Monday, April 18, 2011

The day of the wake! Togbega's funeral 1

Today I woke up next door to a dead person. Infact I could see the bed he was lying in from my sleeping position! After being woken up by the gunshots, drumming and women mourning i made my way outside. The place i was staying was built specially to house the dead chief Togbega. He has been dead two years now and finally it is time for him to be sent to the other side to be with the Ancestors.

As I made may way out of my air conditioner sleeping place I see people busy tidying up the area after last nights wake keeping. There was either a live band or loud dancing music to follow. I took part on both as much I could!

Everyone around is adorned in red! This gives some the chance to wear their Manchester united shirts whilst others buy either a togbega t shirt or the special cloth. (which I'm wearing in the form of a shirt as I type this) those who can not afford still join in by wearing anything read they can find. Scalves, football bibs and old tshirts, all in red, are everywhere!

You may wonder how I end up sleeping in the building built to house the dead chief whilst he lays in state, that will follow shortly!

Togbega was the paramount Chief of Agave Traditional State and had ruled from 1992 until 2009 and his untimely death at the age of 55. Togbega was someone I respected very much and was fortunate enough to have the chance to speak to at great length. As well as interviewing him for my thesis I also went to him in his traditional role in order to ask his advice on a project I was managing in a local village. Of course the advice was so good and I can certainly credit him with te success of the project. His words were always humbly accepted!

Now I am waiting for some breakfast at Evelyns (a friend and mother from long ago) The breakfast is kind of strange but quite refreshing after being woken up by a cannon!

My tea, sugar bread, Carrots and cucumber!

Mummy Evelyn and Giftee! My political family


(Please forgive me for now going to past tense!! I am no longer at the funeral!)


On Friday evening I made the journey to Dabala in the Volta region to keep wake at togbega's funeral.
Unfortunately, due to work constraints (bloody work!) I could not attend the start of the funeral from Tuesday, but I was determined to keep wake on Friday night. I got there, changed into my funeral wear ate some Banku and then headed to the palace to watch the big screen where they were showing videos from throughout Togbega's reign. Was really wonderful to see the people giving so much respect for a traditional leader. The Church spends a lot of time castigating the traditional practices and I am happy that people still maintain the strength to respect traditional rulers.

During the video, I had the honour to sit with and talk with some of the late chiefs family. In fact, as you can see I became quite close with his older sister who swiftly proposed to me! (Of course I accepted! Would be rude not to right?!) And that was when they insisted that I sleep in the building specially built to house Togbega as he lay in State.  They were worried as to where i would sleep and made me promise to come to the airconditioned room with the family  if I don't have anywhere. It was extremely lovely of them and I appreciated the few hours of cool sleep i got.

Anyway, after the video, I went out to the mini street party that was happening. I danced and drunk with the locals for sometime, watched the live band at the palace and then decided that it was about time I lay my head down. Now we have come full circle to where I started the post! I will continue saturdays events in the next post.

Downsboy

Offering theif. Crediting his account

CRASH!

After all my talk of Car accidents it was inevitable that I would be involved in another one sooner or later. Well yesterday the time came where my life was at risk in a tro tro again! ( I think maybe I should find a way to fit in Drama into my name and join Dramalison!)

I have so much to write about my weekend and so many pictures to show people from a great funeral for a great chief, but firstly I will briefly talk about the accident!

We were on the way back from Dabala, Volta Region, in a Trotro. After we left the storm swiftly moved in and we were battling against the rain and the wind. The driver seemed a little over confident and on a couple of times I asked him to take it easy. He brushed me aside whilst talking a lot to all the passengers, he was in very high spirits. He drove fast at every given opportunity so I had made up my mind to tell him when we got to Tema motorway that he should please be careful. Tema motorway is arguably the most dangerous road in Ghana with so many accidents and deaths occurring!

Fortunately some of the people on the bus had been finding it funny to wake me up as I fell asleep. (It wasn't funny at the time!) So when we reached the motorway I was awake and I mentioned that I feared this road so he should be careful, because it is dangerous. he said "its not dangerous to me"! Great one mate! I was pretty certain something was going to happen and I was wide awake. I asked him to be careful on a couple of occasions and the rain was getting worse. On the third occasion the driver moved out to overtake a tro tro and front of us. As we moved out the the tro tro in front also moved out. I told him to slow down but instead he swerved! (He could have easily just breaked and we would have been fine!) But no...after swerving he could not control the vehicle, we span round and then smashed off the road backwards!

I (probably irrationally) dived across to the drivers side because I was worried that my head would go out of my open window if we flipped over. I must admit it was quite a scary moment but as we came to a halt in the undergrowth everyone was ok. (and screaming JESUS JESUS!) (Maybe they should have screamed that before we got the crazy driver!)

