www.dustaccra.com

June 2012

and the death.el

of mediocrity

subscribeto DUSTDust Magazine is now delivering magazines right to your doorstep free of charge!

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Cool, conscious and creative.

Image taken from the cover of Jerry Hansen & the Ramblers International Band, ‘Dance with

the Ramblers’ on DECCA Records.

7. Editorial

8. Contributors

FREESTYLE11. You Know You’re in Accra When

12. Health: Love Thy Kidneys

14. Out There: Mimi Plange

15. Out There: Kae Sun

16. Passing Through: Aloe Blacc

19. Playlist

20. Heart: The National Museum

22. Tech: Social Media for Social Change

24. Akasanoma: The Electricity Experiment

27. Feature: Ghana Decides

POLITIK29.We the People

31. When the Silent Speak

32. Essential Ingredients for the

Campaign Trail

36. Surviving the Wrath of the Gods

WORD38. Blackout

FEATURE42. EL: On a Long Tin

50. Daniel Jasper

SOUL56. Waking Up

SEX & RELATIONSHIPS58. Sexual Authenticity & All That BS

SHOT59. Shot

ICON60. Jerry Hansen

Contents

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NoNstop to

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DUST MAGAZINE

Advertising +233 277 828 109 Editorial +233 26 888 1111

Cover: EL by Hansen Akatti

Editor: Kobby Graham

Thanks to...

Abena Serwaa, Aloe Blacc, Barcelo’s (Osu), BBnZ, Daniel Akrofi, Daniel Jasper, Edward Adjaye, Elorm

Adablah, Ebenezer Gwumah, Elvina Quaison, Ghanyobi,Hansen Akatti, Ivy Prosper, Kae Sun, Kinna Likmani,

Jason Nicco-Annan, Kwabena Oppong-Boateng, Maame Aba Daisie, Michael Annor, Mimi Plange,

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Paapa H Mensah, Seton Nicholas, Sharifah Issaka, The National Archives,

The National Museum, Victoria Okoye

Dust Magazine is a publication of Chrysalis Publications, P.O. Box CT2838, Cantonments, Accra

Corporate enquiries: enquiries@dustaccra.comEditorial enquiries: editorial@dustaccra.comSubscriptions: subscriptions@dustaccra.com

The views expressed in this magazine are the views of the individual contributors and not necessarily

those of the publisher.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Printed by Buck Press

All rights reserved. Copyright © Dust Magazine 2012

editorialWe have a habit here of holding up mediocrity and mistaking it for excellence. It is not intentional, but we have been doing it for so long that it has stuck. We accept ourselves as second best, incapable of being more than what we are. The words “We can’t,” become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You see it in how we apply lower standards to our own ideas and creations when comparing them to those from elsewhere in the world. You hear it every time we settle and accept the status quo, uttering those infamously Ghanaian words, “fa ma Nyame...”

God helps those who help themselves.

Our lack of innovation is linked to the creativity that we have so carelessly stripped away from our syllabuses. We dream of a better Ghana, but that dream is vague: we lack the imagination with which to colour it in. In fact, the national imagination has been starved.

So let’s feed it. Let’s start dreaming big. Let’s force ourselves to see ourselves doing things we think ourselves currently incapable of.

The opposite of being mediocre is to stand out. To be exceptional. To be extraordinary. I like this word a lot, because it contains the word “ordinary”.

Ghanaians don’t like ordinary. We like to stand out. Strangely, we often do that by fitting in, buying (mostly imported) things or buying into (mostly imported) ideas.

The word ‘extraordinary’ suggests that if we learn to love the things we ignore and consider ordinary, we may emerge with something so ordinary that it is somehow greater than ordinary. Something authentic. Think local, act global.

DUST believes in this idea. Instead of holding up society’s shiny objects, we take pride in things others may consider mundane. It is in these things that we - as a people - shine through, in a way no one else can. These things make us who are. They define us, which is why we cannot move away from them in spite of our worst efforts. In these things lies our authenticity.

