for the other?” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And
by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people</i>, you mean?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well,
maybe not you in particular. But definitely all these people dressed up and
going to church this morning, when it is supposed to be a Thursday. And an Our
Day Thursday at that.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
do not have to look at Papa to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i>
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">smile</i> which now spreads on his
face. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> it in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">voice</i>, in his next words, and in this his
new trying hard to be patient and polite. I see it, together with a loving
understanding of a child’s wild curiosities and incurable day-dreams – mine. I see
it all. The smile. And the understanding. The love, especially.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“My
Dear One, today is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sunday</i>. Not a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thursday</i>. You certainly are done with
exams at school. But it will not be until the next four days, a Thursday, when
your school will properly vacate and your Our Day will happen. And oh, I’ve not
forgotten about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the basket</i>, as
usual.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
I do not hear much of what Papa says after his mentioning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sunday</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thursday</i>. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
do not hear Papa because I now have to start to accept this jolting blow to my day-dreams.
I have to start reviving the beautiful worlds and live-s and love-s I have built
and arranged around <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">daydreaming</i> a Thursday out of a day everyone else <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">insists</i> on believing and living as a
Sunday. And if reviving fails, as is already now obvious, I have to start
thinking of how to live on, how to build new day-dreams around the jolt,
despite the jolt. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For
what is life and living it without dreams and day-dreams! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BeI5j3WHXcNYkFV5YSm17F63uCGXq1z8_l93jFEcrlrUUuESFytfN1KQmIV5rzZA5KuF8AZbQzf8zCfLZ4ZWlHoi61pp0CpLpNu0cvFb3zX0xEeeH1mHfmvMF1IprLdRtAz-RzNVx6eM/s1600/2019+Chicken+Soup+4%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1186" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BeI5j3WHXcNYkFV5YSm17F63uCGXq1z8_l93jFEcrlrUUuESFytfN1KQmIV5rzZA5KuF8AZbQzf8zCfLZ4ZWlHoi61pp0CpLpNu0cvFb3zX0xEeeH1mHfmvMF1IprLdRtAz-RzNVx6eM/s320/2019+Chicken+Soup+4%25281%2529.jpg" width="237" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/12/chicken-soup.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read Previous editions</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aisha<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>dreams, writes,
thinks and is a college teacher in Accra. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of her writings
were shortlist by Erbacce Press; another won Akwantuo Writing’s inaugural Harmattan
Poetry Prize.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More of Aisha’s work – short plays and fiction, poetry and experimental
pieces, memoirs and translations – has </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">featured in outlets including Graphic Communications Group’s
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mirror</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kalahari Review</i>;
an Accra Theatre Workshop stage production, an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">African Walks into a Psychiatrist’s Office and other Short Plays</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Munyori Literary Journal</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Ghana One Voice</i>; a Writers Project
of Ghana poetry anthology, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">According to
Sources</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saraba Magazine</i>; a Caine
Prize short story anthology, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lusaka Punk
and other Stories</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prairie Schooner</i>;
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spectacles. Speculations…</i>curatorial
art exhibition at the Department of Painting and Sculpture, KNUST; and
recently, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Obsidian</i>, a journal of
Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Later translated into Ga, Luganda and
Kiswahili, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aku the Sun Maker</i> is Aisha’s
first children’s storybook.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With her
manuscript of collected short fiction, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lens
and other Stories</i>, she won The Professor Kofi Awoonor Literary Prize (2018:
Fiction).</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Aisha shares some of her writing on her blog, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nu kɛ Hulu (Water and Sun)</i>: </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://aishawrites.wordpress.com/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://aishawrites.wordpress.com</span></i></a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></u></i></span></span></span><br />
<br />Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-79147140805892098052019-12-23T09:49:00.000-08:002020-01-03T08:53:53.035-08:00<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7724949853657350599" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3; position: relative; width: 300px;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<b style="background-color: #ffd966;">Darkography</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I walked into a forest</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">Of many colours</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">And found myself in Satan’s world</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">And there's a voodoo priestess,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">playing hopscotch </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">between the yard of a charcoal seller</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">And an avocado tree</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">Under silver moon,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">and in a trance,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">she played monopoly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">with a variety of flying camels </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">Just a mile ahead</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">there stood a temple</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">watched-over by a crawling soul,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">to whom many swore eternal affection</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">Through tempest and whirlwinds</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">I tasted bile and granite</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">I sighed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">I went on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">Beyond the temple</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">a crook of ravens</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">who seem to suffer from bulimia nervosa</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">were hovering</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">and preying on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">what looks like a goldfish</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">While on the carcass,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">they looked very much paranoid –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">watching their backs in mistrust,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">as if I was a scarecrow</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">But I turned eastward</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">And an unknown spirit met me </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">where I paused</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">He shook my hand</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">We communed in arithmetic</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">He gave me what belongs to Caesar</span></div>
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<div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;">The rest, he blew into thin air </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Sleepwalking </b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #666666; font-size: 15.84px;">As shadows trespass </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #666666; font-size: 15.84px;">on the foetus of the sky</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">to sprout forth the moon,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">We step on seaweed and sand dunes,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">off the tidemark.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">And wallow in the Mediterranean Sea,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">transformed!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">We cheer and smile </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">And the waves of our smile</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">beam at the celestial lights.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br />
<i><span lang="EN-GB">We are the Mediterranean</span></i></span><br />
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">And the Mediterranean is us</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">In our utopian errands, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">we wield some majestic force</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">– we flow; smooth, crystal, long and wide.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">And all along, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">we see the pillars and arches of Venice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">And compare, in our drowsy psyche </span></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">– that, they had sprung up overnight </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">like Cape flora.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">We are the Mediterranean</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">And the Mediterranean is us</span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">Sensual, yet so soon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">we walk back our regal persona </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">against the roller-coasting role,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">beyond the eyes of the shore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">And at a wink...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;">we are still a mite of mildewed brooks </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span lang="EN-GB">scattered on a</span><span lang="EN-GB"> green land.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><i><span lang="EN-GB">We aren’t the Mediterranean </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB">And the Mediterranean isn’t us</span></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-size: 15.84px;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Darko Antwi 2020. All Rights Reserved </span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-size: 15.84px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-54682940802407603412019-12-12T07:42:00.002-08:002019-12-12T12:40:36.705-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Reaching out to the
fluid storyteller, at the heights of distinguished treasury of juvenile
literature</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Darko: </span></b></span>A paragraph of
your biography reads “The more African children see themselves in the pages of
books they read, the more they will realize they can be anything they want to
be.” If such image-reflective materials are to be made available to the access
of the African child, who bears the responsibility?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: The responsibility
lies on all of us, not just on authors and publishers but on every single person
on the continent. In Ghana, there’s been a move to support products and
services made in Ghana. Through this, the #wearGhana campaign has become a huge
success. I believe we could have a #readGhana or #readAfrica campaign that
would actively promote Ghanaian and African writers. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Why don’t we have book review
columns in our leading newspapers? Why isn’t there a Ghanaian top ten list of books
in the various genres? There are a lot more questions we can ask but if
everyone does their little bit, African children seeing themselves reflected in
the pages of the books they read would not be a novelty.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: As an author who
specializes in children’s literature, have you made any conscious effort to
guide your writings on Act 5 of the objectives of the National Book Policy,
which seeks “to ensure gender balance of content of books.”?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: Honestly, I didn’t
even know there was a National Book Policy, but what it entails and who
oversees its implementation is a discussion for another day. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">There should not only be
gender balance in the content of books but there should be an ethnic balance as
well if we want all children to see themselves reflected in the pages of the
books they read. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">For my young adult
books, most of my characters have deliberately been female because teen girls
in our setting, need all the help they can get to succeed in whatever endeavors
they choose and I’m hoping by reading about girls in settings such as theirs,
they can make the right life choices.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: To be at ease
with the coordination of an artwork to your text, what informs you (or your
publisher) about the choice of illustrator?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: Though we are told
not to “judge a book by its cover”, the first thing that would make a child
pick a book is how attractive the cover is. Illustrations in picture books
enhance the text and children really engage with the story when the
illustrations are good. There are now “text-less” books where the story is told
entirely through pictures.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve been fortunate to
work with two really good illustrators Mr. Edmund Opare and Mr. Elkanah Mpesum
during my career and so far my publishers have given me free reign to decide
whom I want to work with. Do permit me to use this opportunity to remind people
that “exposure” does not pay bills. Artists and creative people need to be paid
for their work.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>In the market of books meant for young
readers, have you (as a regular participant) seen any money-making potential in Ghana
Book Fair<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">?</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: The emphasis
should not be on the money-making potential of the fairs, we should leave that
to the marketers, book publishers, and event organisers. The emphasis should be
on creating more of such spaces and on promoting communities of book lovers
all-year round. We should also be looking at how to make such spaces more
attractive for non-readers and reluctant readers. We should also look at
including a wider array of more diverse books on the display to cater for
people’s diverse interests.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: Is it positive to
imply that: academic books have a commercial advantage over non-academic books, owing to the fact that the latter is least promoted?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: Definitely. It
would be great if there was a recommended reading book list for each class like
there is for textbooks. In addition to all the literary benefits that this
would bring, schools could have “Meet-the-author or Meet-the-illustrator” days as
well. Imagine what an inspiration this would be to budding writers and
illustrators. On the economic side too, more jobs would be created in the
publishing and book-affiliated industries.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: At a period when
family storytelling session is so low, have you any hope that professional book
readings at schools and public libraries could revive the art?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: It doesn’t even have
to be “professional readings”, anyone can read to kids. Everyone can volunteer
an hour or two of their time, show up at a school or library and just read to
the children. It doesn’t even have to be in a school or library. Meet the kids
where they are—playing under the mango tree, waiting for their parents at a
salon, at family gatherings etc. There are some organized children’s clubs that
are doing this regularly now. Kudos to them.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: Authors of double
career backgrounds, like yours, have had peculiar ways of handling both
interests. So I wonder how estranged a dentist you have become, at the peak of
your writing endeavours!<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: Lots of people
work multiple jobs now. Dentistry is my day job. It doesn’t suffer because I
write during my free time. There are bankers/ pharmacists/ nurses etc who are also
parents/ caterers/ make-up artists/ event planners etc. So many people now have
more than one job. I think the oddity would be finding a person with a single
job. I’d love to ask what they do with all their free time.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>As a multiple winner of Burt Award for
African Young Adult Literature, would you dispute the opinion that; there is a
marginal international recognition for the excellence of the Ghanaian writer?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: I doubt if anyone
goes through the process of writing for the sole purpose of recognition. The
reasons why people write are varied but I doubt if recognition would be among
the top five. Recognition, if and, when it comes just provides a sense of
validation for your efforts.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">I firmly believe
recognition should begin locally, from the people whose stories we capturing,
from the people we are representing. Anything else from the international
literary community is a bonus. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">There isn’t much
recognition for excellent literary works from Ghana. We must begin to recognize
and honour our own. Kudos to the Ghana Association of Writers who are
championing this.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: What motivates you to volunteer in the Zongo Story Project?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: The most important
aspect of volunteering for me is to enable children to see that I started off just
like them and for them to know they can become like me or even better than me. Volunteering
is my way of “paying it forward” and of inspiring aspiring writers to begin
writing. It’s also a great way of getting feedback for my books.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Darko</b>: Since the
publication of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disfigured</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">M</span>iddle of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">N</span>owhere</i>, you haven’t
released any adult book. Should your elderly fans expect any title soon?<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Ruby</b>: I finished the first
drafts of my third adult book, <i>Rain Music</i>, and an anthology about seven years
ago. The manuscripts still require several rounds of editing and I haven’t had
the time to do that so unfortunately, I can’t give a release date yet.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ruby Yayra Goka is a
dentist by day and an author by night. She is currently pursuing a fellowship
in Endodontics at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ruby has always
loved stories and storytelling. She is a multiple winner of the Ghana edition
of the CODE Burt Award for African Young Adult Literature (having won seven
times) which recognizes excellence in African writing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">She promotes reading and literacy by
volunteering for school visits, children’s workshops, “meet-the-author-days”
and when she serves as a judge for writing competitions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ruby is committed to ensuring African
children learn to develop the habit of reading for pleasure and to ensuring
that books African children read reflect their experiences and environments;
books that feature characters who are “just like them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ruby believes that
the more African children see themselves reflected in the pages of books they
read, the more they will realise they can be anything they want to be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">When she isn’t holding conversations
with her imaginary friends, she’ll often be found reading, gardening or
spending with her two dogs and turtle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Published Books</span></i><br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
the Shackles Fall<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Techmate
Publishers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those
Who Wait<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Techmate Publishers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Lost Royal Treasure<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kwadwoan
Publishers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Mystery of the Haunted House<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Subsaharan Publishers</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perfectly
Imperfect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Techmate Publishers</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plain
Yellow<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Techmate Publishers</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Step-monster<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Digibooks Limited</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
Gift for FafaHarinex Publishers</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tani’s
Wish<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(for the Ghana Cleft Foundation)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mama’s
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span> </div>
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<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 39.15pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB">IBBY Honour List 2020<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mama’s
Amazing Cover Cloth</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB">AyiKwei Armah Award<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Kiss A
Girl<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2019</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB">(GAW Literary Award: First Prize)</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB">EfuaSutherland <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children’s Story<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mama’s Amazing Cover Cloth<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2019</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB">Book Prize</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-GB">(GAW Literary Award: First Prize)</span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Children’s Africana Book Award<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mama’s Amazing Cover
Cloth<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2019</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Honour Book)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Professor Kofi Awoonor Literary
Prize<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Middle of
Nowhere 2018</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Second Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for Young Adult African<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Kiss A Girl<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2018</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Honour Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Efua Sutherland Children’s Story
Book Prize<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Gift for Fafa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2018</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(GAW Literary Award: Third prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">40 under 40 awards (Authorship and
Creative Writing)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2017</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for Young Adult<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Step-monster<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2017</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">African Literature: All- Star Edition</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Honour Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Step-monster<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(First Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plain Yellow<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2014</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Second Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfectly Imperfect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(First Prize)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Shackles Fall<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Second Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those Who Wait<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Honourable Mention)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lost Royal Treasure<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2011</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Second Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">Burt Award for African Literature<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mystery of the Haunted
House<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2010</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Third Prize)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 39.15pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-80646711704910996212019-09-02T09:18:00.001-07:002019-09-02T10:55:09.599-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A Requiem for The World and Other Poems (The Foreword)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>by Darko Antwi</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I thought I had walked
into a forest; dense with woods, virgin soil, natural shelter, some familiar
wildlife and various unknown species. But I was rather reading <i>A Requiem for
The World and Other Poems</i>, which took me through a kaleidoscope of scenes:
trail of thought, which are demographic of the importance of life and the
idiosyncrasies of death.<br />
<br />
In handling a subject of sacred nature, it is fairly typical of author Prince
Kwasi Mensah to rule his phrases with idioms and allegories. And very well to
expectation, each chapter is spruced with fibers which fasten to the soul of
the central poem like a harness. In the central poem, the speaker is repeatedly
worried about Earth which 'is being devoured by Sheol.' And based on a sequence
of events, he fervently asks: Where is justice? Where is mercy? Where is hope
when we call out loud for them?<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addressing the character of
death, within the multiplicity of accusations, there are swings of mood and
fluctuations of thought, but the quest for salvation or humankind's perpetual
stay on earth is a theme that runs consistent to the prognosis of the requiem:
Death must bring change / Or else it will be for naught </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">–
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">/ We shall cry out loud until games
of power and avarice cease. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The resignation to fate is not wholly
acceptable, and definitely not so convincing to the living. There seems to be a
formula: a tripod of consultations. As copied orderly below, speakers in the
various poems have made resounding calls on divinity, healers, and celestial
bodies: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have been robbed of
the best thing</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In my life, I want it
back, I want it back, O’ God, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want it back! [Page
129]<br />
<br />
Where are the prophylactics? Where is </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The healer? Where is the herbalist?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who has the secrets of venom?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who can reverse this death? [Page
49]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
O sun, you watched this happen</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">And never helped?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">O wind, why did you not
speak</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">For my friend when his
life was being taken?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">O earth, why did you
choose to sit still</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">When he fell onto your
bosom? [Page 156]</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lI4gXkBWbUY__ka6778BK3zQSLSWnUO9vSAz6JQ3_nSdPET2OPKVAe3YHn55oX80DHzbU98EemiYzL9rNlRY7NEEyesAgfcWqit0AvK93U6enpUi6EG51MIQyTz9Z7hhFf9LNWYpI2aH/s1600/A+Requiem+for+the+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lI4gXkBWbUY__ka6778BK3zQSLSWnUO9vSAz6JQ3_nSdPET2OPKVAe3YHn55oX80DHzbU98EemiYzL9rNlRY7NEEyesAgfcWqit0AvK93U6enpUi6EG51MIQyTz9Z7hhFf9LNWYpI2aH/s320/A+Requiem+for+the+world.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seeing that 'lives are discarded like trash', the requiem rages on with fiery
rhetoric and resolutions. Extending the image of death in <i>Foreboding,</i>
the poet describes a scenario where 'Shadows and shades increase' and where
'Light recedes,...' and 'fades Into an accepted darkness.' However, there is a pleasant
forbearance in the <i>Obituary Poems</i>.