We moved from the car and the police patrol passing picked us up. The driver lied to them so that he did not get arrested for dangerous driving! He said we were stranded and the police believed him. (I must say on this occasion the police are doing a good job patrolling the motorway) I was aware that this stretch of road is known for armed robbers also so I was thankful the police were there to pick us up. We got to the roundabout and then had to find our way home!

Anyway, I am now off to the clinic because I have a slight swelling on my back. I think it is nothing, but i have been compelled by everyone to get it checked out!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Picture BLogs are far easier! Welcome to my home town!

At the local Chop Bar at Dabala Junction...I used to eat here on my first visit to Ghana. Olee and I used to sing the Chop Bar Lady (in Blue) a song everytime we saw her. (Chop bar lady da da da da da! Chop Bar lady..... along side a stupid dance!!)

Dramalison's first picture appearance on the Blog! Welcome Dramalison!
 Dramalison
The school in Agorhome that I taught at and now offer a little support to with my family.

Me with the Primary one teacher! She is a really great teacher and person. I call her bat women....She stood in front of me at a party I had organised for the school. Whilst telling me of the problems they were facing she mentioned to us all that there was a bat infestation and once whilst writing on the board, one happened to urinate in her mouth!!! I couldn't help but laugh!!! euugh!


Salomey - Pretending to be teacher!

The next projects is to fix the ceiling in the store room (and get rid of the bats!) All the books are scattered and get very wet!

Our last project was to fix up the floor in the Kindergarten! Eventually we will try and rebuild this tin can! (without using tin!)

Recent Jubilation in the village when we finally got piped water! They have been saving and saving for years to get running water and  have been working so hard everyday fetching water from miles away. Apparently when the water started flowing there was a funeral going on (wake keeping) and they fetched water the whole night! All drinking and bathing in it! It really is an incredible thing to see the difference having water has!

A spot of cooking! Pepper grinding!

Yakayake - Casava (steamed) pancakes! Nice with sugar!

Dramalison, Salomey, (someone else?) and the farm in the background!

My tilling the land!! Green fingers!

The Smile of South Tongu! Romeo has taken care of me every visit I have made to Ghana.  A true friend and family member! An next MP of South Tongu!

Dramalison again with Romeo, his wife Dora his kinds and some of the locals! I truely miss these guys. Can not wait to see them at Easter!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Olympics 2012 British Football team - I AM available!!

Well, once again I have been lazy to post. I am waiting on some pictures to put up a picture post. That will come very soon. Before I get on to the main post (which will be another past blast) I will just mention my mammoth effort this morning!

For the first time in 11 years I decided to involve myself in an 11 a-side football match! I used to play so much football as a youngster and liked to think of myself as a bit of a player (football player, not a cocky footballer chasing all the women in town!) so I wanted to test whether I still had it. In between that time I have been fat, slim but mostly unfit and have played a little 5-a-side at Uni and home. I faired ok in the small game but would my fitness show me up in this big 'obroni' match against a third division team!

Well, there I am thinking my fitness will be the problem and then comes my first opportunity on the ball! I can not blame tiredness (although the walk with Swiss Robinson to the pitch was a little energy sapping!) but as the ball was played out to me (I was in the left back position) the ball suddenly leapt over my foot and went off for a throw in! Now I could blame the stones on the pitch, or the passer of the ball but realistically my inability to control the ball was the real deciding factor!

As the first half went on fitness did begin (quite quickly) to take its toll. I was completely out of position when they scored their first goal, and inevitably, I was supposed to be marking the scored! Great work me! I was touted as the mascot before the game, and I think I may have been more use running up and down in a stupid animal costume than left back!

I could not keep up and by the end of the first half I thought that they only way forward was throwing up or collapsing (or both!) But after a rest I trotted back on to the pitch for the second 40 minutes. (yes just 40 minutes!) Anyway, shortly into the second half, and after not making to many mistakes I decided it was about time I show the world my attacking prowess and forced myself in to the left wing position. Ryan Giggs, Asharvin, Overmars, Bale, POLLEY! ( I don't know why Overmars sprung to mind but he was bloody great!) Now maybe I am over stepping the mark a little, but I was certainly a little more effective in this position. I actually managed to do a couple of tricks around player and even have a shot! My biggest personal mistake was deciding to slide challenge in order to win the corner. I had lost the ball and pride was not going to let this guy run around me. But pride caused me to cut my leg on the grass-less pitch! (bloody pride!)

I think this blog is long enough without me discussing my spiritualist experience. Maybe I will post that one next time!

Anyway, we ended up losing 4-2 (not a bad effort from the guys!)  The referee put an excellent display in. He was even able to blow for fouls and offside when he was at the other end of the pitch standing on the penalty area! Maybe his fitness is even worse than mine! (