Let us start looking within ourselves, both as individuals and as a nation. Those things you take for granted? Look at them again. Perfect and hone them. Take pride in them. Excel in them.

Somewhere in there, you will achieve authenticity and leave mediocrity behind.

Kobby Graham du

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contributors

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Ghan

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Elvina

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Mich

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DUST Editor-at-Large Eli Tetteh has had a lifelong love affair with words. Most recently, the communications consultant, freelance writer & social media enthusiast worked as head of Ashesi Universityís Writing Centre & as Senior Communications Officer with Stratcomm Africa.

Nana Darkoa is a modern Ghanaian woman in the business of breaking the mould. With her strong interest in women’s rights & issues, she manages Ghana’s first & most popular blog on African sexuality, Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women: a safe place for women to express themselves - sexually or otherwise.

DUST’s Photo Editor is a photographer who uses the power of his lens to ob-serve and reflect on all the intricacies of Ghanaian life. Seton is responsible for most of the magazine’s original photography.

Daniel Akrofi is a 4th year student at Ashesi University College. Though he offers a major in Business Administration, he has a passion for computer graphic design fuelled by 30% talent, 20% luck and 50% the amazing people he says he finds himself surrounded by.

Sharifah Issaka was born in Ghana, but raised in Canada and Saudi Arabia. Quite random but so is she. A budding filmmaker, Sharifah is obsessed with travel, technology, and social media (follow her on Twitter @WizSharifah). She is also a lover of all things creative, cool, and above all comedic (she tries not to take life too seriously)

If you have ever looked at DUST’s design and found yourself scraping your jaw from the floor, blame Ghanyobi. Breaking out of the confines of graphic design, he uses design, layout, photography & more to create art that is fun, fresh... & - above all - Ghanaian.

A graduate of Ashesi University College, Jason Nicco-Annan is a part-time designer, writer, photographer and all-round creative. As DUST’s new Associate Editor, he brings to the table not just his penchant for good writing but also his nuanced observation of Ghanaian popular culture.

A Dansoman bred Ashesi University alumnus, Ebenezer is an avid creative and unashamed social media enthusiast who hopes to understand how ‘design thinking’ can help make Ghana work better.

Abena is a biomedical researcher, PhD student, & part-time procrastinator who blogs at Ramblings of Procrastinator in Accra. She’s compiling a book entitled ‘Ghana Politics 101: The Aspiring Politician’s Comprehensive Guide to Navigating the Murky Ghanaian Political Terrain... from a Safe Distance!’

Elvina Quaison is the director of Silk Solutions, a company that assists the Diaspora in their business interests in Ghana. She also writes a blog on her own experiences of moving to Ghana. Check out www.wordpress.amomentinmymind.com and www.wordpress.silksolutions.com

Paapa Kwaku hMensa, commonly known as Paapa, is a music artist and producer signed with Skillions Records Ghana and a student at Reed College, USA. He focuses his artistry on spirituality and critical Christian thought, recognizing that his primary mission on earth is to please God in all things.

Michael Annor is a 19 year-old student of SOS-HGIC’s graduating class of 2012. An internet junkie, he likes to keep up to date with things going on around the world, & expresses himself through his blog (kobby.tumblr.com) where he posts his thoughts on politics, news, music, religion & more. Most importantly, he says, “I love Africa!”

Crystal is the publisher of Dust & co-host of our show on YFM 107.9 DUST LYVE!. A freelance writer for over 5 years, she has studied in Cape Town, Oxford & Dundee. She has worked with a number of magazines, newspapers & organisations. She is a former employee of Global Media Alliance.

PANCAKES, WAFFLES,MOVIE MAGIC, SWIMMING,

ICE CREAM & MANY MOREFUN ACTIVITIES

You know you are in Accra...

free

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When the national coach is (finally) Ghanaian!