Assuming a rarity of deliberation (much in difference to the second chapter),
the set of eleven verses fold themselves into a concentration of beliefs from
the spirit world. In essence, this section of Mensah's poetry reads into the
psychological position of a non-physical being within the dynamics of the
cosmos. That is not at all strange - but discerningly reported - knowing that
almost every culture of our civilized world signs up to an engaged relationship
between the living and the dead. Thus, a relationship legitimized by classical
mythology, folklore and narrations of faith. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Requiem-World-other-poems/dp/1496103068?fbclid=IwAR3_Q75WjycxxMy5T9a_MxU2P1AARUqZ921pDX1t7D_o-jFP-I-vFqiw2NI" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsw3GhOd0-qHLY9LgOH4endc34zWwjd4w-0zMR6yk81FpB-57_1LRWdTySw3UehW2-zu6uWjn0lmbsg_up5F0BXIkshsxGp4zF5042cuXovx5tkw-3LO_9FFg0HAm2PfnX25m1OiRfpCe/s1600/purchase+link.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Written in the
instinctive voice of the dead, the <i>Obituary Poems</i> have themes which defy
anger and distress; seeking to arrest the negative images of death. While
serving as a communiqué from the land of the dead, the poems admonish, teach,
and console people who grief or are puzzled by the physical termination of
humans; most certainly, beloved ones. Above all else, the poet inspires a sense
which drives home: that consolation is fundamental to the human soul. In
consolation we find solace, and in solace there is healing, and after healing,
life goes on refreshed by the spirit of the verses.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">A better consolation is
when, from a distance, we could hear the voice of an erstwhile breast cancer
sufferer who died young during her undergraduate studies. A better consolation
is when we could hear her in the words of <i>Freedom</i>: 'The skies are open
arms in which I bask </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> / I am now free; / no one takes me to task </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> / My voice is one with the voices of the wind /
This is a freedom I shall not rescind'. A far better consolation is when we
could hear a departed relative as the speaker in <i>The Appointment</i>: 'Let
not the certainties of death steal hope, / For we humans are strong, we always
cope </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">–</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> / Let moments be
complete with memory, / The appointment comes to make us history.<br />
<br />
Whether we die young or old, whether we die poor or rich, whether we die
fulfilling great assignments or dragging our feet in humble places, whether we
die peacefully on a sick bed or on a battlefield, or by suffocation in a gas
chamber, whether we die famished by hunger or bloated to obesity by bulimia,
the radar of this book does not only attempt a reunion with the living, but it
is sensitive; both to the pleasure (livelihood) of the spirit world and
the pain through which the physical world either collapses or endures.<br />
<br />
At the reach of the second chapter, the book turns more dramatic when realized
that the eleven elegies do not merely translate the sorrow of persons
traumatized by the events of the perished. With regards to picturesque diction,
the <i>Elegies</i> are, of course, deliberate in engraving the natural
experience of intense sadness. Although the language is not literally applicable,
Mensah explicitly addresses realism: about the common fate of humanity, and
nevertheless, the evocative response at the other end of the cycle.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Based on the knowledge
of triviality, of the acts of death, humanity is consequently empowered to overcome
the fear of death.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Discussing the fear of death in an
appreciation, the Ghanaian critic, Dela Bobobee, wrote: 'The effect of fear is
so overwhelming that when not conquered one way or another, it shackles man in
a perpetual bondage'. Contrary to the adverse, this book takes us through a
discovery of the weaknesses of death, chapter after chapter, and poem by poem.
The evils and the horrors of death are inscribed, as against the weapons which
contend and overthrow its debilitating effect in every domain, and in all
realms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to <i>Notes on
the Loss of a Dear Friend</i>, the poet explains that 'Life from this moment
[the moment of one's demise] onwards is</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
not life anymore; it is a strife against logic and reason’. Hence, in dealing
with death through logic and reasoning, we should learn to cope, we should
learn to forget, we should learn to pray as taught in the various verses. In <i>Dirges</i>
especially, a mournful but honest opera is opened to celebrate the intimacy and
excellence of some private relationships: of which a reader could relate to
several circumstances and personalities. To a great extent of relief, there is
an ample expression of affection and remorse which compel living-beings to
value the company, the warmth, the talent and the indispensable qualities of
life expressed in their neighbours. <br />
<br />
Although he dwells on a deep sense of brotherhood and common kinship of the
human race to empathize with departed bodies, the poet does not lose sight of
the commonalty of mankind's fatal destiny. In the fashion of wise king Solomon,
he acknowledges the appointed schedules of death. No negotiations whatsoever;
death attends at an hour he finds suitable. That usurping authority has never
been cherished by the poet. But quite grimly, though, he appreciates the mortal
fate of man, gaping ever vulnerable to the inevitable decree. If the ruins of
death couldn't be felt at any environmental setting, perhaps it could at least
be understood at a burial site: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we stand here
watching the earth</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cover the dead, we know within us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The same will be done us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When the time is right –<br />
<br />
While reading the passionate personal outcries of the <i>Landscape of
Sentiments</i> to the communal tributes of the <i>Kommos</i>, I could still
think of a walk through a forest. Yet I was only taking an enthusiastic account
of some vociferous ideas and feelings about what Mensah presents as a pandemic
social phenomenal. Reading through the two sectional chapters after <i>Laments</i>,
and towards the last poem of <i>Threnodies</i>, the forest-like image – owing
to the details in the book – appears so strong. <br />
<br />
Probing the forces of eternity and the dark agents of death,<i> A Requiem for
the World and Other Poems</i> is universally drawn around the superiority of
life. And just like the passage of life and death, the forest has complex
organs. There are seasons: there are rays of light and shadows of darkness.
There are varieties, growth and decay. There
are symptoms of parasite and poachers. There are fallen trees, vacuum, snared
rodents, and earth’s crust. <br />
<br />
In the real world, war, sexuality and mortality are substances which affect
reproduction, the growth and decline of population, as well as national psyche,
social patterns and economic development. However, African verse of modern
times seems not so interested in handling the complications and suspicion that
usually arise out of their discourse. But among the few, Prince Kwasi Mensah
has dared to canvass a natural routine that is as important as the air we breathe
and civil rights we protect. <br />
<br />
If you wonder why Mensah haven't ignored; but have instead done justice to this
often mishandled theme of death in his poetry, read it from a statement I
picked from an article he wrote for <i>The Griot</i>: 'It is our job as poets
to see overlooked angle, which might not be popular, but essential to the
conversation of life' <br />
<br />
By the records of this book, it becomes definitive that Mensah has not just
ventured, but true to his devotion, imaginative and intellectual prowess, the
dead is honoured, and contempt is held against the deeds of death. By the
records, myths too are shattered and memories are preserved. But for the
limitations of man, the pages of the requiem meant for solidarity with the
world, goes to a close by reserving some decorum for the mysteries of death.
Indeed, Donald Rumsfeld said it right: 'There are known unknowns; there are
things that we know we don't know'. In the world of this book therefore, those
'unknown things' are nothing but supernatural constitution, beyond common
knowledge. <br />
<br />
According to the wisdom of this title, I have learned that whether we ask in a
sober moment or with heavy hearts, some questions might die with us unanswered
or vaguely solved. Our curiosity may not find the most satisfactory of
information, yet let us play the role of the child in <i>Living Dogs and Dead
Lions</i>. Yet, let us hope that someday the advancement of science would go a
long way to prolong life on earth. Let us live a lifestyle rewarding of
longevity, yet let us not be riddled by the irrational executions of death. In
our moments of misfortune or perplexity, let us submit in good faith, to the
following texts, and similar principle: <br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Child,
as long as earth lies beneath</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
reign of the heavens,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dogs
will live while lions die –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
seems earth is a better place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
there are more living dogs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
more dead lions – [Page 86]<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our eyes are reddened in grief –<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In time, we shall understand</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why the young die before</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Their time, we shall understand</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why tomorrow is not guaranteed,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We shall understand why we walk towards</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">death the moment we are born
– [Page 107 -108]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2008, when Ayebia Clarke published <i>Traces
of a Life</i> by Abena P.A Busia, an associate professor of English, Rutgers
University, New Jersey, the collection was praised as ‘a departure from the
conventional form of written poetry, while incorporating aspects of orality in
written form’. With regards to the parallelism of Busia’s collection, it could
be confidently delivered that Prince Kwasi Mensah has added a unique voice to
the treasury of a distinguished genre. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-23845243074907674382019-09-01T09:28:00.000-07:002019-09-02T10:53:30.200-07:00Rainforest Letters<a href="https://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/09/rainforest-letters-remembering-kofi.html">Remembering Kofi Awoonor, by Martin Egblewogbe</a><br />
<a href="https://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2019/09/rainforest-letters-requiem-for-world.html" target="_blank">A Requiem for The World and Other Poems (The foreword), by Drako Antwi</a>Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-79534899065473578032019-07-29T10:51:00.000-07:002019-09-02T09:35:18.756-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Witnessing a godmother, at her commitment to the
influx of adrenalin and colour into the harvest of children’s literature</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: How stressful are
your duties as head of Golden Baobab?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: I have been
running Golden Baobab for about ten years now. So, in terms of stress, I think,
after ten years you figure out a system to manage your responsibilities. So
it’s not necessarily stressful. It’s my job, and I get it done. If there’s any
challenge at all, beyond Golden Baobab, it has always been a vision aimed at
supporting authors and illustrators of children’s books across the continent. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now we have African
Bureau Stories, a publishing business with the objective to publish and
distribute; even to the reach of children in less-privileged communities. I
still wouldn’t call it stressful, because the challenge of our job is the scope
of our vision. And we are fired-up to do more and more every day.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: How high have the
standards been, at the review of the last five judgments of your award scheme? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: One thing we
never compromise is standard. Our’s is so high. Amongst other reasons, we
believe that children deserve the best. And our children don’t deserve any less
than children around the world. So we use the highest standard to evaluate our
stories. We work with a jury that delivers quality service. By ensuring that we
do well on the prize stage, we challenge the creativity of our applicants. And
we end-up getting stories which are interesting and wholesome for a publisher’s
investment. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the end of the day, Golden
Baobab and African Bureau Stories are established to shape a thriving
children’s literature across the continent, and round the world – so that
African children’s narrative can become mainstream within the international
publishing industry.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: As crucial as
donations and grants are to your service, has your organization ever had any
difficulty with solicitation, receipt, and management of funds?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: Every organization has
challenges with raising money, even governments. That goes without saying that;
that has been a challenge we have to overcome, although our track records show
that we have over the decade managed our funds very successfully. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’re one of the
prestigious prizes on the continent, in terms of the value of prize money we
give out. At this point in Golden Baobab’s growth, we are determined – not only
focused on the generosity of money – to direct our resources at strengthening
the capacity of authors and illustrators. So, moving forward, that’s how we
would focus our fundraising effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: If not a mere rhetoric,
on what basis of commitment did you declare: “I’m not successful until millions
of African children see themselves in books we’re creating”?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: It’s definitely
not rhetoric. I am convinced that that should be the standard, because there
are millions of African children. And those millions are not seeing themselves
in the books they read. That’s a problem. The norm should actually be that
children across the continent could all see themselves in the books they read.
When billions of white children get up every day and see themselves in hundreds
of books, why can’t every African child have the right of availability of
stories that reflect his culture? That should neither be a lofty goal, nor
impossibility. So what drives me to say so; is my frustration with the
injustice that that isn’t the norm. African children should, of course, read
stories about other cultures. But it mustn’t exclude theirs.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: Beyond the
illustration of Negroid characters, how best could a child’s book be written to
reflect his African identity?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: We actually
don’t promote white culture or black culture. Golden Baobab is very Pan-African.
In our embracing of all cultures, we recognize all people who identify as
Africans. So we embrace White Africans and Arab Africans. I mean we are open to
the broad definition of the dynamic cultures within the diverse African race. An
author’s background is very significant. For example: if a North African
grandmother writes a story, it would be different from the stories of a Ugandan
teacher, and that of a coloured South African mother. So, our openness to the
various talents enables us to certify a variety that is representative of
modern Africa.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: How different is
your opinion to the perception that folktales are “too commonplace” for
contemporary consumption? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: Folktales will
never be too commonplace. Besides, the African continent is not only full of folklore. So why can’t that be represented in our stories, in other to meet
the varied interest of the African child. It should be recognized that children
have different reading taste – ranging from sci-fi, to fantasy, to comedy, to
contemporary stories. When such variety is not available, it’s quite possible
someone would have a reason to argue the ‘commonplace’ perception.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: In a world where
other business objectives are prioritized, should the author of children’s
literature, in his art, bear any conscious responsibility towards the moral
development of his minor reader? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: This is a very
good question. As a person who appreciates the art, I think it’s unfair to levy
on the artist the role to morally develop any reader. The role of the artist is
to hatch, mold and transform readers into thinking critically for the
development of society. In terms of children’s literature, studies indicate
that children most likely wouldn’t favour a book with thorough preaching
content. Young readers prefer a bit of moral lessons, a bit of humour, and a
combination of experiences. And that is what our publishing company offers.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: At the rise of
the import of foreign books, how low has your publishing partners assessed the
current local demand for content of Afro-cultural interest? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: High
importation is a situation the publishing industry in Ghana, and across the
continent, has to deal with. As a publisher, that becomes a competition.
However, when we take a positive look, we can challenge ourselves to meet, and
even exceed the market standards. And when that is achieved, our books, on the
reverse, would also be demanded elsewhere. So, our business is making a
conscious effort and choice to focus on the positive side of what the market
situation offers us – and thereby produce books that can rival any of the best
books in the world. As keen as we are, we have been exporting books to retail
partners in USA. We have also sold rights of one of our titles for translation
into eight southern African languages, whose publications are available in five
southern African countries. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: Since Golden
Baobab, by virtue of independence and exclusivity, seems privileged to national
monopoly, what factors could advance or determine its international
competitiveness? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: There is only
one factor that determines international competitiveness. That is just the
keeping to high standards: high standards of integrity, high standard of
business performance, high standard of service, with professionalism. By virtue
of our Pan-African vision, we can’t make any impact without being competitive.
No-one can survive in the global arena with low standards. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Darko</b>: What one policy
or law would you want granted or amended if you had any opportunity to
influence legislation on early childhood education in Ghana?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deborah</b>: If I have a
magic wand that could change anything, it would be a policy mandating the need
for children to start reading, particularly fiction, from an early age. Such
policy should ensure that schools prescribe not only text books, but creative
literature. United Kingdom produces hundreds of children’s books per annum – as
against a production of ten by Nigeria. Ghana falls below the least of the
records. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The total of locally
published children’s titles, to date, would hardly exceed two hundred. So if I
could, I would influence a policy for the demand of well-produced fiction for
children.</span></span></span></div>
Seaweed Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17331697434653812327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-83987717216465987172017-11-18T09:39:00.001-08:002017-11-19T04:34:09.834-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Presenting the superior
lyricist who sparkles the twilight of Spoken Word with a hybrid voice,
alongside visual effects</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>An interview with Kwaku Sonny. By Darko antwi.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: How do you feel
when your bewitching performance is greeted by that much public affection and
enthusiasm?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
Nothing feels good than giving people the best part of you, your he(art) and
people grabbing it with two hands. It also puts a great deal of burden on you
to stay great and continue to live up to expectations.</span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
fact that when I put into words the things I observe, read about and experience
could also inspire, teach, warn, educate, edify, impact lives and making a
meaningful living out of it. It's simply
fulfilling.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: Amongst the
Ghanaian Spoken Word voices, yours have had the esteem as “a clever betwixt and
between; that does not lean wholly on English nor Twi” Is that an overstatement?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
I will not say it's an overstatement or otherwise, and thanks for the kind
words.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">I
believe poetry is the highest form of expressive art and expression can
directly be linked to culture. One aspect of culture that gives me an identity as
a Ghanaian is to cloth myself in the richness of my language, I always tell
people that poetry is not about English, it is the aesthetics of language that
give poetry colour.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I
got to the point in my poetry career that I thought I needed to hop to a
different level, the Twi language presented itself as a springboard and I
embraced it. It has clearly positioned and distinguished my voice amongst other
voices. I am still learning the language day by day and using my works to
preach to the colleagues and audience that poetry should not be a routine. When
you enter, be ready to put your expectations aside and use all elements at your
disposal, including language.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: What relationship
should an artist have with a Spoken Word movement like Ehalakasa?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
Well, when I started poetry, the bi-weekly Talk Party series which culminated
into Ehalakasa was an avenue where one goes to share works and get other opinions
about their works and connect with other artists particularly poets. Every
artist needs such environment to understand the industry, get to know your
competitive and comparative advantage as an ingredient of growth because the
kind of people that Ehalakasa attracts was not just poets, but practitioners of
other art disciplines including contemporary artist, painters, musicians,
instrumentalists, producers, promoters, event organizers, journalists and
critics alike.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But
from where I sit today with a clearer vision and defined target, I don't crave
some platforms including Ehalakasa, I support it wholly and I will always urge
poets to take advantage of any platforms or projects that gives them the
opportunity to connect, exhibit and perform with like-minded people.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: Partnering with
an artist, who paints in simultaneous to an oral delivery, has been your
distinctive contribution to Spoken Word versatility. By the way, what effect is
that concurrence meant to achieve?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
I have been looking at ways to expand poetry to reach a larger audience and
been a staunch advocate for collaborations in poetry with various art
disciplines I needed to take the lead in practicalising some of these ideas.
Such collaborations are expensive and I believe that is the reason we've not
seen much in this light.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">I had
a clear understanding of what I want to do with music, dance, painting,
acrobatics, fashion, etc. So when I met Patrick (the artist) as he create meaningful
marks on the canvas with his different brush strokes, it created rhythm and I
begun to sing a poem along. The experience affirmed the quote that says
"painting is silent poetry". It wasn't long that I called him to join
forces with me and leverage on my idea
and platforms. I can use poetry to market you and make you the best, trust
me" these were my words.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">In
2013 with the help of Professor Nii Yartey of blessed memory, and Theatrical Arts
lecturer and practictioner Abdul Karim Hakib, I assembled 3 poets, 2 dancers, 2
instrumentalist, a musician and an artist in a 12 minutes dramatic performance
at the National Theatre to commemorate the 1st anniversary celebration of the
late Prof John Evans Attah Mills. It was really a spectacular performance,
the effect of that performance and most of my performances with Patrick William
Dodoo has changed the negative perceptions about poetry being boring and also
given people a better appreciation of both poetry and painting.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">It has
given poetry performance a space on the programming of most corporate events</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">I have
sold this idea to mean that, it is the best way to honour people with a touch
of depth, aesthetics, dexterity, message and surprise and putting money in our
pockets simultaneously. It's been a wonderful journey and proud to say that
this collaboration has brought me before kings, presidents, business owners,
celebrities, men of God and the media. It helped me put smiles on the face of
many in their moment of joy and even grief during weddings, birthday parties,
send off parties, board meetings and farewell events.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: Instead of performing each act according to
the tone and mood of the letter, most Spoken Word artists tend to render almost
every title in the spirit of a war speech. Are you guilty of same?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><b>KWAKU</b>: Your honour, I will not plead guilty to this offense if indeed it is even an offense... lol.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Per my
experience as a Spoken word artiste some performances in the way you describe
it have made impact and employing all the performance techniques such as mood,
tone, sounds of language, movement, props, lights and so forth has also had
made same impact on my audiences and listeners so as a believer of art and its
dynamism, particularly spoken word and its contribution to the recognition of
poetry in modern times none of these can't be underestimated. I always say spoken
word is branch of poetry and one needs to first of all understand and
appreciate poetry before you can be a better spoken word artist and not the
other way round.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Poetry
is communication and you need to understand your audience well before you can
communicate to their body, soul and mind.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: Toward the events
of domestic politics, have you any doubt that satire and parody are less-explored
by the traditional Spoken Word writer?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
Not per se, I will not say fully and I also think a lot of spoken word artist
have not got the platforms to sell their works because I know politics is one
of the most abuse topics for the spoken word artist not in a satirical way though.
