I have been living in the Upper West Region, specifically in Jirapa and now in Nandom for quite a while now for what I’d say the longest period of time in my life except when I was in secondary school in Lawra for five years and haven’t regretted it a bit.
There are a number of cogent issues that l think is worth discussing with anyone who cares to do so.
I’ll be honest to say that “fitting” in with my “people” has been and is still exciting and yet queer and in a number of unstabilizing, uncomfortable and embarrassing which can render you a perfect square peg in a round hole.
Why do I say so? The lack of or little knowledge of one’s indigenous language, culture, custom and even ones identity within your people can put you in quite an embarrassing and awkward situation especially within the dagaaba people.
When attending social events such as funerals, marriage ceremonies or social gatherings and asked for instance what is your “belu” (clan) or your mother’s lineage is or what your totem animal is, you’d either be gobsmacked or provide the most outrageous response if you are the daring type and can make you a perfect alien and stranger within your own domain.
It’s even frightening when you are the subject of discussion right in front of you without the slightest idea you’re the specimen under discussion either don’t understand the language or know how it’s being used especially within the dagaaba where at times, nomenclature means everything.
Someone once told me he could sell me at the Tanga Sie Market (one of the most prominent markets in the Upper West Region) I wasn’t amused yet I could do very little about it. Why this sale? Because he thought I was a zilch when it came to language, culture, custom and quite interestinglly the physical knowledge of territorial boundaries.
Yes, unfortunately, let’s prepare to welcome a “lost generation” especially with the vigour of today’s Gen Z. One can only imagine IF and only IF there is a sociocultural implosion what the devastating effects might be.
We’ve talked about systems versus individual efforts and how they have an impact on our day-to-day livelihoods.
Needless to say, we have and still are relying on individual and microcosmic units to spearhead our developmental drives: Oh! It was during the reign of so-so that A, B and C happened; If Tom, Dick and Harry’s party were to be in power we wouldn’t be experiencing this; Wait till this “generation” fades off, the we can feel real change. We could go on and on and on, where are the institutions that are supposed to bring about timeless, seamless and improved transitional evolution?
I would want us challenge ourselves into putting or restoring systems that will maintain practices that make us know who we are, where we are, what brought us here and where we “think” we are going.
BIG ministries and departments for culture, chieftaincy, religion, civic rights and responsibilities, religion are awash in this country yet we are comfortably sliding into the oblivion of identity extinction, thanks to contemporary phenomenon such as swift Artificial Intelligence (AI) fast and effective dissemination of information; right or wrong, good or bad, relevant or misleading, any way you see it, it will definitely shape our future.
DO WE RISE OR DO WE RISE?