When all the biometric voter’s registration personnel decide to take a lunch break at the same time (regardless of the length of the queue)

When the songs equate love with cheese, strawberry ginger, toffee and various other high-end food products

When drivers blow their horns as though their lives depend on it, yet our accident rate remains ridiculously high

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When ‘politics’ is a dirty word (and yet the rest of the continent feel we are obsessed with it)

When even the craziest drivers stop their cars to let school children cross the road

When ‘wee’ is not a reference to urination

When the price of moving around town is four times what it is in the rest of the country

When politicians denounce tribalism, but defend party members who make tribalistic comments (instead of immediately denouncing and disassociating themselves from them)

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When you encounter an undergraduate who is interested in the boy who is chasing her... but, for some strange reason, tries to hook him up with her friend

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Love thykidneys

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By Elvina Quaison

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I recall sitting on a bus, when the white

noise of people bustling, settling and chatting

was penetrated by a commanding voice. It

started with a prayer - a voice rolling and

pitching, expounding with authority - then

slipped smoothly from pastor to purveyor of

magic! “Wei y3 eduro paaa... all the medicine

you need if you have high blood pressure,

diabetes, migraine, back pain, HIV, period

pain, blood cancer...” and the list goes on.

The magic is in the cost of the substance: it

is cheap, promises much and, of course, the

seller is very believable.

Flip subjects for a minute to kidney disease.

According to the Ghana Kidney Foundation

there are over 5,000 people living with

kidney-related problems. Of this number,

2000 need kidney transplants. Due to high

costs, such transplants are out of reach for

the majority of patients.

According to the Head of the Police Hospital

Renal Unit, renal cases constitute 9.5% of

all medical admissions. In the eighteen years

between 1972 and 1990, there were only

200 cases. In the three years between 2005

and 2008, the unit undertook 4000 dialysis

sessions: a 2000% increase. The number of

kidney disease patients is climbing fast. The

majority are aged from 25 to 40. Some are

however as young as 12.

A great deal of the blame is attributed to

drugs BUT not the kind that you would

assume: cocaine, marijuana (weed). No. This

time, it’s herbal drugs.

While herbal medicines can have healing

attributes that surpass western medicine,

caution and knowledge still need to be in place.

In a recent conversation with my father, I

discovered that his older brother (who I never

met) died from drinking a herbal medicine tea.

My dad was promptly banned from touching

any such concoctions. All medicines carry

side effects and toxins which put pressure on

the kidneys. The problem is when people mix

the two, causing themselves huge amounts

of damage. Nobody is ensuring that what is

inside the bottle is safe for your consumption.

Be it traditional, herbal, Western or Chinese,

all medicines have their positive and

negative aspects. Ghana has a number of

associations you can refer to, including the

Traditional Medicine Practice Council, which

provides assistance, training and information

regarding traditional and herbal medicines.

I would suggest referring to them before

taking anything.

Your responsibility is to research and question

what you are taking before you take it. After

all, you want to be sure you are healing and

not hurting yourself!

For more info, visit the National Kidney

Foundation (NAKID) website, www.

nakidfoundation.gh.org or call them on

030 2673033 or 024 4483995

Out

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Ghanaian fashion designer Mimi Plange has received international acclaim as an emerging talent in the fashion world. Earlier this year, British newspaper The Guardian named her as one of three African designers “next in line for fashion greatness.”

Born in Ghana and raised in California, Mimi studied architecture before affirming her love for fashion, enrolling in San Francisco’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She later moved to New York to work for designer Rachel Roy before launching Boudoir D’Huitres in 2007. She relaunched the label under her own name and has been turning heads with her collections ever since.

One huge fan is André Leon Talley, former American editor-at-large for US Vogue and frequent judge for America’s Next Top Model. “[She] knows precisely what a woman wants to wear,” he said. “Plange is a name to watch: she’s got great promise.”

Her stylings are now hugely sought after by the likes of Alicia Keys, Janelle Monae, Estelle and Rihanna. As far as successful Ghana transplants go, we think Mimi Plange is definitely out there. -JNA

MIMIPLANGE

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Toronto-based Ghanaian singer-songwriter Kae Sun came home last month and tour the roof off of Taverna Tropicana, where he played cuts from his 2011 EP ‘Outside the Barcode’ and more.