I have a few works in that line that has landed me in trouble and have not been
allowed to perform on some particular platforms in the past.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Notwithstanding,
my Alewa Poetry Festival had a whole evening of political theme pieces which
was great, to say the least.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: During a July
2017 interview on Atinka Television, you stated that “poetry has the tendency
of changing people. It has an evangelistic power.” Could you in a practical
context deliberate on the transformational force you affirm?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
I recall in 2015, I was engaged by Stratcom Limited for a performance at their
annual Praise Jam event at the Accra International Conference Center and I
recall they told me my performance will look into the altar segment of the
program and so my performance should be centered around the theme of the night
and I called my colleague Tawiah DeSoulPoet to help me come up with a performance
that is interactive. We built a performance around my poem <i>My CV of
Sin</i>, to the glory of God after our performance and ending with the fact
that God don't need our CVs but our willingness to open our hearts out to do
his will. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">We had over 300 people coming forward to give their lives to Christ
as we invited a Minister Of God to lead them. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have
also received countless messages from people that affirm the impact of poems
like </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">True Friend</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Sun & Son</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">When I Was A Child</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">GOAT</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> have had on them. Because of my contents, I have become a
regular performer (Minister) in many religious gatherings across the country</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">I have
understood the different people parts of the power our words and works
possesses thus the body of work (written work) and the spirit of the work (the
emotional connection that drives the message) and how to use these two elements
for.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: Where Taylor’s
Yardstick is understood to be an evaluation (of written composition) that rates
comprehension above aestheticism, how relevant could such standard be for
Spoken Word, an art wherewith an average of 170 stressed syllables per minute
are recited?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>KWAKU</b>: ....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: Having described yourself as “a full-time artist,” by which parameter should it be understood that a Spoken Word occupant could earn an income above subsistence level?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
Having worked in the corporate sphere in different capacities and taking the
poetry bull by the horn, I have realized several ways a poet can make money.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">First
of all dressing up a poem with form, content, sound and history in an informed
way, with the aim of heightening one's own and others' understanding and
appreciation of the work in a way should get you paid.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Depending
on the contract of the engagement, a poets role can move from marketing, public
relations, information dissemination, entertainment, exhortation etc. And all
these forms could get a poet paid. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Facilitating
a workshop, reading engagements and more.</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">If you
are able to make one understand the level of work that goes into writing a
piece and be able to quantify the number of hours of research, assemblage of
rhymes to use, the angle of approach to the concept at hand, the editing
process, the rehearsal, the tension before and during performance, they will
give your due.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>DARKO</b>: At the moment,
Spoken Word is vibrant and newsworthy. But there is a fear that, as its
audience lose appetite with time, it might phase out as have other fashionable
recreational packages. Isn’t Spoken Word vulnerable, after all?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><b>KWAKU</b>:
No art form is vulnerable; it is the artist who refuses to learn, who refuses
to grow, who refuses to be dynamic and continue to do the same thing over and
over again, yet to the expectation of achieving different results. In that sense, the individual artist
should rather be noted for vulnerability.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Any art
form that encompasses entertainment, education and information dissemination
has the tendency to attract people. People are attracted to stories, proverbs,
riddles, songs because they are enjoyable.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">Oral
literature makes us aware of ourselves, other human beings, our environment,
our culture and our history. Spoken word employs the use of imagery that
portray plants, animals, personalities and other creatures in the same lively
language.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">One
contribution of spoken word is giving insight into people, things and events
and will continue to exist as any other art forms.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">We all
agree reading habits have deteriorate and I believe spoken word can provide a
more resolution to a more academic form of poetry and it has boundless
potential.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There
are a number of things to make it happen thus getting a more reliable and
dedicated venues for the this art form, spoken word items in traditional media
and poets getting paid for their appearances, performances, and products
including books, audio and online streaming services. It will continue to
exist.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Kwaku Sonny</b></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzzZ2Lg7XJOlDy0QADyau3rzit6iNeeQIoEbALm_icmrw-kET3PaM0cSkWcG0SwXWSacQrkIAayT71P6sj_' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Caught in the act</b></span></div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-82638949747425362342017-08-29T14:21:00.000-07:002017-09-03T12:20:24.052-07:00<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Consulting the broadcaster whose career is
scheduled to inspire Ghanaian writers to achieve laurels beyond the margins of
their script</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>An interview with Demay Alabi. By Darko Antwi. </b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Being one of the
few outstanding reviewers, and a warm host of various authors, may I know the
objectives of your service? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
It's an honour to share my little experience with your readers and I want to
congratulate you for such an innovative advocacy to preserve and enhance works
of creativity.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
objective of the advocacy I do is to help preserve humanity and it's development
and to ensure that society is kept alive from generation to generation because
I believe that the Arts is the bedrock of human development.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
also aimed at expunging the hearts, minds and spirits of creative works and
their creators. And to outdoor, promote, and critically have conversations with
the creative minds of Africa and the world and the public, thus removing the
myth surrounding the Arts, especially books that it is boring and also the
privy of a few. As they say, no one does business in the dark, so my platform
affords all stakeholders an opportunity to sell themselves and their products,
thus also adding value to the industry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: As an advocate of
interest in the culture of public reading, have you ever thought of the
importance of any programme that cares for children with reading difficulties?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
Yes, a reading clinic with therapeutic resource has always been part of the
vision. However it hasn't been tackled until this July when I got a suitable,
spacious building. So hopefully by God's grace, we are starting a Reading Club
and clinic, with specialised areas and resource personnel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Your television
show, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Books and More</i>, hasn’t endeavoured
to review a single children’s book. Is that deliberate?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
Actually, we have reviewed quite a few by Ama Atta Aidoo, A teenage writer, Dr
Cox and recently a few on Radio. Currently I have 3 books by a Ghanaian lady lined
up for review next month. Also, there aren't that many quality Ghanaian children's
books on the book shelves. </span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
I agree I could do more. I am open to any institution or charity that would
supply my show with books for review and donation.Intact, I am about to start a
children's Book Review Show. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Geoffrey
Cotterell once said: “In America only the successful writer is important, in
France all writers are important, in England no writer is important, in
Australia you have to explain who a writer is”. If Cotterell’s statement is a
substantial clue to be followed, how worse would you say is the image of the
Ghanaian writer as a stakeholder of socio-economic development?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ghanaian author, until I started the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Books and More Show</i> over a decade
ago, was seen as some teacher or boring poor old man who had nothing to do. This
is from a random survey done by our organisation before we started the show.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the average Ghanaian, African books were good for the lecture rooms. And that is where the buck stopped. But by determination to create a showbiz atmosphere,
through very vibrant sets and exciting discussions on the characters, themes and
doing both technical and content reviews with the authors, we managed to dispel
the drab perception of books and authors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Considering that
the book business has neither flourished at the mercy of tax relief, nor
expanded under the benevolence of the Creative Arts Grants, could you think of
other means by which the industry could contribute significantly to Gross
Domestic Product, and better the living standard of the Ghanaian publisher /
writer?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
This is a yeoman's question. Well, I would say, that first all the various
components and stages of publishing must be identified, from the first draft to
the end product, which is sales and reading and must be given it's requisite
value and recognition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Secondly,
education on the industry must be embarked on both in the media space,
workshops and seminars as well as print. Thirdly, there must be concerted and
intentional effort to make the various machinery of the industry work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fourthly,
projects like what I am doing must be supported by the industry to create paradigm
shifts. Fifthly, Modern socio-cultural trends must be inculcated quickly into
the industry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lastly,
through these reviews,events and other creative ideas, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>standard and quality <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of content, research, presentations, language and
storylines must be relevant, quality and interesting to readers.Books must be
made interesting and attractive enough to make it the preferred source of
knowledge</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: What other
factors could redeem, if the motivation of Ghana Writers Awards and Golden Baobab
is not enough morale for competitive Ghanaian literature?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
There should be an open recognition of authors in other aspects of social
events. Government subvention of printing materials should be priortized. We
should also encourage more attractive modes of literature vendoring, dissemination
and packaging, like the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Books and More
Show</i>, and Ghana International Book Fair</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: In the heat of
Ghana’s democratic discourse, should the objective writer necessarily be
neutral to partisan politics?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
No. Because writing and literary works in all it's forms must capture
everything happening in the world around them</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night of the Arts</i> was noble but a
short-term project of yours. I wonder what held you back from achieving the
longevity of what would have been Ghanas most celebrated literary event!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
As I stated earlier, the industry must put it's pocket where it's mouth is. The
same way we are advocating for value for works of arts, is the same way the
industry must value their advocates, partners and allies. But Night of the Arts
is coming back soon, better, bigger and greater.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: During the 8th
Presidential Inaugural Lecture of the Ghana Library Association, President
Samuel Bentil described Ghana’s dysfunctional public libraries as “an
embarrassment”. Apart from the supposed disgrace, has the poor state of the
libraries any effect on national development?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
Absolutely. The value we place on education, which by the way goes beyond
schooling, is a reflection of our self perception and the value we place on the
future. Can we build schools without the container or vessel of knowledge; which
is what the library is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn't it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: If the state
consults you for a laureate, which three poets would be at the top of your
recommendation? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
I would respectfully suggest Kofi Awoonor, Abena Busia, and Atukwei Okai.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Thank you very
much!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>DEMAY</b>:
Thank you too. I am grateful for the honour. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pst DemayAlabi
is a broadcaster </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">with a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">spanning
20 years. She holds a psychology degree from Middlesex University, UK. With </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">20years work </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">in
the media and literary societies, she currently hosts the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Books & More Show</i> on Starr FM and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">360 Degree Lifetstyle</i> on Etv-Ghana. She is the founder and CEO of
360 Degree Human Development Center. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-91122028444820854352017-06-09T06:28:00.000-07:002017-06-12T07:00:25.170-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Congratulating the Canadian editor by whose
devotion Ghanaian poetry has inspired a fortune of fellowship and reformation</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">An interview with Rob
Taylor. By Darko Antwi.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: In 2006, you were
probably in Ghana for reasons other than a magazine of Ghanaian poetry. How did
you end up with One Ghana One Voice?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: My wife
(girlfriend at the time), Marta, was working at the AIDS Commission in Accra. I
joined her, which really confused the immigration officials and led to many
hassles with my tourist visa!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I founded <i>OGOV</i>
after living in Accra for seven months. Over that time I had tried to find
poets or writing groups I could participate in, but came up empty. I’m sure
they were out there, but as an outsider I had no way of finding them (remember,
this was pre-social media 2006: Facebook was in its infancy, and Twitter had
yet to be invented). I figured there were many others out there (in smaller
cities and towns, ex-patriot Ghanaians, fellow visitors to the country) who
were equally “cut off” from a writing community, and I wanted to do something
about that.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was on GhanaWeb one
day (The closest thing 2006 Ghana had to Facebook) and came upon an article on
poetry by Julian Adomako-Gyimah. I got in touch with him to see if he’d want to
make something happening online – a meeting place for Ghanaian poets and those
interested in writing poetry on Ghana – and he was as excited as I was. At the
time there were very, very few websites devoted to African writing, let alone
poetry, and no such sites in Ghana, so we were keen to get something going. A
few weeks later, <i>OGOV</i> was born!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: In your essay, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Cyclist</i>, you were confounded by the
variability of Africa’s diverse culture. With that challenge, how did you so
earnestly manage the literature of native custom and expression?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: A great
question. I started <i>OGOV</i> with great trepidation and maintained that trepidation
throughout my years at the helm. <i>OGOV</i> has always been a team effort
(first with Julian, and later with others, most notably Prince Mensah), but
still I was always there at, or close to, the centre. And who was I to be doing
this? I know a good deal more about Ghanaian history, politics and culture than
the average Westerner (I have a Bachelor’s degree in African history, and, as
mentioned, lived in Accra and traveled throughout the country) – but it’s still
nothing compared to the knowledge and life experience of a born-and-raised
Ghanaian. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I started the site for
the same reason I’ve founded a number of organizations here in Canada – from
sports clubs, to print magazines, to community writing groups and book clubs –
because I wanted to see something in the world, and no one else was doing it.
My plan was always to have <i>OGOV</i> fade away once it had “competition”
doing the same work, which would mean it had served its purpose. We are in the
process of doing that right now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As to how to manage a magazine
when I was an “outsider”, well, the simple answer is that I said “no” to very
little. I published most of what came in (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i>
if by a young Ghanaian poet seeking their first publication), serving more as a
facilitator than a gatekeeper. My goal was to get people reading and talking
where they otherwise might not have been.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: If any modern art
could be described as being the moral conscience of society, could you place the
<i>OGOV</i> collection in that perspective?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: I won’t try to
speak for <i>OGOV</i>’s place in Ghana’s moral conscience – again, that’s just
not my place. But on a personal level, the poems on <i>OGOV</i> deeply shaped
my thinking about poetry – both its purposes and my writing of it. </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The poems I received and
published at <i>OGOV</i> were more political than any other body of work I’ve
encountered before or since as a reader or editor. The poems spoke about the
things that really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">matter </i>in life –
social issues, capital “P” politics, crime, pollution, women’s rights, religion
– you name it, an <i>OGOV</i> poet was talking about it. The poems were more
outward looking than most poems in North America. They were more interested in
having a conversation with the whole community than just with other writers;
more concerned with substance than style (sometimes to their detriment, of
course, but often to their benefit). I needed that as a writer – to be reminded
what I was writing for, which was, and is, people. Not some future reader, some
canon-maker (not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eternity</i>), but the
people around me here and now. The people I love. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: At the
height of the <i>OGOV</i> publication, you encouraged voluntary comments of
appreciation. How relevant was it to the fate of submissions which were written
mostly by ‘unestablished’ writers?</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: Readers
were always encouraged to comment on the poems through the blog's comment
feature, and feedback was also encouraged via our annual calls for <a href="http://www.oneghanaonevoice.com/search/label/Poems%20of%20the%20Year" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">"Poem of the Year" nominees</span></a> and
our <a href="http://www.oneghanaonevoice.com/search/label/How%20Poems%20Work" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">"How Poems Work" series</span></a>.
Your question motivated me to look back and see just how active our comment
section was, and - wow! In the 2008-2010 period we were often getting 20-30
comments per poem, a few times over 50 (and once over 70!). It's hard to
remember those pre-social media days when conversations played out in comment
sections, but we were really going, and not just with comments on the poems
themselves, but also the issues they raised (polygamy, tribalism, politics,
etc.).</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I'm very glad that
happened, though occasionally I felt for the author of the poem when the
critiques turned overly negative or the conversation transformed into a
political debate which was largely detached from the poem itself. Still,
the whole idea of <i>OGOV</i> was to bring poets together, and the comment
sections certainly did that.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As to how such
comments influenced the fate of submissions, the answer is they had very little
impact. Sometimes the comments on poems would suggest an interest in
certain topics or poets, and in that sense might have increased the likelihood
of poems on that topic or by that author appearing more frequently. Generally,
though, such editorial decisions were made without consideration to the
"commentariat," and instead were based on the quality of the poems.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: How would
you respond to the critique which examines <i>OGOV</i> as “a sovereign space,
especially charitable to Ghanaian verses, but narrowly keen on quality
discretion – resulting in a huge inventory of mediocre titles”?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: I would
agree, at least partially. As I mentioned above, my goal wasn’t to publish
“only the best”. It was to bring people together (and to give young poets their
first shot). But we also published some really incredible poems by poets from
Ghana and around the world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To highlight that, we
worked hard to give extra promotion to the strongest poems – as determined by
editors and readers – via our “Poems of the Year” feature, which we ran
annually from 2007 until 2012 (<a href="http://www.oneghanaonevoice.com/search/label/Poems%20of%20the%20Year"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.oneghanaonevoice.com/search/label/Poems%20of%20the%20Year</span></a>).
This was an effort to “have our cake and eat it too” – to both make a space for
everyone and to particularly celebrate some of the very best work being
written. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: Under what
circumstance would you recommend the value of self-publication to a poet of <i>OGOV</i>
advent (or any poet of similar experience)? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: Oh, this is a
question with so many answers! First, there is self-publication early in your
writing life: say, an online blog, or Facebook posts, or a self-published print
chapbook for friends and family. I think all these things are brilliant, and
everyone should do them when starting out and finding their footing. Gain some
confidence! Find some readers! Have fun!</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For many, doing the
above will satisfy their desires as writers. Others, of course, will want to go
further – to publish poems in larger magazines, to publish books, etc. Then my
answer is (mostly) to minimize self-publishing. I completely understand the
temptation to self-publish. The reality is you’re going to write a lot of bad
poems, and face seemingly endless rejection, in the journey to becoming a
successful writer. It makes perfect sense to want to shortcut the process. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It took me almost a
decade of writing before my first book was accepted by a publisher. Along the
way, I had over 900 poem-rejections by magazines (now over 1200, and counting).
And sometimes it hurt. Sometimes a lot. But it made me a better writer, too, by
forcing me to face my shortcomings and improve on them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The “(mostly)” above
refers to a couple things: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
I still self-publish here or there as the spirit moves me (if, say, I write a
topical poem about a political event and want to get it out to readers
immediately, or I write a personal poem that I only am interested in having a
few friends or family members read). But these are the exceptions rather than
the rule. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
Social media (Instagram poets, for instance) has opened up some paths to wide
readership that are being created as we speak. The future may all be online self
publishing, for all I know. But for now that seems like a massive sea to drop
into, with very few islands to swim to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: How has life
after <i>OGOV</i> been? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: Great! I have a
bad tendency of holding on to projects for too long – I become used to the
routine, and sentimentally attached. But with <i>OGOV</i> I knew from the
beginning that a time would come for me to walk away, which made finally doing
so easier.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Looking back, <i>OGOV</i> was
an incredible amount of work! When the magazine was at its peak – for about six
years there – I was reviewing, accepting, editing and publishing a poem a week,
year round, alongside an interview with the author. It was madness, really. But
I loved the work, and didn’t realise how much of my life it was taking up until
I stepped back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I enjoyed that extra
time for a few months, and then Marta and I had a baby. So now “OGOV time” has
become “baby time” (and “writing time” has become “baby time”, and “sleep time”
has become “baby time”, etc.). On top of that, I have a new book out, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The News</i> (poems written during, and
about, Marta’s pregnancy), the promotion of which sucks up whatever tiny spare
moments the baby allows. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: Two years after
your resignation, have you ever felt an <i>OGOV</i> Saturday poetry nostalgia? </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: Yes! I miss joy
of opening an email and having a poem from a stranger knock me sideways. More
than that, though, I miss the friendships. I miss exchanging thoughts on poems
and poetry with people like yourself, and Prince Mensah, and Martin Egblewogbe,
and Nii Parkes, and Mariska Araba Taylor and most of all, the late L.S Mensah.
