PRETTY MISSY LANTY

“Yeo, yeo, yeo, gimme the mic and lemme spit…I ‘m the coolest chic, the only pretty missy lanty and I owe no one a dime. I gat ma swag on and I never back down. All haters look up to me for direction…Haha, I’m living it with no regrets and that’s moi!”

That was back in the days in one of the best senior high schools when she was a teenager growing up with all the wild ideas of rapping and making serious dance moves. She did well though. For most girls of her age, she was very active and friendly.

I am talking about my fresh, slim, chocolate, beautiful round-eyed friend who studies arts and is grossly involved in fashion, walks with calculated, graceful steps and dares talk when no one else does. I have not known her for so long but for the little time that I have, I have seen a lot of attractive qualities about her.

She comes across as core on the outside but behind the veil, I know there is that nature of a quiet, shy, small girl always ready to have a good laugh. She could be a naughty ‘bug’ and a chatterbox sometimes but hey, I always tolerate her because she is always interesting and fun-loving, bringing radiance where there is gloom. You cannot be mad at someone who makes you laugh. That is the mark of a sweet friend.

She offers advice like a mother and sometimes I wonder if she is not smarter than her age.

Anxiety takes the better part of her most of the time but she is learning to be patient these days. Patience is a virtue every lady should have and I know she is working on it.

She always strives for greater achievements and never looks back despite unfavourable conditions. These have kept her going all this while.

She cares, she shares and she adores. I love her very much and of course “as a sister”.

All for you, B.A

TROTRO SERIES PART II: DRIVER

The man responsible for driving passengers safely to their destinations is simply addressed as “Driver” by passengers and as “Masa” (for Master) by the trotro conductor.

The driver is very good at delegating authority- he allows the conductor to handle most of the issues that arise during the journey and only comes in when the situation at hand is beyond the conductor’s control. By this, he is able to concentrate on his task.

Despite the long, closed-up and sometimes winding figure created by cars and their twinkling red lights during traffic hours, the driver is able to manoeuvre and get ahead of most cars thereby beating the time it would have taken him to reach his destination.

This man is definitely always careful with handling his source of income despite the risky escapades he makes out of desperation and sometimes, impatience.

Watch out for PART III

B_U_S_T_E_D

PROFILE:

NAME: GANIU

SEX: MALE

AGE: 6YRS

HEIGHT: 102cm

CRIME: CAUGHT DOING HIS OWN AZONTO MOVES

EVIDENCE:

Just watchhhhhhhhhhh

TROTRO SERIES PART I: ANTIQUE PRESERVATION OR INTENTIONAL OFFER?

In a city choked with plush and elegant cars, state of the art and multi-purpose high- rise buildings born out of modern architectural designs, people of all descents and religions, comfortable and inviting shopping centers, one cannot but admire the beauty and splendor of Accra. One sight to behold as a characteristic of all major modern African cities is the bumper to bumper traffic that is as a result of lack of proper planning and perhaps acute foresight of the authorities.

 A critical look at the types of cars plying the roads everyday both in and outside Accra reveals that despite the glamorous ones that keep glistering in the sunlight, there are actually other ones that defy the status quo. Most of the buses serving as means of public transportation, otherwise known as “trotro” can be estimated to be above twenty years since the first time of use simply because they are unique and fall out of the definition of modern cars!

Analysis of these buses brings out the fact that one has to be extra careful when boarding or alighting from them. An oversight could cause one to sustain injuries caused by exposed metals forming the chassis of these buses. Before boarding them, especially in the morning, a critical look should be taken at the seats to check whether they have been dusted. Else, a day started with clean and neatly ironed clothes could be turned into a premature evening of dirt-patched clothes that same morning.

A close look at the dashboard of a trotro brings to view dysfunctional meters, a clock beaten by age and an empty car radio slot in most cases. Wires connected without paying any attention to cable colour codes can be seen hanging freely under the dashboard, posing threats to the drivers who seem oblivious to them.

The bare metal gear lever used is a testimony of the ingenuity of the “Suame Magazine Engineers”, who stop at nothing in their quest to find alternatives in all situations. In the event of a driver’s ignition key getting lost, he is not so much disturbed because a pair of wires could simply do the ignition job!

Tinted plastic windows are preferred most of the times and the closing and opening of these demands a good amount of energy to carry out. Custom made seats of various dimensions serve as comfort providers with little space for passengers to stretch their legs and move their arms!

The entry point to most of these cars, aside the front seat passenger’s side, gives one a fair idea about the state of olden day cars. A typical example is to get into the bus through its back. Once inside, the seats are arranged in two long rows in a face-to-face fashion. The “modern” types have the seats arranged in the normal order.

Some of the interesting inscriptions that can be found on some of these buses are:

“ME NTWERE HWEE (I WILL WRITE NOTHING)”

“Travel and Sea”

 “TO GOD BE THE GROLY”

“POOR NO FRIEND”

“POLICE AND DRIVERS ARE NOT ENEMIES”

 “OWUO MPO SURO”

“AMEGBETOR!”

“Wo ano pe asem”

“Koomi na gaa Allah”

“MANY ARE CALLED, BUT I AM CHOSEN”

 “NO WOMAN, NO CRY”

“ALL DIE BE DIE”

“SLOW BUT SURE”

“Ghana Hard, Still Ghana Hard” …..to list but a few.

Despite the discomfort, the trotro driver and his assistant (preferably called “mate”) manage to get one safely to his destination for a moderate fare.

A question worth asking now is whether the general state of trotros is a case of antique preservation or an intentional provision of “value for money”?  

just watch

Watch out for PART II

GIVE ME YOUR HEART

I feel it, yet I pretend it is not there! The next move I make, I feel it again….how long can I keep suppressing it?

That burning desire to be closer to you, to hold you tight, to play with your hair, to whisper gently into your ears, to look deeply  into your eyes with passion, to know the colour of your eyes and get the assurance that there is someone who cares.

Give me your heart so that I can reach out and touch that masked sun in my life; the sun that gave the luminescence that overtook me the first time I saw you. I want to feel that radiance once again!

I daydream about sharing little secrets with you especially my childhood adventures that caused my heart to shrink in fear then; and my eyes to glow with sparkles now at the memories of those little naughty escapades.

I want to spend the moonlit nights watching the moon rise up higher into the sky and also count the stars with you alone, Cherie.

I want to walk the shores of the sea; hand in hand with you, feeling its cool breeze, understanding the gestures of your hands and knowing the details of the outlines of your fingers till we can walk no more!

I want to see you climb those steep hills knowing that there are strong arms ready to help.

I want to tell you stories untold; stories that will cause you to mix laughter with tears.

I want to sing songs; songs of love to you. Don’t worry when they are out of tune because there is going to be a mutual understanding between my voice and your ears.

I want to share in both your sad and cheerful moments, calming your nerves and relishing in the prospect of brighter days.

I simply want an avenue to tell you how much my heart warms at the thought of you.

Give me your heart so that I can overcome the stupefying daze that gave me away in your presence.

And trust me to guard it with jealous CARE.

Dedicated to: HER