Culture connoisseurs, Accradotalt, who hosted the session, describe his sound as “a bold blend of opposite angles – Ghana and Canada, folk + funked-up soul, futuristic and organic – that congeal in just the right way... His sound is now grown up and full-bodied – his melodies thick, strong, coffee brown alert...”

If you want to hear more about the man and his music, visit his website www.kaesun.com

KAESUN

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Aloe Blacc hit the top of the charts last year with his song,

‘I Need a Dollar’ (a song you might hear if you listen to

‘Ryse & Shyne’ with Ms. Naa or DUST LYVE - both on YFM

107.9)

The American/Panamanian singer-songwriter recently

visited Ghana at the behest of UK-based charity, Malaria No

More, to help raise awareness around malaria. While we

often treat it lightly, malaria is still a major killer, especially

of children.

While we in Accra did not get the chance to hear his music,

he did sing for the children he visited in Ejura.

Visit dustaccra.com to read what he wrote about his trip.

ALOEblacc

a snapshot of fresh local music, books & films being consumed at Dust HQ

film / tv

music

An African Election Jareth Merz (yes: again...)

Memory LaneYasmeen

Let Me Love You (Bugz in the Attic Remix) Bunny Mack

Adjoa (A Rexdale Love Story) Spek Won feat. Muhsinah

The DUST team is looking forward to reading His Excellency Vice President John Mahama’s new autobiographical book.

Due in July, the book chronicles the Vice President’s early years when rumours of a coup reached his boarding school and his father (a minister) went missing,

imprisoned for over a year.

Literary legend, Chinua Achebe reviews the book on Amazon.com saying, “With crisp yet sweeping prose, John Mahamaís memoir... provides insights into Ghanaís,

and by extension, Africaís struggle to weather its historical burden and engage with a world much removed from her dilemma... His is a much welcome work of

immense relevance to African studies and deserves serious critical attention.”

From the other side of the continent, the Kenyan author, Ngugi wa Thiongío writes “... he interacts with history as a living tissue. The characters and the episodes are

part of the everyday but one imbued with magic and suggestive power that go beyond the concrete and the palpable to hint at history in motion.”

With such heavyweight endorsements, the book looks set to be a very interesting read.

booksMy First Coup d’Etat & Other

Stories from the Lost Decades of AfricaJohn Dramani Mahama

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The National Museum

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Words & Photos by Crystal Svanikier

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There are few things more instrumental to the success of a people than their sense of collective identity. In Ghana, we have been blessed to have an evolving, yet paradoxically entrenched, sense of self, which in many ways is still deeply rooted in the ‘Ghanaian Identity’ formed by our first President, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. His belief in Ghanaian and African unity manifested in a number of projects geared to consolidate the Ghanaian sense of self. One of these projects was the National Museum.

Long forgotten by some and never heard of by many, the National Museum is a time capsule housing not only archeological, cultural and historical artifacts, but also an intriguing impression of honoured memories of a past when Ghana was undeniably the brightest star in Africa. The museum was opened 5 March 1957 in commemoration of Ghana’s independence.

Apart from battalions of school children and the sporadic curious tourist, not many people go to the National Museum anymore. It is true that much - okay, most - of the museum hasn’t changed since it opened. However, the part that does change - the space reserved for temporary exhibitions - makes it worth the mere two cedi entrance fee.

The last exhibition, entitled ‘Malaria: Blood, Sweat, and Tears’, was a showing of award-winning photographer, Adam Nadal’s work, and - trust me - it was not as boring as it may sound. After spending time in a number of malaria endemic countries in Asia and Africa, Nadal amassed a poignant collection of images, personal stories that document the impact malaria has on individuals and communities. The images were not what one would expect from the lens of an outsider looking in: objectified and stereotyped. They were refreshing, educative and familiar - especially to me, a persistent malaria survivor.