I've met few finer minds and I miss her dearly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>ANTWI</b></span>: We appreciate
your interest and service toward the development of Ghanaian poetry. Thank you
very much!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>TAYLOR</b></span>: Thank you
for this chance to chat, Darko – and for all you do. It’s always a pleasure to
speak with you, and to be able to talk about such a happy time in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASpbkRrzKYfMN98rLjXo64Covw3Hsenc_mlXM-CnbyRSjYSRj8bmgdfT9rtjLKfkbX2gBsj68bBF4PPP-jMvR7RJMCyq94-e0FqQ4CoHqds5spIxB338NKVOYG452hoMjjyI5KmPQohcU/s1600/Rob+Taylor+Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="415" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASpbkRrzKYfMN98rLjXo64Covw3Hsenc_mlXM-CnbyRSjYSRj8bmgdfT9rtjLKfkbX2gBsj68bBF4PPP-jMvR7RJMCyq94-e0FqQ4CoHqds5spIxB338NKVOYG452hoMjjyI5KmPQohcU/s320/Rob+Taylor+Headshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rob Taylor is the author of two poetry
collections, <i>The News</i> (Gaspereau Press, 2016) and <i>The Other Side of
Ourselves</i> (Cormorant Books, 2011), and five poetry chapbooks. <i>The News</i>
was a finalist for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and <i>The Other Side of
Ourselves</i> won the Alfred G. Bailey Prize. Rob lived in Accra in 2006/07,
where he co-founded<i> One Ghana, One Voice</i>, Ghana's first online poetry
magazine. He now lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife and son, where he
coordinates the Dead Poets Reading Series and teaches Creative Writing at the
University of the Fraser Valley.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVwF0AIjfRjTN-FfJ34xJvdUZMXNbied0izxinYpY9ErmXcS-hy0sKEQkTm0iCCWoDtH_iIul2-EXH7FxSni8ehOoUdj9p7hWmozxdSdKODvj_3PZNv2vyghumwpoMuX2WZPkLvVX18FY/s1600/The+News+By+Rob+Taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVwF0AIjfRjTN-FfJ34xJvdUZMXNbied0izxinYpY9ErmXcS-hy0sKEQkTm0iCCWoDtH_iIul2-EXH7FxSni8ehOoUdj9p7hWmozxdSdKODvj_3PZNv2vyghumwpoMuX2WZPkLvVX18FY/s320/The+News+By+Rob+Taylor.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2010/10/pwc-online-shop_8055.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2010/10/pwc-online-shop_8055.html" border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKPFbJCfBGdvxhepTV-ZMg5M3QZ1D9HftCzPfF9V7AEqyx1WK7NCEyjfZkKct2Gv236A_x-bj3lhzGs7YJxuDG8rk3aLJ28E4sYMevc0puX2Wh_Zi72l0sIwe8ulK0zxgj_mppRgjrmvO/s1600/purchase+link.gif" /></a><b> </b><br />
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<b>Title: </b>The News <b> </b></div>
<b>Author: </b>Rob Taylor<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Paperback:</b> 64 pages<b> </b><br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Gaspereau Press<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1554471648<b> </b><br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1554471645<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
</style>
<![endif]--></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
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<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
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<![endif]-->Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-36763993893238599732016-12-24T07:51:00.001-08:002016-12-25T07:51:09.752-08:00<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Of Stories, Sunlight and Hindsight</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sun sieves through the half-drawn lace curtains,
casting dancing patterns of light and shadow on my face and on my pillow. It
must be morning already, then. I wonder why Papa has not come to tear me from sleep
and bed. More than because he wants me to be up early and go through all the
rituals of getting ready for school, I think Papa has come to love waking me up,
as much as he actually enjoys my pretending not to have had enough sleep and my
begging him to let me recoil myself and shut my eyes for eleven, just eleven
more seconds. I indulge him. After all, he is family, and he is my Papa. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His not coming today is odd, and even though I could
use being the one to tell him tall things about the need to be an early riser
and the benefits of being punctual and proactive and other such things, I let
myself fall back into cuddly comforts of bed and pillow. But the pool of
sunlight and shadows on my pillow will not let me go back to bed. Try as I work
myself into getting annoyed with the sun, I cannot even frown. I can only
remember… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No, I do not remember to daydream and imagine and be
curious about myself and the worlds around me. I remember to go wake Papa and
tell him that maybe, just maybe, when I ask for eleven seconds to shut my eyes,
I am really asking him to let me breathe, to live, like I really know how to. I
remember to go wake Papa up and tell him one of many stories I have lived out
because of sun-filled daydreams, because of animated, uninhibited imagination. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A story that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i>
happen at school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was one of those idle school days between end of
term exams and vacation. Some of my friends were </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">discussing a part of our
recent Natural Science exam paper, something about the seven things – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">life</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">processes</i>,
Teacher Ago had said – that human beings can do. That was when I started telling
my friends about how plants can do many of the things animals and even humans
can do. Everyone was intrigued and wanted to hear all I had to say. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone but Foli and his Morris. Foli hastily left
the class. Morris came closer, wearing a grin that spelt ‘silly’ and ‘trouble’
in one word. Knowing Morris is Foli’s spy on my every move, I decided to ignore
him and go on to tell those eager to listen more. But Morris will not let me.
He insisted I am deceiving people and stealing all of Foli’s friends. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am not the one with the latest and fanciest games
and gadgets, and the plenty money to buy snacks and friends who are willing to
be bought. Foli does, and he does not like me at all. He just does not
understand why many people would rather gather around me and listen hard and
long at the endless things I tell them. I am the one who gets it written on my report
cards that I distract lessons. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Given the chance at an Open Day, a teacher will
explain ‘distract’ to mean friends gather around me, listening to plenty
God-knows-what, all the time, and in the middle of lessons. Days after, when Uncle
Akwasi will come to visit, he will not find such a report worrying. He will try
to convince Papa that this kind of distraction is actually a good sign, but
Papa will tell him to at least, not say that in my presence. He had meant for
Uncle Akwasi to help him talk to me to change my ways. In front of Papa, Uncle
Akwasi will tell me to at least, not do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>
while a teacher is in class and is teaching. Then, we will smile, Uncle Akwasi
and I. And it was with a shared understanding of mischief. Our smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I frowned Morris away, and when he would not leave
and leave me alone, I asked him to then tell us how plants are able to grow if
they do not eat – that is, if he knew it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Plants eat. They suck their food from the soil. Through
their roots’ explained Morris, simply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rather than this making him see reason in what he
would not even given me the chance to explain, his answer won him many nods and
a new company. I got only sudden suspicion, I felt like a fraud. Yet, I disagreed,
saying that it is only water and some soil nutrients that plants <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">take</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i>
– or in Morris’ words, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">suck</i> – from
the soil. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘As for the real food, plants make it in their
leaves when there is light from –’ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Stop it! Shut up! Liar!’ accused Morris, now raging
with angry hate, neither able to hide its rawness nor give ready reasons for it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I could bear his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">calling</i>
me a liar. His <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">implying </i>Uncle Akwasi
is a liar was what hurt me, for it was Uncle Akwasi who taught me how plants
make and eat their food. And my Uncle Akwasi cannot lie. Not about this, at
least. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Morris smirked, twitched his left eye brow and gave
me the now-what-becomes-of-you? look. And I thought I heard someone laugh. The
laughter, it was a brief but meaty one and I was not sure if it was (directed)
at me or at Morris, at both of us or at what was fast becoming a sour
situation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The air burned with liquid battle. Someone soon
saved the situation. Albeit gingerly, the person suggested that we go ask
Teacher Bernice, our class teacher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was not until we got to her table, close to the
door leading in and out of the class, when we found that Teacher Bernice was
busily grading one of our recent exam papers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> excitedly chatting with Teacher Peprah, the class teacher next
door. Before I could even start asking her she told me to ‘leave her face with those
my many silly stories’. I tried not to cry, as I marched upstairs and she and
Teacher Peprah’s chat intensified with crisp giggles and climaxed into a rather
neat hi-five. When I got to the landing before the last lap of stairs to the
next floor, I realized I did not even know where I was going.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The pain of Morris <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">calling</i> my Uncle Akwasi a liar knotted in my throat. Threatening to
fall in torrents on already fallen face, tears scoured my courage. I slumped in
the corner of the landing, ready to let it all come crumbling down, in eleven,
yes, eleven heaves and as many sighs and gasps. I soon found none of all that was
to be: through the first film of tears, I saw a pool of people at the bottom of
the stairs. Quickly, I brushed my eyes with the back of one hand. It was my
friends. Looking a little like a champion, Morris stood large and in front of
the pool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The knot of pain kicked. With jagged
intent, it scratched me bloody sore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I picked myself up, dusted the back of my school
uniform and with the other hand, beckoned them to follow me. I still did not
know what I was thinking and doing, where all this was going, where I was
leading them. But I did know that all could not have been lost in proving that
my Uncle Akwasi may be many things I may not know yet, but he is not, cannot be
a liar. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I marched on, up last flight of stairs. There is JHS
1 Lily and then there is JHS 1 Rose, the second class after turning from the
stairs. I like the Rose form master, Teacher Bawa, because his looks, his ways confirm
two or four hallowed things somewhere soft and deep in my being. Maybe it is
because Teacher Bawa is lanky beyond<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>any
plump redemption – just like Uncle Akwasi – but I do know that if Intelligence
were to be human and had eyes, the eyes would look like Teacher Bawa and Uncle
Akwasi’s. And it must have been this mystic connection to Teacher Bawa that tugged
me towards his class. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I and the host behind me found Teacher Bawa at his
table. He too was busy, but not with marking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With his eyes closed and his long lean frame slumped
in his chair and barely under his nearly empty table – is he finished with his
grading? – Teacher Bawa did not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">look lost</i>.
He <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was lost</i> far and wide in a world of
his own. It was the thickness of our presence which jerked him back to this
other, popular, world. And it was the way his eyes glowed with something far
wondrous than sleep, the way he clutched the opened book on his chest that made
me know that the book on his chest must have triggered and unfurled this world which
Teacher Bawa was so happily lost in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Almost impatiently, he asked what it is that we wanted
with him. I was eager to save time. And my Uncle Akwasi’s reputation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Please, Teacher Bawa, my friends here did not
believe me when I told them plants make their own food. And that they don’t suck
their food from the ground,’ I only began.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘But why? That is true,’ Teacher Bawa agreed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘But Teacher Bawa, how?’ a voice like Morris’ stole
in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Okay, let’s do it this way,’ suggested Teacher Bawa.
‘Let your friend here tell all of us…’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘But why won’t you tell us yourself, Teacher Bawa?
Please?’ Foli himself cut in, the ‘please’ part of his words sounding
half-hearted, dangling at the end of his protest, like the afterthought that it
really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Teacher Bawa frowned, but only briefly, and was soon
telling us all about how it is that plants make their food in their leaves,
using something, a word which begins with the first sound in CHLOrine and ends
with something that sounds like the word FILL. With his eyes glittering with
the sheer delight of the telling and our tingling, listening ears, Teacher Bawa
spoke of how all this happens beyond the seeing of the eyes and the help of
anything but nature on its own course. And through it all, Teacher Bawa
emphasized that very little or none of this wonder will happen without sunlight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Teacher Bawa was done and he asked if that was
what I was going to tell my friends and they won’t let me, I merely smiled my
gratitude to him. And when Teacher Bawa asked how I knew about Photosynthesis,
I told him all about Uncle Akwasi. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I told Teacher Bawa how Uncle Akwasi is full of
stories, how Uncle Akwasi is the only one who, with anything within reach – with
charcoal or pencil and ground or paper, with an orange and a stone alike, with
shoe laces as well as the tunnels in Grandmother’s big glass beads – can show me
how a cube has six faces, how the earth rotates while revolving around the sun,
how in a split second I pull my hand from a hot object I accidentally touch. It
is Uncle Akwasi who can start telling me about one thing – say wine and
fermentation – and before he and I know it, I am also learning bits and chunks
about the Babel and Pisa Towers, about mercury and magma and mirage, about Ancient
Egypt and Einstein, about Nkrumah and neo-colonialism, about parallel lines and
poetry and – if I really must add, about – photosynthesis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This my Uncle Akwasi is fun and sunny in a vivid,
photo- …well, photographic way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I still have to go to wake Papa up...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa is not in his bedroom when I arrive. On his bed
were a pair of Wellington boots a few sizes bigger than my feet, a set of
clothes – the kind Papa calls ‘working gear’. They are also close to my size – and
a note which made me jump with joy unbounded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I do remember to go wash my face, brush my teeth and
go to the kitchen to have a generous helping of Papa’s signature Pine-ger juice
and buns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sun pours past the fully drawn lace curtains, leaving
a river of sunlight on my pillow, on my bed and the rest of my room. It is well
into morning. And I am sure it is the same sun I will meet, together with Papa,
in our backyard garden.</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Aisha Nelson</b> dreams, writes, thinks, teaches and lives in
Accra, Ghana. A set of he</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">r poems were shortlisted by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Erbacce Press</i> in 2014<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">;</i>
another won <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Akwantuo Writing</i>’s
2015 Harmattan Poetry Contest. More of her poetry, short fiction and
non-fiction have featured in outlets </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Accra
Theatre Workshop</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Ghana One
Voice, Kalahari Review, Munyori Journal,Saraba, Prairie Schooner </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Caine Prize</i>’s 2015 short story
anthology. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Aisha’s </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">blog
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nu kɛ Hulu (Water and Sun) </i>is at<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> aishawrites.wordpress.com</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/12/chicken-soup.html"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read Prev<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ious Editions</span></span></b></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div>
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Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-49280409219938393862016-06-13T09:55:00.000-07:002016-06-13T13:42:54.460-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">Discovering the graphic writer whose skill is
blessed to restore Ghana’s image amongst the excellence and prestige of world
literature<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">An int<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">erview with </span></span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ayesha Harruna<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>Attah. </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">By Darko Antwi</span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have read the sacred and the stimuli of
contemporary Ghanaian fiction. But I am yet to read anyone who writes as graceful
as you do. For your level of proficiency, I can only imagine you were born a
storyteller. Weren’t you?</i><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: Thank you. That’s
really kind of you. I was certainly surrounded by storytellers and started
reading at a young age. I also began trying my hands at writing quite early,
and having journalists as parents only helped fuel my passion.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From the blogger Akotowaa Ofori to NoVoilet
Bulawayo, to the Gulf News, you have been praised for distinctive quality of
literature. It makes me doubt if there has been a spot in your career where
your works went through a fire of criticism. If any, how important have you
deemed it?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: Going to
graduate school is one way to get your work critiqued and my stories and novel
chapters have certainly been through intense critiques. Workshops, too. Before
a book comes out, it goes through several levels of editing, so I don’t think
any writer can get through life without criticism. In terms of reviews, every
book is like a cup of tea—it’s not going to please everyone (some might find it
too hot, too cold, lukewarm...) My strategy is to find the good even in the
harsh reviews and leave out what is not constructive.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In the world of Harmattan Rain, where the
livelihood and survival of women is prevalent, would you affirm it (the book)
as a creation that seeks to assert your perception of gender inequality /
suppression in modern societies?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: My first goal
was to tell a story and to try to reflect reality/society as much as possible,
because the stories that resonate with me the most as the most realistic ones.
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">In trying to hold up a mirror up to what I’ve seen in our societies, yes,
gender inequality and suppression are very real issues that plague us. </span>Therefore,
these are issues that will come up again and again in my work.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In an interview with Africa Book Club, you
mentioned Toni Morrison’s works as the inspiration behind your teenage wish “to
write a world full of strong female characters”. Out of the many characters in
your novels and short stories, with which</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have you, so far, come close to
presenting feminine strength or their potential to influence?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: Each character
plays a role in representing feminine strength. Akua Afriyie as a single mother,
Lizzie starting her life with next to nothing, same as Atsu in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saturday’s Shadows</i>, Sugri having to
begin life in a new culture and deal with all the misunderstanding that that
comes with. Each of these women is however able to make her way by dint of her
character and femininity.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upon the public herald of your talent,
during her BBC World Service interview, the legendary Ama Ata Aidoo also mailed
you a note at the release of your second title. Reminding yourself of the
content, how much does her support mean to you?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: Everything! I
read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anowa</i> when I was in Junior
Secondary School. And reading a Ghanaian writer at that age, made me realize
that one could live one’s life writing stories and plays and poems. In short,
she was an inspiration. So to have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i>
same Ama Ata Aidoo praise my work, meant everything to me.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a
critic concludes that the writing of Saturday’s Shadows has put you on the
pedestal of a clever camouflage artist (in the sense that the narration is more
anecdotal of your family history /events than it is verisimilitude of general
realities of a West African socio-political era), how would you respond?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Well, we always
start from what we know, don’t we? And even if one tries to get away from
oneself, I am convinced that it is impossible, even on a subconscious level.
</span>That said, as a writer the more specific I can get the better, so I’d much
rather write about a specific family (even if some readers decide that it is
anecdotal of my family history) than portray a general reality—I am a fiction
writer, not a sociologist!<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How
has Saturday’s Kinderen, the Dutch version of Saturday’s Shadows been received?