I hope every one of you will be inspired and take a trip to the National Museum soon, whether there’s an exhibition on or not. There is something to be said for reminding oneself where one has come from, and if the visit incites a fire to support the custodians of this collective identity, even better. There is no better way to hold on to the things you love about yourself, the things that we all are and the things you never want to lose.

For more information of the Ghana National Museum, visit http://www.ghanamuseums.org

For more about how you can support the Ghana National Museum, visit http://www.friendsofnationalmuseum.tumblr.com

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Tech

Take a moment to think about each time a television broadcast has been interrupted for a commercial.

It might have felt like a disturbance, but whichever way you look at it, it still captured your attention;

at least for a minute or two. More often than not, it creates a lasting impression. There are some

ads we just can’t forget, and some others that just aren’t worth remembering. But there’s something

both kinds have in common; the airtime, that minute or two in the spotlight. Back when television

and radio broadcast were considered mainstream media, this spotlight was a rarity; airtime wasn’t

[and still isn’t] cheap. But now, with Facebook, Twitter and the many other social media networks

available, the whole system has been rewired. It’s like a deliberate attempt to get us to put our voices

out there. It’s free, and practically everyone’s on- the audience is set. Yet we’d rather use it to tell

the world what our last meal was, or to show off what we look like in our newest outfit.

There’s this wave of youthful activism moving across the globe and it has all been centred on social

media. Several countries are undergoing significant revamps - economic, political, or social - and

as one generation fades out for the next to take charge, it’s every citizen’s social obligation to get

involved; especially with politics. Politics has got to do with things that affect us as citizens; traffic

jams, power cuts, armed robberies, etc. It’s not a contest to show who can play the blame game best.

On the African continent, politics has for so long been depicted as the forbidden [dirty] game meant

changesocialsocial media forby Michael Annor

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for only fully grown adults, [men to be specific],

who have been in the system for decades. These

“players” go on to decide what goes on in our lives,

whilst the rest of us, either can’t be bothered, or just

complain to no effect in our small circles. We don’t

realise that our opinions count. As clichéd as it may

sound, there’s strength in numbers, and it’s this

strength that swept across with the Arab Spring

from Tunisia, through Egypt to Libya, and beyond.

It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword,

but we forget that it is this very same pen which

has evolved into the keyboard. We forget, or are

simply unaware of what we can, and should be

doing with the social media resources accessible

on the internet.

Facebook and Twitter have already successfully

toppled longstanding heads of states in the past

year and if appropriate use is continued as an

input for ensuring good governance, this could be

a positive turnaround for these states. Like the

television commercials, not all Facebook status

updates, or tweets make any impact at all. A well

thought out advertising plan, would remain familiar

to people across different generations whereas,

a poorly organised one would be forgotten in no

time. Should we thoughtfully and constructively

use social media sites, with the intention to move

our governments in the right direction, there’s no

doubt that we’ll succeed. We should “never doubt

that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing

that ever has” (Margaret Mead). With this in mind,

we’ll not be swayed by sharp-tongued, deceptive,

sly, sometimes thoughtless politicians, seeking re-

elections, with no definite plans for development.

When we all get involved, there’ll be pressure on

them, and they’ll have to either comply or step out.

There’s a Nigerian proverb that says that “until the

lions have their own storytellers, tales of the hunt

shall always glorify the hunter. As it stands, we

are the lions, but when we refuse to speak up. As

such we only end up being reduced from being the

“king of the jungle” to being “the hunter’s catch”.

Aside the popular social networks, there are a

myriad of other ways we could use social media

to cause social change. In Kenya for example,

there’s Ushahidi; a website which was developed

to gather information from the general public

to monitor violence during the 2007/2008

Kenyan crisis. It’s based on the concept of using

crowdsourcing for social activism and public

accountability; a very useful tool for combatting

corruption by anonymously reporting malpractices

and inefficiencies in public institutions. Since 2008,

its use has spread to countries like South Africa,

Haiti and Chile to allow crowds to give their input for

solving problems that affect the same individuals

within the crowds.