Is there any feedback to grant that the lucidity of the original is not lost in
translation?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday’s
Kinderen</i> was generally well received. <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">There will always be loss that comes
from translating from one language to another: flavors are not quite the same,
nuance, too, might get buried. </span>I, however, haven’t received feedback to suggest
that too much was lost in translation.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For
whatever purpose you migrated to Senegal, how integrated has your stay in Dakar
been? Perhaps how <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ostracized</span> do you see yourself at the thought of your home
country?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: I moved to
Senegal to work on a project. It’s been wonderful so far. There are many
similarities between Dakar and Accra. <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">I don’t see myself as ostracized at all
with regard to Ghana. It is home, and I go back as often as I can.<b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If the periodic pattern of your first two
books is a deliberate order to be followed, it leaves the setting-in-time of
your next novel very predictable. Would you state the contrary?</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>AYESHA</b>: I don’t know
that there’s a pattern to be seen in setting one novel during forty years (50s
to 90s) of Ghana’s history, then focusing on one year in a family’s life in the
90s in a fictional country, and then writing about ten years in 19<sup>th</sup>
century (my upcoming novel) in pre-colonial West Africa. Yes, I am drawn to the
historical, but I try not to limit myself to time periods, which I think eliminates
the predictability element<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>.</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><b>DARKO</b>: <i>You’ve been so brilliant. Thank you very much!</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i><b>AYESHA</b>: Thank you!</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Click on <a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2016/06/extra.html"><b>Extra</b></a> to read what Ayesha and Darko have in common</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY5vts4RuWlhSG4xR8ebSrCAqV_fca5PE2A5oPm88cPvPWzj0tuPwnupLD6AIkrAsgB6c-DkVuhEMhZ-AUnKsj49i3LGTbUR2fKRqWu8VI6_wAtSXvw-eRWoRRkYKbdkVkKOKgJLUbEVI/s1600/Ayes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY5vts4RuWlhSG4xR8ebSrCAqV_fca5PE2A5oPm88cPvPWzj0tuPwnupLD6AIkrAsgB6c-DkVuhEMhZ-AUnKsj49i3LGTbUR2fKRqWu8VI6_wAtSXvw-eRWoRRkYKbdkVkKOKgJLUbEVI/s320/Ayes2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="style30" style="font-size: small;">Ayesha Harruna Attah published her debut novel, <a href="http://stores.bbkwan.com/harmattan-rain-by-ayesha-harruna-attah/" target="_blank"><i>Harmattan Rain</i></a><i> (</i><a href="http://www.bbkwan.com/" target="_blank">Per Ankh Publishers</a><i>)</i>, in 2009. It was nominated for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. </span><span class="style30" style="font-size: small;">Her recently released novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saturdays-Shadows-Ayesha-Harruna-Attah/dp/9462380430" target="_blank"><i>Saturday's Shadows </i></a>(World Editions), was shortlisted for the <a href="http://manuscript.kwani.org/" target="_blank">Kwani? Manuscript Project</a> in 2013.
It is available in stores in the UK and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saturdays-Shadows-Ayesha-Harruna-Attah/dp/9462380430/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">online</a>, and translated into Dutch (<a href="http://www.degeus.nl/boeken/detail/3704/saturdays-kinderen.html?from=/service/xml/DGCarrousel/recent" target="_blank">Uitgeverij De Geus)</a>. For inquiries contact <a href="http://www.pontas-agency.com/latest-news/introducing-saturday_s-shadows-by-ayesha-harruna-attah/" target="_blank">Pontas Agency</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="style30" style="font-size: small;">Ayesha was educated at Mount Holyoke College, Columbia University, and NYU. She is a 2015 <a href="http://www.africacentre.net/introducing-the-2014-artists-in-residency-award-laureates/" target="_blank">Africa Centre Artists in Residency Award Laureate</a> and Sacatar Fellow, and was shortlisted for the 2015 <a href="http://www.milesmorlandfoundation.com/#%21shortlist-2015/npp6p" target="_blank">Miles Morland Foundation Scholarship</a>. She currently lives in Senegal and loves cooking and staring at the ocean.</span></div>
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Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-8428927818783579532016-06-12T11:03:00.000-07:002016-06-16T12:53:38.285-07:00ExtraAyesha and Darko have a common maternal great-grandparents: Charles Sarpong (1883-1958), veterinary doctor. Margaret Akua Fokuo (189?- 1964), farmer.Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-23063890685752939852016-05-19T04:21:00.000-07:002016-05-21T13:53:54.174-07:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2013/12/biography-of-aisha-nelson_23.html">Biography </a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Heavenly Gifts in Husks</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It had been raining since last night. The rains beat
us and turned the ground under our makeshift coop into a thick paste of earth
and dirt. That was because our coop, which was a discarded metal cylinder, was
open at both ends. The tiers of </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">wire mesh in our coop suggested that it used to
be a firewood fish oven. The mesh sagged and flaked away, and the coop was
brown and green with rust and mold. Because part of its bottom end was worn,
the coop’s decrepit frame staggered against a shady mango tree, which seemed to
be locked in a hug with the wall right next to it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The other fowls slept up on the branches of the
tree. More severely than the previous night’s rains, these fellow fowls had
beaten us the first day we had tried finding a portion of the mango tree’s
branch to sleep on. One handsome cock had fought some of the fowls off and had
secured a space on one branch for us. My mother however, had insisted that we
leave to find another place to pass the night. I might have been the only one
who had realized that it was not only because the space was too small for all
five of us chicks that our mother would rather have us all sleep elsewhere. Our
hero, it seemed, had ulterior motives for his all-eager-to-please-and-impress
gestures and actions towards my beautiful mother. The way he had looked at my
mother was the most telling part of it all.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew that look too well- and what it meant too. I
have come to believe it was that same look that made my eyes glitter whenever I
looked at that other beauty-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full</i>
chick who I used to play with during our stay at our previous home. Maybe there
is something about beauty that makes, forces, others to look at beauty-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full</i> people in positively curious and
unusually tender ways. This same way of looking explains that wet glitter in
the eyes – I am not sure. But I am certain that it was that look which that
handsome cock had given my mother which had caused our having to make this
discarded fish oven our home, since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thatday</i>...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...thatday</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">,
I was chatting with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> beauty-full
chick and watching my eight much younger siblings play. Together with many
other fowls, we were outside the compounds of the various houses we belonged
to.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then suddenly, the world went mad. All the fowls
from the neighbouring houses on the lane began crowing and screeching at dead
high pitches. Everyone was running everywhere to anywhere away from the expert
hands and deadly bosoms and waiting sacks of those plucking us away. These
agile energetic humans were intent on plucking us fowls and accidentally
plucking feathers in the process too.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘*Ayekoo!’
they called it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just after the ban on
drumming and other ‘noise’ making is lifted, there is this ritual of seizing
every stray <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">animal</i> –and by that, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fowls</i>, especially- on the streets.
Usually, it was young men – many of who happened to have more than enough time
to spare because they are jobless –many of who were all too glad and zealous to
enforce this particular custom preceding the *Homowo festival of the Ga-s. So
it was no wonder that more people hooted at these young men, instead of hailing
them for upholding the tradition. It always seemed that these young men were
bent on celebrating every Homowo with a chicken flavour, rather than wait for
four long months for Christmas for that luxury.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Soon, they were gone, leaving behind giant pillars
of dust in the midst of low little clouds of floating fluffy breast feathers.
And it was not until much of the brief wild stir had calmed when we realized
that we were lost, and four of my siblings were either dead or also lost
somewhere else. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our lives took another turn after this incident. We
had to learn to fight for everything from air and water to shelter and dignity.
Survival became a matter of a crude mixture of pure art and sheer luck. This
was unnecessarily so, especially because life had been so much better at our
first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">home</i>...</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…while at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">theLamptey-s’</i>,
we were neither pampered nor maltreated. It was *Shidaa, their dog, which they
deliberately took good care of. We fowls were however fed, well enough with
rice bran, fish offal and scales, the bad lot among nuts and legumes and
grains, crumbs of bread and such other odds. Even though mine is an experienced
tongue, there were many other food items which I never got to make out what
they were, or what they were made of.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once in a while, we fowls get to munch some assorted
but flatted biscuits. Some of these foods both teased and pleased the tongue,
but they can never be compared to the delicious lingering taste of cockroaches,
beetles, worms ants and more such delicacies which we got on our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i>, from our countless searches and
scratches of the earth. I tell you, nothing is more dignifying than the click
of the tongue from licking the last juice or bit of such delicacies, tinged
with the sweat from the claws which dug it to being. And nothing is sweeter
than finding such delicacies after a single random scratch or search.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even with all these not-so-little pleasures life
dished us, we fowls never felt like we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">belonged
</i>to - as in we were ‘part of’, rather than we were ‘owned by’- the Lamptey-s.
Maybe it was because none of them bothered to give any one of us fowls a name.
Still, we were never allowed in the porch, especially when there was a visitor.
However, Shidaa, the dog, could always go beyond the porch and sometimes, even
take naps on Mr. Lamptey's lazy chair. Unless he needed to lie in it, Shidaa
would already be on it. I have never seen Mr. Lamptey- nor any other of the
family- send Shidaa away from the lazy chair, much less, the porch.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother once told me that the first time she was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deliberately</i> given water by one of the Lamptey-s was a few minutes
to what would have been her untimely death. It was Christmas. Just before the
sharp knife had slid and slit open her throat, Odartey, Mr. Lamptey's brother
from the hinterland, entered the house, cheerfully shouting his greeting and
skillfully dragging a noosed stubby goat behind him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the end, the goat took my mother’s place in the
soup that was cooked and licked out of existence by the end of that day. My
mother was as glad for her life as she was sad that her only brother had
already been slaughtered by then, just before Odartey had arrived.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The only times I saw the Lamptey's smile at my
mother was whenever she laid eggs. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘It hurts not to be able to return a smile. I hurts
even more not to return a smile with a fake one. I’d rather not smile at all
than fake it,’ my mother would say, with a reflective look and suddenly teary
eyes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And how could mother smile back at the Lamptey-s
when their smiles only meant another untimely end to what would have been a set
of fluffy cuddly balls of yellow which would be sweet squeaking chicks, after a
some days. Thoughts of things like these made me always tell my five surviving
siblings to be very grateful for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>having
escaped this and many other agents of infant mortality.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
The fowls here at our new home are not all as polite
and friendly as those we knew while we were at the Lamptey-s’. These fowls peck
and fight everything and everyone. They act proud and petty and are rash and
shallow. The rabid dog from the house beyond the other side of the wall no
longer allowed any fowl to feast on the fat ticks stuck in her faded brown fur. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘You fowls have got no sense for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No table manners,’ the dog used to say.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The fowls, I learnt, picked ticks and the thinning
skin of the poor widowed dog as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With very little to live for, and after all her litter had been sold or
eaten by one human or the other, the dog resigned herself to a speedy death
from the ticks.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I also remember one hot afternoon when a scrawny
school boy had carelessly spat a pip from an orange he was eating. These fowls.
They all rushed and cursed and fought for it. The pip. What a broth of dirt and
dust and hate they made in the process!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the end, none of the fowls got the ultimate pip
of a pearl. It sure must have got lost, buried, under the tantrum party.
Everyone got their fair share of pecks, scratches, brutally plucked feathers,
grains of sand in the eyes and the like. Not one fowl returned from the war
with a smile.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am sure by now, you might be wondering how we
fowls smile with a solid rigid pair of lips –call it beak, if you choose - which
are movable only at the jaws. Well, I have never seen any of the fowls here do
that – smile- but I have always seen my mother do it. With her eyes. Several
times. And my mother’s smiles have always been crisp, sparkling and so full of
raw, true mirth. Her smiles are so different in many beauty-full ways. Truth
is, when compared to my mother’s, some humans’ smiles pale and shrink away by
their own selves. Theirs are dry and wry, stripped of every joy and of life
itself.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">* <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
Thanks to last night’s rains! This morning promised
abundant sumptuous worms and many more crawling or broken-winged insects! It
was drizzling. And it was still cold, but the eagerness to go <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pick</i>- rather than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">search</i>- for food in the open warmed our hearts and bodies beyond
words. And like the fowls that stayed up on the mango tree, we could not wait
for the showers to cease.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another thanks to last night’s rains. Once again, my
mother had to tear down the wall of silt that had blocked the entrance to our
way into the open, thereby locking us inside our cozy makeshift coop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When mother began to huff and puff and grew
impatient with the tearing down of the wall, we chicks knew that her claws had
become numb with the cold and the hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We tried helping her, but seeing our claws were all too feeble, too
un-used to hard work, and could scrape off very little silt at a time, mother
insisted that we let her do it alone. It seemed she would rather have us watch
her die protecting us than have us help her protect us and then, we chicks end
up dead or half-alive at the end of whatever or whoever had been the threat to
we chicks’ lives.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, soon, all the sweetness which the morning had
promised gradually eased into something tasteless and worse. Gloom. It was
either we all starved to death or we truly turned out the proverbial early
birds to catch the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">same</i> the worm. It
was still showering. In a rugged rhythm, we could still hear fat drops of water
tap the outer surface of our makeshift coop. As usual, some of those drops
manage to sieve through the worn wire mesh above us, and then seeped through
our already soaked coats of feathers into the very pores of our poor selves.
The gloom grew even worse. And it was only the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mother</i>- or as it later turned out, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God</i>- who knew what the little ones would have for food...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Suddenly, there were hurried grating sounds all over
the outside surface of our coop. A drop or two of rain water hit my eyes when I
raised and turned my head to look up. Through the tattered wreck of the tiers
of mesh in our coop, I saw two pairs of human feet in swift motion.Also, I
heard one of the two humans hush down the panting breaths and the dragged
grating noise which the other was making. The feet briefly hang above our coop,
from the wall hugging the mango tree. Then quickly, the feet disappeared behind
the wall...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, the one human’s ‘Shu-u-u-u-u-shhh’ menacingly
hung in the air, above our coop, and above our wretched lives.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We chicks clung tighter to the scanty bosom of our
mother, who inflated her sparse frame and started what sounded more like a
shrill helpless cry than the mock baritone warning shouts she thought she was
making. Forced confinement. Fear. Soul-deep cold. Hunger. All these in the
midst of sheer plenty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these pained
and scared us out of our skins.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But we did not stay in that agitated state for long.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two or three feint thuds from the two pairs of feet
in mud on the side of the wall, then came blunt creaks of dried leaves made
damp by last night's rain. The humans tiptoed away. They <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stole </i>into the house on the other side of the wall.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At this time, it was all too obvious that the humans
were after something of more worth than a pitiful set of poultry.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So my mother stopped the shouting. She relaxed and
began to tell us about the world behind the wall. She said that right behind
the wall was a backyard garden guarded by that rabid dog.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">'Around this time in this season, most of the lanky
plants which grow in that garden have babies scantily tucked on every<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>side of their lithe bodies, from neck to
knee,’ mother excitedly explained.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We have never had any reason to think our mother a
liar. And more than just believe what mother said, we chicks were glad to see
her lighten up, for the first time this gloomy morning.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">'The plants. They have spiky hair, and that’s so
unlike their babies’. Each of the babies’ hair is fine, silky, evenly cut and
firmly held in tidy pony-tail. Their hair, unlike their mothers’, shimmer with
hues far and in between golden brown and purplish red. Those plants. Oh! You
should see how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beauty</i>-full and full
of grace they are, they and stand! The ends of their long green hands
gracefully hang down, as if they are tired of having their hands perpetually
outstretched, as if to embrace the whole world in one piece. Sometimes,
especially after it rains, you could see a little crystal gem gingerly dangle
and glitter at the plants’ fingertips. It is all the more awesome to see this
from some distance away from the plants, and through the thin veil of the very
early morning mist.’</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We chicks let our minds drink deep and bloat in the
essence of mother’s words. Aloft those same words, we let our souls drift
inside of us, and listlessly float into other worlds untouched by the woes of
this world. In the tenderness of mother’s free spirit and the warmth and awe of
her words, we could always afford to dream all our cares and tears away.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘…but of course, that’s only when you’re<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grown enough to be able to air lift
yourselves in a low flight, in that one frantic attempt - of we fowls- to fly.
You could see the plants by just flying and landing on this low wall. And
because you would then be grown enough to take care of yourself, you can always
escape in time before the dog...’</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before mother was done with her warning, we heard a
hurried mixture of all the previous sounds towards the other side of the wall.
The urgency in the humans’ new movements rudely plucked us back into the crude
realities of this side of the world.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We had no time to guess what was happening. The humans - two boys, we now knew
- descended on our coop from the wall. The speed with which they descended on,
landed and run away from our coop could have instantly ground any one of us
chicks into the ground, if any one of us had been unlucky enough to have been in
their way.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The descent of the boys was accompanied by a rain of
four fresh cobs of maize into our coop. The tattered tiers of mesh briefly held
up the cobs. Three of them managed to nudge their way through the age-torn
holes in the flaky mesh. The other cob was caught up somewhere in the knotted
thicket of themesh. And as if to get physical with announcing their arrival
into our midst, each of the three cobs - albeit gently- first hit us, all
balled up in one taut hug.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We could only look on in wonder as the cobs hit and
rolled not too far away from us and in turn, get soiled by the wet dirt floor of
our home. With widened eyes, we all watched each of the three cobs’ tassels
slowly get soaked with the wetness of the damp earth. We chicks then fixed
mother questioning stares.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Yes,
these are the babies of those plants I was telling you about,’ </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">mother
returned.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our gazes intensified with happy desperation<i>.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i> </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘And
yes, they are food. Our kind of food,’ </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">mother gazed in return
again, and with her brightest smile.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By this time, the boys were long gone. It must have
been a narrow escape for them because, much long after we had finished
savouring one fresh milky cob, that old dog was still barking after the boys.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By this time too, the showers had ceased. The early
morning voices and noises of both fowls and humans were at large. We were sure
that our fowl ‘friends’ did not miss us, and this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i> not pain us. And we just were not jealous about the now-
bright sun and the bountiful meaty worms and crunchy insects which our other
‘friends’ were enjoying, outside our coop, in the open.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was the rainy season: worms and insects and such
fowl delicacies cannot be scarce on this earth. But such heavenly gifts in
husks come once or never in a lifetime!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></u></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></u></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b> </span></span></u></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">* Glossary </i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ayekoo</i></b> (with the stress on -<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ye</i>) is a somewhat official public custom
performed as part of the final preparations - after the ban on noisemaking -
towards the inauguration of the Homowo festival proper. As part of tradition,
goodwill tokens of stocks in trade are given by the general public to
traditional priests or priestesses, who go round collecting the items. Part of
the excesses of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ayekoo</i> is
opportunistic young men who go round seizing stray animals and other things
which make, and or have the potential to make noise.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homowo</i></b> is the annual traditional
festival of the Ga-s, on somewhere mid-coastal Ghana. The sub-states of Ga
Mashie and the Ga Adangbme-s celebrate the festival in turns around the month
of August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shidaa</i></b> means ‘Thanksgiving’ or roughly,
‘Gratitude.’</span></div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-72815889261094429892015-12-24T08:28:00.000-08:002019-12-25T09:32:19.662-08:00Chicken Soup With Aisha Nelson <a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2013/12/chicken-soup-with-aisha-nelson-p2_21.html" target="_blank">Chicken Soup 2013</a><br />
<a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2014/12/chicken-soup-with-aisha-2014.html" target="_blank">Chicken Soup 2014</a><br />
<a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/12/chicken-soup-2015-aisha-nelson.html" target="_blank">Chicken Soup 2015</a><br />
<a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2016/12/chicken-soup-2016.html">Chicken Soup 2016 </a><br />
<a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2018/03/chicken-soup-2017.html" target="_blank">Chicken Soup 2017</a><br />
<a href="https://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2019/12/chicken-soup-2019.html">Chicken Soup 2019</a> Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-68025631286360069222015-12-15T11:01:00.000-08:002015-12-12T08:37:23.690-08:00<div class="content-container col-md-8">
<h2>
Remembering Kofi Awoonor</h2>
<h3>
by Martin Egblewogbe</h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>First published (a week after the death of Kofi Awoonor) by Writers Project of Ghana. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Awoonor" target="_blank"><b>Read more about Awoonor at Wikipedia </b></a></i></span>
<br />
<br />
'The word you are looking for,' he said, striking a rather pensive
pose behind the desk, 'is "conspiratorial".' And in fact the word I had
been looking for was "conspiratorial". Professor Kofi Awoonor was giving
me his impressions of my short story "Jjork" (now appearing in the
collection <i>Mr Happy and the Hammer of God and Other Stories</i> (Ayebia,
2012). It was among a number of stories I had asked him to review.