In Ghana, there’s Ghana Decides, a similar tool

established to monitor the 2012 elections, right

from the registration stages up until the final vote

is cast. How else would problems get fixed if they

don’t get reported? I’ve heard more than enough

stories of how during the registration process,

queues were stagnant, and some others found

ways to skip the queue. Normally, we’ll just sit

and watch, or complain there and then. But utilising

social media would attach some importance to the

complaints raised. We can’t continue depending

solely on radio and television networks to air our

thoughts. Nowadays, they’re hardly ever non-

partisan and are often biased towards one party.

It’s up to us [the masses] to equip ourselves with

these seemingly ordinary tools to push for change.

There’s also Kabissa, a website devoted to making

Information and Communication Technology benefit

African communities by featuring and publicising

shared stories from across the continent.

The several blogging services online, are equally

potent means of getting our voices out there. Kobby

Graham, editor of Dust Magazine, Ghana and Ory

Okolloh, Kenyan activist are strong advocates

for using social media networks to push for

seriousness within governments and social change

in our countries. The internet is a powerful tool,

and it would be sad if we don’t take advantage of

it. We should keep in mind that the pen is mightier

than the sword, and so is the keyboard, but more

importantly, we should ensure that whatever

opinion we share is thoughtful and constructive.

That’s ultimate. Oh, one more thing, I had plantain

for lunch today.

Hmm! @Korkornsa e be like ebe the whole Accra. #Weija too go off. Oya, make

we tweet @DustAccra

Hm! See these new school kids oo. I better go get me a

twitter handle or whateverthey call it and tweet some.

AKASANOMA

electricityexperiment

theChale @Akasanoma the #LightOff happen for #Spintex again oo

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To take part, here’s what you have to do:

1) Go online (preferably through your phone) and join Twitter.com

2) Go to www.twitter.com/DUSTAccra and follow @DUSTAccra

3) Anytime your lights go out, go online on your phone (before your battery runs out!) and send a tweet to @DUSTAccra, simply saying #lightoff, along with the name of your area (e.g. @DUSTAccra #LightOff #Kaneshie)

4) When the power comes back, send another tweet to @DUSTAccra with the words #lighton, again with your area name (@DUSTAccra #LightOn #Kaneshie)

That’s it.

DUST will compile the tweets over the next quarter and present the results in our next issue.

For those of you wondering, we are starting the experiment with Twitter, as the data is easier to compile but expect our next experiment to expand to Facebook and beyond. If you feel inspired to do something similar, feel free to do so and let us know about it so we can help.

Let your digitally creative juices flow!

Inspired by a conversation with Victoria Okoye (of africanurbanism.blogspot.com), DUST has decided to run the first in a series of ‘little social experiments’ making use of social media. Our first? To see if we can use Twitter to monitor power outtages (ie. ‘Light Off’) across Accra.

‘Ghana Decides’ is a non-partisan project being run by a team of young Ghanaians united in putting Ghana first, whatever their political leanings. It is a lesson in political maturity that many supposedly more adult Ghanaians could stand to learn from.

Started by BloggingGhana (www.ghanablogging.com) - the country’s largest collective of bloggers and social media activists - with funding from STAR Ghana, the project aims to help create a better informed electorate as a means of contributing to free, fair and safe elections later this year. To do this, Ghana Decides uses social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and more to educate youth, civil society organizations and institutions on the effective use of social media. Its website is a great one-stop shop for unbiased news and links on political goings on in Ghana.

During the recent Biometric Voters Registration Exercise, the group launched ‘iregistered’: a campaign to encourage eligible Ghanaians to share their experiences of registering, using the hashtag ‘#iregistered’. People including celebrities like Kwaw Kese and m.anifest uploaded over 400 images, with the campaign gained ample press coverage both locally and internationally.

Extending its message offline, the group has held social media workshops across the country for youth groups, civil society, the disabled and other marginalised groups. These include a Social Media Working Group for Civil Society Organisations in the Brong Ahfo region; BarCamp Sunyani; social media training workshops both in Ho and in Accra, where they also took part in Ghana’s first ever ‘Blog Camp’.

To find out more or to keep up-to-date in the run-up to the elections, simply visit www.ghanadecides.com

GHANA DECIDES

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The idea of Ghana is bigger than any single group within its

borders.

WE THEPEOPLE

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There are always people with progressive ideas that could help propel Ghana forward. Those with such

ideas often go against society’s grain. As such, they find their ideas (and their confidence in those ideas)

challenged. This is not surprising: change never comes easy.

Some set these ideas aside. Even worse, many more do not bother trying to make them into reality for fear

of incurring society’s wrath. The progressive minority cowers before the might of the conservative majority.

At DUST, we suspect that Ghanaians are more progressive than we give ourselves credit for. We just

lack the confidence to say so. When our most regular contributor, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, started her

blog, ‘Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women’, she believed that it would not be long before “the

people” came after her. Nevertheless, she stuck by her belief that women needed a space within which they

could speak more freely about sex and sexuality than society seemed to permit. In the end, the pitchforks

never came. In fact, adventuresfrom.com is now one of Ghana’s most popular blogs.

Recently, one man took up a microphone and said some controversial things about modern Ghana. His

opponents criticized his apparent tribalism. His supporters said that he was simply airing what was really

on the mind of “the people”.

No? No.

Across the country and across ethnic and political divisions, people called in to radio stations, wrote letters,

and lit up the internet with messages seemingly unified in their condemnation of this one man’s words.

Those words – they claimed – did not represent the popular mindset. For once, a majority of Ghanaians – all

too often silent – spoke up on both sides of the political divide to slam down those who all too often peddle

old, non-progressive ideas.

It is important that we keep doing this.

The more you speak out, the more you will find people of like-mind, whatever your political leanings. It is not

a crime for people to hold different beliefs, but while we may disagree on how to move forward, we all want

to move forward.

Real progressives know that there are more things that bring us together than there are things that divide us.

The more we are brave enough to speak out and say what is really on our minds, the less of an opportunity

we give to those who incorrectly claim (whether well intentioned or not) to speak on our collective behalves.

KG

SILENTWHEN THE

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THE BOOK “2012 EDITION OF MAPS OF ROAD NETWORKS OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA COMPLETE WITH ROAD COMMISSIONING DATES” One could be forgiven for thinking that maps are essential for navigating through the twists and turns of your constituency but alas this is not the case. Firstly, we never use maps to get directions to any place in Ghana. Secondly, roads in Ghana are not just open ways for vehicles, persons and animals, but are the pathways on which our nation’s future is built. When in government, it is always essential to highlight and herald all the roads that you are constructing and ensure that road construction projects open with much-publicized sod-cutting ceremonies. When in opposition, you must emphasize that roads cannot be eaten while still taking credit for roads that your government may have started when in power. A book of road networks will help the aspiring politician point out which roads were built under the auspices of their party.

THE ASPIRING POLITICIAN’S COMPLETEGUIDE TO THE GHANAIAN CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Just as one former Black Star coach lamented that Ghana is a nation of over 20 million coaches, one can safely say that it is also a nation of over 20 million political commentators. This phenomenon could not have been more aptly described than in an email circulating back in the late 1990s entitled ‘How To Tell One African From Another’ which stated that “…Ghanaians think they invented politics”.

When people in other parts of the world are tuned into morning radio shows filled with tantalizing celebrity gossip or embarrassing prank calls, in Ghana we are attentively listening to newspaper reviews and political panel discussions. In fact, heated political debates can take place anywhere: in trotros, bank queues, hair salons or public toilets... even about public toilets! On December 7th 2012, Ghanaians will go to the polls for the sixth time since “the return to democratic rule” in 1992. Election years in Ghana whip politics up into fever pitch mode. Common features include mammoth-sized political rallies, creative TV ads, catchy songs by well-paid musicians, powerful slogans and, of course, fiery political rhetoric.