This is one of the images I have in my mind of Kofi Awoonor -- the man
is larger than his title, which I shall drop henceforth. There are a
number of these images from the few times that we met. These are
precious memories.<br />
<br />
I met the man a number of times under very different circumstances.
One of such meetings occurred on a Saturday morning, when I was
answering a service call for a photo-voltaic unit in his house. This was
not long after the elections of year 2000. At that time I was working
in the solar electricity field, doing design, installations and
servicing. I assessed the unit -- the problem, if I recall correctly,
was a faulty breaker that had led to the batteries failing to receive
charge. When I had finished with my work, I found that the professor had
settled in a chair in his garden -- itself of a rather interesting
layout -- and we spent a short time in conversation. He remembered my
father, by that time deceased. And I left the house impressed by
Awoonor's dignified, yet down-to-earth demeanour.<br />
<br />
Many months later, he agreed to take a look at some of my writing,
and there was a protocol that eventually developed for this. I would
send a note, sometimes with work I needed reviewed, to his address at
the English Department. Almost invariably, a day or two later, Kofi
Awoonor would telephone, his cheerful voice warm in the earpiece: 'Ah,
Martin...'<br />
Once, following up on my scripts, I met him at the Department of
English and we took a walk, navigating a poorly constructed step behind
the Language Centre in Legon (where, incidentally, my father used to
work). He made a quip about old age and old bones as he cautiously
stepped down. We headed to the Department of Linguistics where he had
his office (and where, incidentally, my mother used to work). He told me
he worried that Ghanaians seemed disconnected from their environment in
a very fundamental way -- we could not even identify by name the trees
and shrubs we saw every day. Which is a sad truth.<br />
<br />
Then there was the time he agreed to do a reading for radio. I was at
that time host of the literature programme <i>Open Air Theatre </i>on Radio
Univers. So I got a mini tape recorder from the office, loaded it with
what I presumed were new batteries, and headed off to the Department of
Linguistics. The interview and reading lasted all of an hour and then
some. I recall a very pleasant conversation and excellent poetry
readings. Later, to my horror and deep disappointment (it pains me even
more today), I discovered that the recorder had failed us. Only the
first few minutes of the interview were viable. The rest was
progressively garbled as the batteries ran down. <br />
<br />
Between 2003 and 2006, with the assistance of a small group of
friends, I organised a series of poetry readings at the University of
Ghana -- the <i>Just Imagine</i> series. At our invitation, Kofi Awoonor
attended, and heartily participated in what was really just a gathering
of students and would-be writers sharing their work. He was a real
inspiration, and his reading was delightful. Many people at the event
remember this with fondness. <br />
<br />
I found it striking, and even more so today, that Kofi Awoonor found
the time to read and to comment on my writing, found the time for our
events, and took the trouble to telephone his regrets when he could not
attend. Later on though, when his involvement on the national scene
became more intense, he obviously could no longer spare the time. And
yet, even then, he telephoned to congratulate me on the publication of
my book. Hanging up, stunned, I turned to my wife. 'That,' I said, 'was
the Chairman of the Council of State.' And so the professor continuously
proved that a cynical perspective of the nature of man is unjustified.
He showed a caring -- even avuncular -- interest, beyond anything I
expected. When looking to do my PhD, he encouraged me to try his alma
mater: "Stonybrook is a good place."<br />
<br />
In conversation he would draw from his rich knowledge and experience.
A discussion would throw up references to Sartre, African culture and
the demonization of same even by indigenes, and snippets from his past.
He once narrated an incident from his secondary school days while
encouraging me to ditch a story, "The Bathroom", an allegorical tale
which I rather liked but which he warned approached the scatological --
slippery grounds for any writer.<br />
<br />
I remember these interactions with Kofi Awoonor, and appreciate his
kind, warm-hearted person. That he died as a result of the sheer
barbarism displayed in Nairobi on the 21st of September is one of the
things that make life seem quite unfair. But the professor, I am sure,
would appreciate the terrible irony of it all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLLlm9DMBUQSHEQslztj9mDdE-4BAYqMF-hXRs09evvSj0aTyjzWwplWCTw3okVYOKdGGd5cK3T5i0nAtHWMp1Rn96r_AVl-sKNo9E5j6O1D-1il0dWtf1PzatF2mkvgHS9LJ7Hj0Iyr4/s1600/martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLLlm9DMBUQSHEQslztj9mDdE-4BAYqMF-hXRs09evvSj0aTyjzWwplWCTw3okVYOKdGGd5cK3T5i0nAtHWMp1Rn96r_AVl-sKNo9E5j6O1D-1il0dWtf1PzatF2mkvgHS9LJ7Hj0Iyr4/s320/martin.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<b>Martin Egblewogbe</b> is the author of the short-story collection, <i>Mr Happy
and the Hammer of God and Other Stories</i> (Ayebia, 2012). He has also
co-edited the collection of poetry, <i>Look Where You Have Gone To Sit</i>
(Woeli Publications, 2010). He is a co-founder and a director of the
Writers Project of Ghana, a literary organisation. His hobbies include
still photography and astronomy. Martin is a lecturer at the University
of Ghana and lives in Accra with his wife and two children.</div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-5405062160098004522015-07-28T03:33:00.000-07:002015-07-29T10:44:29.095-07:00<div class="zw-paragraph" data-textformat="{"ff":"Times New Roman","fs":"italic","size":"18.0"}" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion">Beholding </span><span class="zw-portion">the serial writer extraordinaire </span><span class="zw-portion">in whom readers </span><span class="zw-portion">have faith </span><span class="zw-portion">of narrative excellence </span><span class="zw-portion">and episodic grandeur</span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="zw-paragraph" data-textformat="{"type":"text","size":"12"}" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="zw-paragraph" data-textformat="{"type":"text","size":"12"}" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>An interview with Samelia Bawuah. By Darko Antwi</b></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="spacer-para" style="height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Samelia</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Bawuah</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">has </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">always </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">been </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">an avid reader; </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">she </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">has </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">been reading </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">since </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">she </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">three </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">years </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">old, hence </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">her complete understanding </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">what </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">young </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">people enjoy reading. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">She </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">an Author, Writer, Publisher, Motivational speaker </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and a business woman. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Being </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">first </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">4 siblings </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">she </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">has played </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">big sister role </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">long </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">enough </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to understand </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the reading needs within </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the various age brackets. </span><b><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/07/samelia-bawuah-expanded-profile.html"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Read the Expanded Profile</span></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Going </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">through </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your books, a reader </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">would </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">most likely </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">get fond </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your subtlety </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of express</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">ion </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">and mastery </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of technical </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">words. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">What shapes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">into </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">such prosperous vocabulary? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: <span style="background-color: #e69138;">Books </span></span><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">been a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">very </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">good teacher. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">My </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">mother actively </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">read </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">me </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as a child. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I started picking </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up key </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">words </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">by </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">time </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">3 </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">put </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">down a book </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">since. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">went </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">good Catholic </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">school </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">where </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the foundation </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">great. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I picked </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my grammatical basics </span></span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;">with ease.</span> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">tell parents </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">all </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">time, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the foundation </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">your child receives </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">at Nursery, Kindergarten </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and Lower Primary </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the greatest importance. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">also </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">an </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">only child till </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">7. Books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">were </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">still </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my closest friends. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">So </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I credit </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">all </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the thousands </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of books, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">read </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">until </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">this </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">point </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my foundational education </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my vocabulary</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARK</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>O</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">How </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">far </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">has </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your religious beliefs influenced </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your literature?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I am a Christian, a flawed </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">one </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but a Christian nonetheless. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was raised Catholic. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I attended Catholic Schools till </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I finally entered University. Church </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">its teachings </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">always </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">been a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">part </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">life. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">And </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as writers </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">we </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">told </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">write </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">what </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">we </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">know, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Your publisher, Sage Literary </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">House, recently opened a book-promotional reading competition </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">children. Apart </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">from </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your sales </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">which possibly shot </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">up, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">what </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">other benefits </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">can </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you recall?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">My publisher, Sage Literary </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">House </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">always run promotions </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">when introducing </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">or reintroducing </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">new books unto </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the market. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">It helps bring books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the attention </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the target audience </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and increases sales. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">These promotions </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">over </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">years </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have helped </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">me sell </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">more books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">than </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">would </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">been possible otherwise. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">It </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">also gets </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">name </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">out </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">there, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">so </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I am grateful </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">their proactivity.</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The participants win lovely prizes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">like book hampers, Sage branded items, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">school supplies. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">In a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">particular </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">year, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the participants </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">got seed money </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to open bank accounts. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The publishing </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">house likes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">be </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as creative </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Credited </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your authorship, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Papa Yaw </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">at </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">the Zoo</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">is</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">children’s</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> book </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">with </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">colourful</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">picture content. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">The art </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">is indeed engaging! </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">If </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">such illustration </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">could obstruct attention </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the text, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">how </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">good</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">would </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">be </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the collective appreciation </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of a book meant </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">for readers </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">who </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">could easily </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">go adrift </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">by sight?</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">think </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">young readers </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">need </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">much </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colour</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as possible. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Why </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">their products </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">so </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colourful</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> otherwise? </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">And </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as a person, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">never met a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colour</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I didn’t </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">like. Papa Yaw </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">at </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the Zoo </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colourful</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> book </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it aims </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to teach </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">children </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about various </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">animals </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colours</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">think </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colour</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the illustrations rather enhances </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the book </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I hope </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">children </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">do </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">read </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">just </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">once </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">every </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">time </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they pick </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the book </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">learn </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">something </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">new; </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">an animal’s offspring’s </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">name. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">colour</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of a giraffe etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">One </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your realistic approaches </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to writing </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">that; </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">some episodes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your fiction, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the belief </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">in superstition </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">is held. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Have you thought of the effect </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">this </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">contra natural science </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">subject could </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">have on </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">an innocent reader whose culture differs </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">from </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the concept explained </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your books? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I am superstitious </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">because </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">where </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">come </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">from. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Most Africans </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">people </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of African descent </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">We grew </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">on myths </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and ‘toli’ </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">that </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">what </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">we </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">know. Eg. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">As a child </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">told </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to whistle </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">at </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">night </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">because </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it invites ghosts. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">It </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">has stayed </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">with </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">me </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to date </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">now </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">think </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">think someone </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">thought </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to preserve </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the quiet </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the night. Man! Africans are superstitious and I am a culprit. </span><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The aim </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to inform. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">It leaves a reader </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">make </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">his mind. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">only hope </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I don’t foist </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">ideas </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">on my dear readers… </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">lol</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>DARKO</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">There </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">something </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">find exclusive </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the social dynamics </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">your series, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Judacan</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> Adventures. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">It </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is full </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of fun, mischief </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and courtesy. Yet, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">almost silent </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">what a reader </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">might imagine </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the opposite </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">school, St. Jude's Academy </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Boys. Concerning </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">that void, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it appears </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">you haven't </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the interest nor resource </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">write </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">world </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">boys. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">you? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">With </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Judacan</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Boys, believe </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">me </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have tried </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">found </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">out </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I am ill equipped </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">do </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">much justice </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">would </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">like </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">see </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have tried getting </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my brother </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">who </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">good </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">story teller </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">tell </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">But </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">something </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">always comes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">If </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">find </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">right person </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">who </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">would </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">do </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">boys' </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">school justice, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">would jump </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">on board.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: During an interview on the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Super Morning </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Show</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the Education Minister, Prof Jane </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Naana</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Opoku</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">-</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Agyemang</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">, advised </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Takoradi</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Faith </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">School Tensions </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">that “A </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">school </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">is a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">place </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">children </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">learn </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to respect diversity </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to tolerate opinion differences.” </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">In </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">page </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">19 </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Shadows </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">the Term</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">, Sister </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Ngozi</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Margaret advises similarly. Reflecting </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">on </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the importance </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the speeches </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">by </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">both characters, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">how fallen, in your observation, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the tolerance level</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> within </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the larger Ghanaian society?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>:<span style="background-color: #e69138;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">think Ghana </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">one </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">most tolerant places </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">live </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">when </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it comes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to tribes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and religion. According </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">our </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Ghanaian history </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the process </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">traveling</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">away </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">from </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">home </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to attend Secondary </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">School </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">be thrown </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">into a melting pot </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">different tribes helped </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">us </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to love </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">people coming </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">from a reality </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">that </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not necessarily </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">our </span></span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;">own.</span> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">As </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I earlier </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">said, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">went </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to a Catholic </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">School, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">had Moslem dorm </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and class mates, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they prayed </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">when </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">had </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">also attended Mass </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">because </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">was compulsory </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for everyone. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The protestants (</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">those </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">who </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">were Christian </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not Catholic) </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">also attended Mass </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the morning </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">had </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">their service </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the evening. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">think </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">our melting pot schools helped </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">us </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Ghanaians</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">also inter marry. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I don’t </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">know </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">too </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">many </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">people </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in Accra </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">who claim </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">be </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">100% </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">one tribe. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">come </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">from </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">3 regions </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">so </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">see myself </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Ghanaian rather </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">than </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">by </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my tribe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">On </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the premise </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of poor distribution network </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">and dishonest retailers, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">have expressed regret </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">and resolve </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">about </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the writing business </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">in Ghana. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">If </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">the system hasn’t gotten </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">any </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">better </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">since, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">how </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">could </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">be improved?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">The distribution network </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">has </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not improved </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and dishonesty </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">still rules </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">day </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the book business. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">As a writer </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">it </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is a murky path </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to charter. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I pray </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">more honest business </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">people </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">will invest </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the distribution channels </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">but </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I don’t </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">see </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">that happening </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">any </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">time </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">soon. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">We </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">just </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">do </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">best </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">we </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">can </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">with </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">what </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">we </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">So </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">until </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">then, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I continue </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to visit </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">many schools, talk </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">many heads </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of schools </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and sell </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">what </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">old fashioned </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">It hasn’t </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">been a regular role </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">for a writer </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to donate bulk </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of books. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">But </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">have done </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">so </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">on </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">several occasions. Isn’t </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">that gesture a sheer publicity craft </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">to lift Mrs </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Bawuah</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">, a brilliant </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">but barely known writer, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">from obscurity? </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">What </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">at </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">all motivates </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I donate </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">more books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">than </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the media </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">would </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">ever </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">find </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">out. Reading </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">is a problem </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in Ghana. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Children </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not reading </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">as </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">should. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I aim </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">write books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">that </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">can encourage a reluctant reader </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to pick </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">up a book </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and fall </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">in love. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">Some </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">of </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">children </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not reading </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">because </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they cannot afford </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">write, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">so </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">those readers, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">have a responsibility </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">get </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">them reading books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">they </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">would otherwise </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">not </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">read. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: Literary precedent suggests </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">that writers </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">who </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">do </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">young adults </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">children’s</span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"> books </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">often </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">end </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">up </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">as authors </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">of literature </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">on parenting. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you sense </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">your destiny </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">in </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">that order?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: Honestly </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I don’t </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">know. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">You </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">read </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">so </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">much, </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">you </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">are </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">always looking </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the Science behind </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">why </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">children act a certain </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">way. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">see </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">the correlation </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">between writing </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">children </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">and parenting. </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">I </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">want </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">to </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">own a </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">school </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">so maybe </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">that </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">will </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">be </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">my </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">own parenting </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">book…lol</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>DARKO</b>: </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">Best wishes </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">and </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">many </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">thanks! </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Street admires </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt;">you!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><b>SAMELIA</b>: Thanks </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">for </span><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">a delightful interview. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="zw-portion" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"> <a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/07/picture-of-samelia-bawuah.html"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture of Samelia Bawuah</span></b></a></span></span></div>
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Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-83778829614305582832015-07-27T04:27:00.000-07:002015-07-28T04:32:21.948-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI3BFF3EPkewtLxIoYqepGx4j8N04wRybkbdGjFVI3iawqZIFVPpxcXeA9TWFuDOmThm7_XivJohKETJBBwOqONWErvP2QzlAn0ZfLAMyJJbd-Wld33fOVmZZB5PWVlvuixIPLmm7jVdy/s1600/IMG-20150630-WA0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI3BFF3EPkewtLxIoYqepGx4j8N04wRybkbdGjFVI3iawqZIFVPpxcXeA9TWFuDOmThm7_XivJohKETJBBwOqONWErvP2QzlAn0ZfLAMyJJbd-Wld33fOVmZZB5PWVlvuixIPLmm7jVdy/s640/IMG-20150630-WA0009.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;"> <a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/07/interview-10.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Go back to Interview with Samelia</span></a></span>Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-10923475051433679622015-07-27T03:42:00.000-07:002015-07-28T04:14:37.434-07:00Samelia Bawuah has always been an avid reader; she has been reading since she<br />
was three years old, hence her complete understanding of what young people enjoy reading. She is an Author, Writer, Publisher, Motivational speaker and a business woman. Being the first of 4 siblings she has played the big sister role long enough to understand the reading needs within the various age brackets.<br />
<br />
<b>AUTHOR/ PUBLISHER</b><br />
Samelia combines the authentic traditions of Africa with the ever evolving cultural lifestyle in this present age. While her well-travelled experience influences her writing direction, she is sensitive to the need to preserve the rich African culture. Hence most of her books are set in a typical Afropolitan environment suitable for children and pre teens.<br />
Her books do not only help improve the vocabulary of children between 8 and 16, they are enjoyable tools that expose kids to real issues that they may be confronted with.<br />
<br />
Samelia has 3 different series running: The Judacan Adventures, 3 Siblings Series and Raising 3 Siblings.<br />
<br />
Drawing on moments from her own experience in a boarding school‘Judacan Adventures’ is about the uncertainties and complexities of being sent away to an all-girls Catholic boarding school for the first time.<br />
The main characters are from a mixed background. They have to adjust to boarding school life, tolerate it and even come to love it, while dealing with their own personal issues of life, growing up, religion and everything in between.<br />
Titles in this Series include:<br />
<br />
<b>Freshers’ Welcome<br />Justify Your Inclusion<br />Ms. Fresher and <br />Shadows of the Term.<br />Back to School <br />Taking a Stand</b><br />
This Series is serialized in Junior Graphic, the largest children newspaper in Ghana. With circulation of over a hundred thousand a week.<br />
Children between the ages of 9 and 16 love it.<br />
<br />
‘3 Siblings’ Series is based on three Siblings growing into their teens in Middle Class Accra. They quarrel, they cannot stand each other, they fight but their love for each other, knows no bounds. Their parents know they have done right by their children, most of the time anyway. The fans of this series are 7- 12 year olds.<br />
<br />
<b>3 Siblings<br />3 Siblings and A Cousin<br />3 Siblings and Family<br />3 Siblings and Josh’s Journey</b><br />
<br />
‘Raising 3 Siblings’ are for the younger ones. The characters are the same as the Original 3 Siblings. The only difference is we have gone younger. The characters are learning some traits as patience, love, and giving. The target age is 5 to 8 yearolds.<br />
Arrival of the 3rd Sibling<br />
Bucket load of games<br />
<br />
The Raising 3 Siblings have their own activity books. These books are designed to start children on the right path to a lifetime of reading, counting and writing. In this series we have;<br />
<br />
<b>Learning Phonics with Joshua<br />Learning to Count with Joshua<br />Learning Shapes and Colours with Joshua<br />Learning Handwriting with Joshua<br />Learning ABC with Joshua<br />Learning Phonics with Naomi<br />Leaning Addition with Naomi<br />Leaning Multiplication with Naomi</b><br />
<br />
<b>CORPORATE EXPERIENCE</b><br />
Samelia does double duty as a Writer and Publisher. Prior to founding Sage Literary House, Samelia worked at EPP group, one of the largest publishing and distribution houses across West Africa, as the Head of Marketing, Primary School Division for Ghana.<br />
<br />
<b>OTHER AFFILATIONS</b><br />
She is an active member of the HOPSA, Holy Child Past Students Association and Rotary Club of Accra Labone.<br />
<br />
<b>PERSONAL PROFILE</b><br />
Samelia had the opportunity to school in Ghana,(Holy Child School) England,(Oxford Media and Business School) and United States of America (University of Missouri – Columbia). Because of her having lived other cultures apart from her own, she has come to the realization that children all over the world are basically the same; they have the same dreams and aspirations. The only difference is exposure.<br />
<br />
She believes that picking up a book can transport anybody to just about anywhere they want to go. She lives in Accra, Ghana.<br />
<br />
For more information and sample reading please visit her official website: www.readsamelia.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/readsamelia.<br />
Or email sameliaosei@hotmail.com. <br />
<br />
<b>REFERENCES:</b><br />
<b>Mrs. Mavis Kitcher<br />Editor of Junior Graphic<br />Graphic Communications Group Limited<br />P.O. Box GP 742<br />Accra<br />Tel: 0302 684001 - 10</b><br />
<br />
<b>Mrs. Agatha Akonor- Mills<br />Ghana Book Publishers’ Association<br />Executive Member<br />P.O. Box AN 5998<br />Accra North<br />Tel:0244456055</b><br />
<br />
<b>TEACHERS/ LIBRARIAN REVIEW</b><br />
Your books especially; 'The Judacan Adventures', are modern day Enid Blyton(Mallory Towers), with an African twist. The children can't get enough of them, they can relate to the stories. They are very realistic, easy to read but enough exciting plots to keep the reader wanting more.<br />
They are even nostalgic for the adults who have read them, because most of their parents went to boarding schools. These books have wet their appetite for other books in this genre, because these books are usually in series, a child who would normally read 1, 2 or no book at all, has become a reader after reading 4 or 5 of these books religiously.<br />
We all know reading improves our fluency with the English language, children acquire more expressions, which in turn help them in their other subjects and thereby, taking their confidence a notch up. Good luck with your review.<br />
<br />
<b>Abena Boaitey Kuffour<br />Senior Librarian<br />Bookworm Library.<br />Spintex Road Accra.</b><br />
<br />
As a literacy consultant and experienced English Teacher with teaching experience both in the United Kingdom and in several parts of Africa, I am always on the lookout for the next big thing to get students reading. I found Samelia Bawuah’s novels refreshing; they are good reads, certainly, but more than that, they speak to a certain sensibility of the modern teenager and their world. My students love them, this is a writer they feel can actually see them and write about them. Themes like bullying, sibling rivalry and coming-of-age feature prominently in these texts.<br />
Her reading workshops at our top rated international school went down a storm. My students were captivated and motivated to read and write; I recommend her novels for all teens. Written in language to challenge and yet easy enough to understand, her novels feature settings and plots akin to Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers Series. No young person should grow up without reading them.<br />
I used the novels as a way into appreciation of literature for students I knew were not enthusiastic about the subject with fantastic results. The issues discussed are so consonant with their daily lives that it stimulates discussion and fosters in all,a love for reading. I highly recommend it!<br />
<br />
Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh<br />
German Swiss International School<br />
www.gsis-accra.org<br />
Accra Ghana<br />
<br />
<b>READERS REVIEW </b><br />
I loooove the Judacan Adventures. They are like a well prepared meal. It leaves me asking for me.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Priscilla Forson, JHS2, Matyrs of Uganda School, Kumasi.</span><br />
When will your next book be out? I cannot wait to read it.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Rachel Denkyira, JHS1, Christian Home School, Dansoman Accra.</span><br />
Hello Ms.Samelia, I have read all your books and I think they are so fun, when will the next series of 3 Siblings be out.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Augustine Gyan, JHS 1, St. Marcellin School, Kumasi.</span><br />
<br />
Miss Bawuah, thank you for your books and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Angela Benin, Class 6, Chapel Hill International School, Takoradi.</span><br />
<br />
Hello Samelia, thank you for Ms. Fresher. I used to make myself throw up after I ate, after reading your book, I am trying to stop. The book has helped me a lot. Thanks for the advice.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Name withheld, SHS1, Wesley Grammar School, Dansoman, Accra.</span><br />
<br />
I thought Ms. Bawuah was a Moslem because she wrote about my religion with so much understanding. Thank you, being a Moslem can be lonely in my school.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Katoumi Alhassan, SHS1, St. Roses Senior High.</span><br />
Samelia, is there really a Judacan School? I am presently choosing Senior High School and I want to go there.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Leigh Thompson, JHS3, Southeastern Academy,Accra. <a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2015/07/interview-10.html"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Go back to Interview with Samelia</span></b></span></a></span>Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-3844473645339232462014-12-28T06:05:00.001-08:002015-12-25T04:39:25.810-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAQP54Ln3ODJ7OD10IpULqWztOmCdfbt9awbac5Mn3w1Ag97qUEtQOAztgbaUurIH3msDTqHjTmlTvVZUWM6qhbWMsyr4WGb8L5_Ye3Xz6Hnu7o8PaSfvUpMjtcDp4DzdAvJ76o2hIsq0/s1600/Aisha+Nelson+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAQP54Ln3ODJ7OD10IpULqWztOmCdfbt9awbac5Mn3w1Ag97qUEtQOAztgbaUurIH3msDTqHjTmlTvVZUWM6qhbWMsyr4WGb8L5_Ye3Xz6Hnu7o8PaSfvUpMjtcDp4DzdAvJ76o2hIsq0/s1600/Aisha+Nelson+new.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2013/12/biography-of-aisha-nelson_23.html">Biography </a></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Random Blues: from HeART to ART.</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">*Burf+ before *Banku+.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">True. Goals go past
Gowns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dreams versus Dimes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
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</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stand out, yes…and Ants
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</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">See! Light’s Nigh.
Fret. Not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Transcends: Grace,
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wash-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ing</i> to Wear one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Brief Features
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</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sun-Shine intercepts
Slanting Showers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pints of Prayers
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</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">…We’ve heard that. But
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bang! Faith faces
Fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tomorrow begins
Today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">*<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Banku</i></b> - stir-boiled
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lesson<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>s from Essay Lessons.</span><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0in; tab-stops: 135.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the bell bends, ends <br />
school's petty prisons - rules, reasons -<br />
Love, Life, runs out to play...</span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
The sun found it fun to generously pour its radiant
beams through the window, onto the opened page of my exercise book. Perching at
the top corners of the page were the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">constant</i>
Date and Exercise Number. Apart from these, the page was blank. And I knew
better than to expect that just these, without having written the exercise
proper, would fetch me any grade. I took much time and care to write the topic
of the new exercise. That too, I knew, still counted for no grade. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
Aku, my friend, had long finished and submitted her
essay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
I was nowhere near finishing mine. I could not even
bring myself to begin writing…</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
The thought of it: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How I spent my Christmas Holidays</i>.” </div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
…how I wished the sun rather filled the whole of my
almost-blankpage<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i> and hopefully, the
whole of my exercise book. With words.With beautiful truthful words.Words which
were more truthful than they were beautiful.Many such words.Only such words.
For I always told myself not to lie. All my essays, including this one, which I
was yet to even write, really needed to be short. This was because all there
was to write about my recent Christmas holidays could be done in as much as a
single lean paragraph. Any addition to this would be unnecessary, superfluous,
a smudge even, on my integrity. Anything short of or more than the plain truth
would be one grave blatant lie. Again, to lie was something I have always told
myself I must never do; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i>
because of something which I considered to be as trivial as the desire for a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">better</i> grade.</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
The street outside was bursting with so many
muffled untold stories outshouting each other for attention, to be written, by
anyone who cared to. Mrs. *Enam Doe would not be able to mark all the stories
if every other pupil cared so much as to write even half of those stories. Yet,
she always complainedthat my essays were too short. On the previous page of my
exercise book was one such exercise which I had written during Mrs. Enam Doe’s
last essay class. Her red ink’s frozen scream under that essay eternally reads,</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This essay is too short, Enam. This must be
the last of this kind!”</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
The last was long past. My turning over a new leaf
was not only to write a new essay, but more importantly, one of appreciable
length - at least, as deemed by my Grade Six Teacher.</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
“No <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">offence</i>
this time”, I muttered, half-heartedly, to myself. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
So I set my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">**Bic</i>
on the first line of the page on my new leaf. Slowly, I started. Reluctantly, I
finished my first sentence. Little by teeny little, I wrote on. One thoughtful
word after the other, I filled the page book with crisp, warm and fond pictures,
moments and memories of my recent Christmas holidays. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
Finally, I finished. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
I shut my eyes for a few seconds and let myself
dream of seeing my book- and my desk, even- spilling with the many lively words
I have poured….</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
My essay was set. It sat still, clean and lean, and
still several lines shy, short, of half the page. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
And even before Mrs. Enam Doe’s red ink would add
its voice, the blank larger half of the page seemed to scream the wretchedness
of my fruitless toil of an essay. The scream doubled and rumbled in turns. The
scream crackled and fired thunderous sparks on my poor page. I thought I even
felt my desk quake with all the turmoil. I watched on, helplessly, as the
rumblings bored down on my poor essay, and the tongues of flames hungrily
licked my already-lean essay away. Then the ball of rumblings, now full and
fattened from having eaten my essay, sported a rather a sly smile, gave a
guttural belched and wailed one long yawn. Suddenly, while stretching its tiny
limbs and making to take a nap on my page, the huge ball of rumblings burst…</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
The mess from the burst splashed all over my sad
horse-long face above my book, above my desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My face fell. My head remained bowed in shame. Save my face, I must. I
sat. Upright. Still. But I did not, could not bring myself to write. Not anymore.
Not yet.</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
I looked outside from my desk by the
classroom window. That side of the world was bubbling with so much life and
promise. The stories out there on the street were leaping off everyone and
everything, wandering about, peeping here and there, wearing fragile half smiles,
tugging along and begging among the crowds, desperately waiting. To be written.
Or to be told, at least…</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…The traffic lights and dim street lights blink the dawn off their
metal-gilded brows.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scattered storey buildings stand aloof, grinning their morning
greetings to high clear skies.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The last glimmers of neon lightsfade past early shimmers of glass doors
and freshgroceries.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Towering bill boards and thick patches of dew-studded blades of grass
look on with glee.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The low drone of engines of different kinds embraces the distant hum of
the church organ.</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Keen
conductors tucked in windows of moving vehicles and keener hawkers outshout
each other.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The constant honks and hoarse hornsfrom cars screech each other to a
stop.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breezes heave past, weaving through all the throbbing background noises.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The wind whistles through tattered, tangled kites caught up tall
soulless electric poles.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warming human bodies and bottles of chilled water and drinks sweat with
heat and cold.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The savour of breakfasts and fast foods linger and vanish in between
the teeming crowds.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A shuffle breaks into a brisk walk. Ajog pauses or halts to a stop. A
saunter turns into a run.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A quick push here.A shove.A frantic pull there.Sometimes, a tug.And then,
a thud.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Short spells of rain showers, to soothe, to smoothen, and to refreshall
the fray.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The sun comes peeping from behind the billowy clouds, sporting a broad
toothy smile.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Time ticks, kicks against the blanket of humid air hanging at the two
ends of the street.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The street is a pool of people, dotted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>with lights, splashed in happy colours, bubbling with life and swaying,
gently, rhythmically, to a wondrous music of its own.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good old Life files past.</i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everywhere </i>I<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> look, stories
abound…</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
….and there I was, sitting, still thinking, toiling,
and wasting myself away, behind an essay which just refused to be written – for
the sheer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pleasure</i> of mygood teacher
and for the saving of my poor fallen face.I thought hard and harder by the
seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I searched and turned and
searched my memory several times over, trying to find if there still remained
one tiny detail about my Christmas holidays which I might have forgotten. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
Then, I could blow up this my new detail with words
from that Word Class we learnt about in the last Grammar Class: Adjectives,
they call it. I would add so many of them until my essay becomes one idle tale
padded and puffed up with all the empty vanity which words can afford; all of
which would amount to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> grave
blatant lie - the very thing I have always told myself I must never do. But
then, I would be able to save my face and please my teacher - and please myself
too, since she is my name’s sake. Too. Also, I would have outdone one of my one
of my grandmother’s many idioms: I would have ‘‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">killed </i>three - not just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two-
birds</i> with a single <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stone.</i>’’</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: .25in; text-align: justify;">
Two years later,
I was in a new class in a new school, with a new teacher, having the same
lesson - Essay Writing. It was a debate, this time. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
I began with an introduction, as Miss Boamah had
taught me, and I best know how. I began with an introduction which best
expressed my side of the motion and fully justified it. In that introduction, I
had combined truth and length well enough. One that should please any teacher,
who should in turn, reward this my rather rare – if not unique - feat, ever
since I began writing essays in school. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
But I was to be surprised. I had outdone myself and
the normal. My introductory paragraph alone was two lines short of the full
page. I scanned it. I read it. I skimmed it. I re-read it. I revised it. I
proofread it. I reviewed it. And I ended up with the same essay and with the
same number of words. For I found every word in there worth choosing, and worth
the inclusion.</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
And by so doing, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">displeased</i> another teacher for the opposite of the one same
offence: short essays…</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been
many years since. If only I had understood Essays as <i>Compositions</i>, I
would not have thought of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too many words </i>as
lies. And Oh! How I wish I had realized much earlier that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too many words</i> could as well be the truth…</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
In the end, one thing emerged from this whole
experience: Modesty - not the raw and rigid kind. I prefer to call it, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness, or simply, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness
has never needed to save its owner’s face. Rather, it feeds her imagination and
brightens and sharpens her outlook. Through words, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness opens up and shuts out worlds beyond the mere now,
locale and the mundane. This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness
is at once an exclusive sanctuary for all things too wondrous for words and
effortlessly intimate, and a boundless minefield of possibilities upon
infinity…</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness
has a unique <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gift</i> for each person who
comes across it. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
Still, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness
does not kill one, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two</i>, three or more
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">birds </i>with a just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a</i>stone. </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
Rather, just like these birds, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift</i>edness is free to soar and explore
the endless realms of the worlds and words, without the fear of room or of
restraint. Without any fear of any kind.</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
So I now soar, explore, and write my world away.
And while at it, I am all too glad to watch the sun generously pour itself into
my bliss…</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">*<b><i>Enam</i></b> is an<i> Ewe</i>
name which literally means ‘<i>S/he </i>(God)<i> gave it to me’.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">** Bic</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">is the trademark of a
very popular brand of pen in Ghana.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
</div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-12002310191554566322014-12-03T13:19:00.000-08:002014-12-02T08:12:01.267-08:00<b style="font-size: xx-large;">Fry Bread</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
after they branded her <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
betrayer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
she became <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a vagabond<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
slinking behind <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
trees<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
jumping <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
over skeletons<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
every time she spat <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a story got <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
lost<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but for coyote <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
licking at her phlegm</div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">From <i>4-Headed
Woman</i> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tia Chucha Press [2013] </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Opal Palmer Adisa</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2014/12/biograpy-and-pic-of-opal-palmer-adisa.html">Biography & Picture</a></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> of Opal Palmer Adisa</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><b style="font-size: xx-large;">ME</b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><br />
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me the enslaved <o:p></o:p></div>
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who ran to the hills<o:p></o:p></div>
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me the tallawah woman <o:p></o:p></div>
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machete aimed and blow delivered <o:p></o:p></div>
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me the one whose feet <o:p></o:p></div>
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would not be bound <o:p></o:p></div>
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whose womb would never carry massa’’s blood<o:p></o:p></div>
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me the tegreg gal <o:p></o:p></div>
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goddaughter of campung nanny <o:p></o:p></div>
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whose mouth sourer than lime and
vinegar<o:p></o:p></div>
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me the duppy spirit confusing the
confused<o:p></o:p></div>
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me not
the objective case of i <o:p></o:p></div>
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but the subject of self<o:p></o:p></div>
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me that refuse hand-me-down <o:p></o:p></div>
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second class<o:p></o:p></div>
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me the squatter <o:p></o:p></div>
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the so-help-me-god <o:p></o:p></div>
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fi me picknie dem gwane have more<o:p></o:p></div>
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me with the hunger wanting to nyam<o:p></o:p></div>
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me up and the empty bancra balanced
<o:p></o:p></div>
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on me head<o:p></o:p></div>
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me with chigger foot <o:p></o:p></div>
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and yaws mouth<o:p></o:p></div>
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me doing the yanga <o:p></o:p></div>
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wheeling and turning <o:p></o:p></div>
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until spirits ride me<o:p></o:p></div>
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who me not me <o:p></o:p></div>
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couldn’’t be then
is who<o:p></o:p></div>
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me who leggo and is called <o:p></o:p></div>
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by many names<o:p></o:p></div>
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me who between you and me <o:p></o:p></div>
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tired of the hustling and
disrespect<o:p></o:p></div>
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me yes
me <o:p></o:p></div>
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the same one <o:p></o:p></div>
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who know she nice<o:p></o:p></div>
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me who mind me own business <o:p></o:p></div>
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and keep meself safe<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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is me <o:p></o:p></div>
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same one</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">From <i>I Name Me Name</i> Peepal Tree Press [2008] </span></span></div>
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Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-45794209778899481282014-12-02T06:04:00.000-08:002014-12-04T08:34:06.970-08:00<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1417526592626_8" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1417526592626_8" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_6_1417526592626_8" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_10589" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Opal Palmer Adisa Ph.D is a writer of both poetry and prose, photographer, curator, professor, educator and cultural activist, Adisa has lectured and read her work throughout the United States, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Germany, England and Prague, and has performed in Italy and Bosnia. An award-winning poet and prose writer Adisa has fourteen titles to her credit, including the novel, <i>It Begins WithTears</i></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_10587" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> (1997), that Rick Ayers proclaimed as one of the most motivational works for young adults. She has been a resident artist in internationally acclaimed residencies such as El Gounda (Egypt), Sacatar Institute (Brazil) and McColl Center, (North Carolina) and Headlines Center for the Arts (California, USA). Opal Palmer Adisa’s work has been reviewed by Ishmael Reed, Al Young, and Alice Walker (</span><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_10179" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Color Purple</i><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_10588" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">), who described her work as “solid, visceral, important stories written with integrity and love.”</span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8796" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8795" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Following in the tradition of the African "griot" Opal Palmer Adisa, an accomplished storyteller, commands the mastery and extraordinary talent of storytelling, exemplary of her predecessors. Through her imaginative characterizations of people, places and things, she is able to transport her listeners to the very wonderlands she creates.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8794" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8793" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Curator and photographer, her photographs have been published and exhibited in the US, Egypt, North Carolina and Brazil.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8808" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8807" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">A gifted diversity trainer, literary critic, and proud mother of three accomplished children, Opal is the former parenting editor and host of KPFA Radio Parenting show in Berkley, California. She currently write The Graduate Parent for the “Healthy You,” website and writes a bi-monthly poetry column for <i class="">The Daily News</i>, STT. Adisa has published hundreds of articles on different aspects of parenting, writing and poetry and is currently writing a book on effective parenting.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8790" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8789" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">A full professor of creative writing and literature in the MFA program at California College of the Arts, where she teaches in the Fall. She has been a visiting professor at several universities including, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley and University of the Virgin Islands. Her poetry, stories, essays and articles on a wide range of subjects have been collected in over 400 journals, anthologies and other publications, including <i>Essence Magazine</i>. She has also conducted workshops in elementary through high school, museums, churches and community centers, as well as in prison and juvenile centers.</span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9258" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9330"><u class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9329"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9328" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">PUBLISHED WORKS:<o:p class=""></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9266" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9265"><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9264"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9263" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">4-Headed Woman, poetry, Tia Chucha Press, 2013</span></i></b><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9267" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9316"><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9315"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9314" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Incantations & Rites (with devorah major) poetry, 2013</span></i></b><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9301" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9327"><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9326"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9325" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Painting Away Regrets, </span></i></b><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9300"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9299" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">novel, Peepal Tree Press, 2011<o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9313" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Caribbean Erotic, </span></i></b><b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9312"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9311" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">anthology (co-edited with Donna Aza Weir-Soley), 2010<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9246" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9245"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9244" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">What a Woman Is, poetry with painting by Shyam Kamel, 2010<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9319" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Amour Verdinia</span></i></b><b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9318"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9317" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">, poetry, chapbook, The Literary Leaf/Deconstructed Artichoke Press, 2009<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8774" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8773"><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8772"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8771" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Conscious Living</span></i></b><b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9262"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9261" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">, poem, chapbook, The Literary Leaf/Deconstructed Artichoke Press, 2009</span></b><b class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9257" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">I Name Me Name</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9256" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (poetry collection), Peepal Tree Press, 2008<b class=""><i class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9255" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Until Judgment Comes </span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9254" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">(short story collection), 2006<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9253" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Eros Muse</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9252" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (poetry and essays), Africa World Press, 2006<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9304" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Caribbean Passion</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9303" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (poetry collection) Peepal Tree Press, 2004<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8780" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8779"><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8778"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8777" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The Tongue Is a Drum</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9247" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (poetry/jazz CD with Devorah Major), 2002<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8776" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Leaf-of-Life</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8775" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (poetry collection) Jukebox Press, 2000<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9249" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">It Begins With Tears</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9248" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (fiction novel) Heinemann, 1997<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9251" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Tamarind and Mango Women</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9250" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (poetry collection) 1992<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9271" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Fierce Love </span></i></b><i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9336"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9335" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">(poetry/jazz recording</span></i><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9310" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> with Devorah Major),1992.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8782" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Traveling Women </span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8781" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">(short story collection<i class="">)</i>, 1989<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9268" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Bake-Face and Other Guava Stories </span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9269" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">(short story collection<i class="">)</i>, 1986<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9270" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class=""><i class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Pina, The Many-Eyed Fruit</span></i></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9278" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> (children’s book) 1985<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9277" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9279" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9332"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9331" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">EDITOR:<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9281" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9280" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">ProudFlesh,<b class=""> </b>Riding The Waves of Caribbean Women, poetry, prose, essays and art, 220 pages, Issue 8, 2013.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8783" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9324"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9323" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The Caribbean Writer: Ayiti/Haiti<b class="">, </b></span></i><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9276" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Volume 25, journal of poetry, prose, personal narrative, interview and book reviews; translated into French 640 pages, 2011.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8788" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
<i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9334"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9333" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The Caribbean Writer</span></i><b class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">, </span></b><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8787" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Volume 24, journal of poetry, prose and essays, 420 pages, 2010.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8784" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px;">
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<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8786" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b class=""><u class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></u></b><b class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9288"><u class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9287"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9286" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">AWARDS/HONORS</span></u></b><u class=""><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">:</span></u></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9274" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9290" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9289" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9275" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Rick Ayer’s Great Books for High School Kids (A Teacher’s Guide to Books that Can Change Teens Lives) Ranking, <i class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9282">It Begins With Tears</i><u class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9283">,</u> 2004<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9273" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9292" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9291" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9272" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Creative Artist Fellowship: Storytelling, City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program, 2002-2003.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9295" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9294" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9293" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9338" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Nominee, Poet Laureate for the State of California, 2002<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9298" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9297" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9296" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9322" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">CA. Arts Council 3-Year-Multicultural Program Grant, Daughters of Yam, 2001-2005<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9321" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9320" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Distinguished Writer Award, Middle Atlantic Writers Association, 1998.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9762" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9761" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">CA. Creative Work Fund Grant, West Oakland Senior Citizen Oral History Project,</span><span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: 新細明體;"></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_10175" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">1998-1999. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9764" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9763" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Nominee, International Woman of the Year, 1996-97, International Biography Center, England. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9760" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9759" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Canute A. Brodhurst Prize, "The Brethren," (story) in <i class="">The Caribbean Writer</i>, University of the Virgin Islands, St .Croix, April 1996. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9309" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_9308" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Caribbean Writer Summer Institute Award Recipient, University of Miami, FL. 1995. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8502" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.1em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span class="" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417526592626_8500" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif;">PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award Winner, <i class="">Tamarind and Mango Women</i> (poetry collection), 1992</span></div>
Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-83286758467333464962014-10-24T07:40:00.001-07:002014-10-25T13:33:14.166-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<b>An interview with Nana Asaase. By Darko Antwi</b><br />
<br />
<i>Nana Asaase, a graduate of the University of Ghana, is a poet / spoken word artist who blends English with local languages. His evocative lyrics and warm cathedral costume have framed him as a favorite performer of television audience, and a distinguished actor among stage peers. Bearing the desire to promote the excellence of Ghanaian literature, Asaase founded Ghana's first literary coaching bureau, Asaase Inscriptions, in July 2012. </i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: medium;">DARKO</b>: Expressing his views on the
significance of names and aliases, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw said on the legal desk of <i>New Day</i> that "People
choose names that they believe would take them far". Being curious about
how you landed on Asaase, may I ask if the use of a pseudonym (over your honourable birthname)
is mindful of the lawyer's statement?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977408363=2547d4030c603b3c244.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977408363=2547d4030c603b3c244.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977408363=2547d4030c603b3c244.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b style="font-size: medium;">NANA</b>: Not
exactly. When I sought a pseudonym, I needed something to suit my style
and I remembered a name my grandmother used to call me. I later found
out it was a corruption by my younger cousin, of Nana Boakye. </span></span></span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977408363=2547d4030c603b3c244.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977408363=2547d4030c603b3c244.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977408363=2547d4030c603b3c244.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977494061=2547d403032d7069372.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977494061=2547d403032d7069372.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977494061=2547d403032d7069372.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">I
found it suitable for my style, and also found some Biblical basis for
it. The two factors couldn't be better. At the time of decision, I
wasn't sure, but now, there is no telling what the name would do.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: "Life is hard,
but there is hope in the flatulence of a bee", is the line which moved
Kofi Awoonor during your performance at the 55th Anniversary of Ghana
Association of Writers. Since then, you have consistently astound your audience
with creative speech at the highest sense of sovereignty. If I cast prejudice
over your youthfulness, what would you count as a factor of your
linguistic</span><span style="color: black;"> experience?</span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b style="line-height: normal;">NANA</b>: The
beard is the broom with which which the elders gather wisdom. The beard
is subject to time and care or abandon. Reading, curiosity, love for
theatre and drama from an early age. Constant practice of these have
shaped me over the years. I have had the opportunity of learning from
motivating and demotivating circumstances. One thing stands tall though.
My faith, in God and in the certainty of my gift of speech. These kept
me trying to find my voice and being original. I fed on local African
proverbs, movies, By the Fireside, etc. I could write a thesis on this
question.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413977991630=2547d4030b104835471.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"></span></span></span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978222716=2547d40305f0ae27868.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978222716=2547d40305f0ae27868.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978222716=2547d40305f0ae27868.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Time
and consistency have done the work, maybe. But I sure know that
studying literary pieces from varied cultures continues to shape my
tongue. There is the determination to stand out by saying it differently
than anyone else would. Mark this, I have some friends who are advanced
in years, hence: 'I crack my nuts on the knees of the elders, so I know
the sound of a hollow-bone-experience.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: You have been a firm
advocate for the use of one's mother tongue. And you have, on several
occasions, emphasized the need for such usage. Can you please deliberate on the
importance?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978758661=2a7f5de04cfb5ffe958.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978758661=2a7f5de04cfb5ffe958.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978758661=2a7f5de04cfb5ffe958.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: A
man can only be as true as his mother tongue. Most known literary
masterpieces have been in the mother tongue. Check Homer's Odyssey, The
Bible, Beowulf, etc. It brings one's identity to the market place and
helps to blend others in. It is the first claim to home in the literary
instance, and mind you, the mother tongue is richer and more definite
than any borrowed tongue. Simple example? How many versions of the Holy
Bible are there in the English language? Compare same with Akuapem Twi.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978758661=2a7f5de04cfb5ffe958.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978758661=2a7f5de04cfb5ffe958.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978758661=2a7f5de04cfb5ffe958.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978887512=2a7f5de045867266164.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978887512=2a7f5de045867266164.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413978887512=2a7f5de045867266164.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">We
think in the mother tongue, or at least I do. That way, when you write
or speak any other tongue, it is refined and has this uniqueness about
it. The mother tongue has preserved civilizations like French and
Chinese and they keep growing stronger.</span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: If the lyrics and
stage intrigue of a spoken word artist earn him a place in the history of
Ghanaian literature, would the lack of (his) commercial success be a bother for
sustenance within a developing economy whose per capita income falls below four
thousand dollars, and worst of all, a nation that is less enthused about
literary investment?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979151228=29e1430f3c603b3c277.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979151228=29e1430f3c603b3c277.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979151228=29e1430f3c603b3c277.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: It would be a big bother. We are no longer about Trojan wars and legendary spaces in literary volumes. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979151228=29e1430f3c603b3c277.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979151228=29e1430f3c603b3c277.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979151228=29e1430f3c603b3c277.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979166668=29e1430f32f6016f747.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979166668=29e1430f32f6016f747.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979166668=29e1430f32f6016f747.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Would you have me say more on this?</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: I understand Facebook to be a place where people are at liberty to discuss
their red-coloured underwear and chamber pots. You are no different a social
being. So, at a point in your career, you typed your frustration to the attraction
of public sympathy, except one sharp rebuke from Harold Abbey. Looking back at
your profile, do you reckon how reckless, as a model, you played with your
emotions, however honest you were?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979462264=29e1430f345d0360552.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979462264=29e1430f345d0360552.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413979462264=29e1430f345d0360552.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: I
was out on a test stint. Ever since I decided to walk away from that PR
desk, I have never regretted a single day. I believe I strengthened the
point that most young people do not believe in consistency versus
results.</span></span></span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: Talking about the
quality of contemporary Ghanaian poetry, Nhyira Addo dropped a bombshell during
an interview with you at Citi breakfast Show. He said: "Poetry and
creative art have been booming. But I haven't heard anything sensible until I
met Nana Asaase. There's a lot of crap in the system". If you should
receive the portion of praise with gratitude, which I guess you did, would you
as well admit the general mediocrity in good faith? Going by the truthfulness
of Addo's remarks, how can the standards be uplifted?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980418784=29e1430f3c603b3c276.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980418784=29e1430f3c603b3c276.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980418784=29e1430f3c603b3c276.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: I
would agree, not to general mediocrity, but to widespread mediocrity
and pale creativity. Let me register as well, that there are other great
young poets, both known and unheard. Social media seems to be a pool
where as you mentioned, everyone can wash everything. People seek to
claim literary prowess through these platforms, without attention to
quality. Who is the judge on there, really? This is not to say academic
claim is the only lease for literary or artistic expression. <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">Reading is a
measure to improve the standards. We should make time to watch and
listen to others who do the things we do. We must power up on the mother
tongue and be more concerned about the general human condition.
Creativity is innate and not a tradition. We should seek to be unique in
our expressions, give time to meditation and practice, as well as
looking deep into the past, so we can see farther ahead. That way, we
would see consistent growth and we could only improve our current lot
and hand over better standards to our progeny.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /><b>DARKO</b>: In an interview with Jon Jermain, towards the Accra Jazz Festival 2014,
Nii Ayikwei Parkes, when asked, moved a definition which states that "Spoken
Word is poetry. It is poetry that is communicated to an audience". If
Parkes' definition is brought to the forecourt of the intellectual divide, on
what basis would you disagree or affirm his position?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980856998=29e1430f351d16a4a96.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980856998=29e1430f351d16a4a96.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980856998=29e1430f351d16a4a96.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: Spoken
word, if taken on the basis of a transfer of the written word via word
of mouth, would not be difficult to be poetry. Spoken word as a genre
could be called a kind of poetry, Spoken Word Poetry. Poetry standing
alone, would suggest an original form. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980856998=29e1430f351d16a4a96.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980856998=29e1430f351d16a4a96.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980856998=29e1430f351d16a4a96.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980940775=29e1430f3b8b2cf7f63.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980940775=29e1430f3b8b2cf7f63.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413980940775=29e1430f3b8b2cf7f63.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">On the genre basis however, I maintain that POETRY be left alone in it's pristine case, away from SPOKEN WORD</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><b>DARKO</b>: Apart from establishing Asaase Inscriptions as the label behind your stage
routine, you have also sought to decorate your themes with a sort of identity
and artistic discipline which are unorthodox to the literary service. If the
practice of image-building is not a distraction to the key message of your
poetry, would you agree that a self-centred concept such as yours does
not do the common good of poetry, an art which stands beleaguered in the quest
for a revival? In a bid to salvage, would you for instance cherish Nana
Agyemang Ofosu's generic advice, which goes: "poets should not throw in
the white garment of the art into the dirty drains of branding and
popularity"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: You just made me smile... How
did the world hear of poets like Chaucer and Shakespeare; Awoonor and
Neruda? Their works spoke for themselves. Communication is an art.
Poetry is an art of communication. Poetry, like other art forms, feeds
off others and gains some enhancement from other art forms. This is what
I have sought to do. The above-named poets produced quality, which could
not go unnoticed. <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">Beyond the stage, a writer has a life. It however
occurs that what you do permeates life off the stage and you get noticed
for what you do. I do not believe that building a reputation for
producing unique quality in any way interferes with the purity of any
art form. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981559047=29e1430f3abde572952.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">On record, please note that at Asaase Inscriptions, I am a
colleague like everybody else, and all our events have had other people
on board as performers, sharing same stage. <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">We are out to help promote
Ghanaian literature.</span></span></span></span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981637089=29e1430f3b669474d91.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981637089=29e1430f3b669474d91.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413981637089=29e1430f3b669474d91.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0" style="background-color: #f1c232;"> Unorthodox
is the way to go, otherwise, there would not be creativity, only drab
continuity. The arts thrive on exploration and breaking norms.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: Your stage
versatility has driven you far and wide. Records show that you have performed
in places which include National Theatre, Goethe Institute, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, chapels,
bookshops, and Ehalakasa Talk Party Grand Finale. Yet it seems Ghana hasn't had
enough of you. While entertaining your people, have you thought of performing
abroad?</span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982012575=29e1430f335bac28a23.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982012575=29e1430f335bac28a23.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982012575=29e1430f335bac28a23.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982012575=29e1430f335bac28a23.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982012575=29e1430f335bac28a23.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982012575=29e1430f335bac28a23.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: I
have had stages outside Ghana, in Africa, both as a student and now as a
full timer. However, I seek to not only entertain, but also to inform
and without a word, represent Ghana in Africa and wherever in the
world I have cause to be. I told you of the beard and time? While future stages are being prepared, I can only bide my time,
preparing to tread on them, as an when they come.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>DARKO</b>: Thanks for your time
on The Street. We value your brilliance! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><b>NANA</b>: The </span></span><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$2:0"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">pleasure is mine. Thank you!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".8t.$mid=11413982208398=29e1430f3c603b3c298.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$2:0"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://philliswheatleychapter.blogspot.com/2014/10/pitures-of-nana-asaase.html"><b>Pictures of Nana Asaase</b></a></span><br />
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Phillis Wheatley Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675729173970953311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3255121281058065169.post-57187367089110680592014-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:002014-10-24T07:52:24.769-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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