As an ardent follower of Ghanaian politics and having observed three past elections, I’ve come to realise that there are key essential items that the aspiring politician needs while out on the campaign trail. Let’s say the aspiring politician is running for a seat in the esteemed Ghanaian House of Parliament. I present a few essential items:

By Abena Serwaa

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HOLY BOOKS In Ghana, the appearance of piety always resonates with the electorate. Being perceived as “God-fearing” is sometimes even more important than actually being morally-upright. An ability to quote from The Bible is always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

THE TEXTBOOK “CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF GHANA 1945 – PRESENT” Ghanaian politics revolves around political antecedents and traditions that date back to pre-independence times. This makes it almost impossible for a new political philosophy to emerge on Ghanaian political terrain, but makes it completely possible for a politician to accuse their opponent of throwing bombs in the 1960s years before they were born or supporting coup d’états when they were three years old.

AN OPENING ACT An Opening Act: a vital member of any politician’s entourage is someone gifted in the type of political rhetoric that gets crowds excited and worked up. So even if the aspiring candidate is as exciting as a lump of charcoal, if the opening act is powerful, the crowd will not be able to tell the difference.

T-SHIRTS For the aspiring politician, it is essential that you get t-shirts with your face and party colours. However, it is important to note that the number of your t-shirts you see being worn does NOT translate into votes. Let’s face it: everyone likes a new, fresh superior cotton t-shirt.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE a powerful vehicle is essential for not only being able to navigate through the rough roads of any constituency but also to load up with an entourage, macho-men and other hanger-ons, all of whom will literally be hanging from the vehicle.

MACHO-MEN Before images of the 70s/80s band The Village People come to mind, let’s be clear: macho-men in Ghana are the steroid-fuelled well-muscled enforcers whose services are in high demand particularly during election times. These services range from private security to plain good ‘ol trouble-making. On the campaign trail macho-men in sunglasses are a key accessory for the aspiring politician. In addition, it is always wise to keep a stock of akpeteshie (local gin) at hand since macho-men are known to have a particular penchant for this beverage.

ENTOURAGE The campaign trail is not unlike a musician’s tour. Therefore, the aspiring politician needs a large entourage of praise-singers and hanger-ons. The politician must however ensure they have enough funds to cover T & T or run the risk of their posse immediately thinning out.

PHOTOGRAPHER It is essential for the aspiring politician to have a photographer on hand to capture the large crowds attending one’s rally, to document for a newspaper or perhaps a brochure. The key phrase is “large crowds”: if no one shows up and the rally is a complete flop, the photographer can be dispatched to the nearest drinking spot.

A RADIO While on the road it is essential to have access to a radio to tune into the plethora of morning political discussion shows being carried by major radio stations and their affiliates across the country. It is also essential because as a politician, it is likely someone may be tarnishing your name in your absence. The good politician will call into a show for a swift and immediate rebuttal.

ANDREWS LIVER SALTS After mounting the campaign platform, it is important to move from house to house to meet ‘the people on the ground’. While doing this, the aspiring politician may be offered all sorts of lovely delicacies to feast on. It is important to indulge in these dishes to demonstrate that you are down to earth and akin to this ‘ordinary Ghanaian’ you hear so much about. However, be sure to have powerful medication at hand in case the dishes have unexpected consequences later.

HIGH QUALITY TOILET PAPEROne of the unexpected consequences of consuming lovely delicacies is the infamous on-the-road diarrhoeal attack. Anyone who has been on the road in Ghana knows that there is an acute lack of toilets and even if you do happen to find a toilet, there is nothing worse than a diarrhoeal attack without toilet paper.

These are just a few of the items required for the campaign trail. Please note that... 1. A concrete plan for office, or2. A point by point vision for the future ... are listed under the section on “Non-Essential Items for the Campaign Trail”

Hopefully Election 2012 will be peaceful and Ghana will continue to be a true Beacon of African Democracy.

MOBILE PHONE The aspiring politician should be sure to hand out a mobile number to potential voters with assurances that they can be reached at all times of the day. However, at the end of the election when you have won power, this number should be treated like burner phone from the movies and disposed immediately.

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Surviving the wrath of the godsIt’s no secret in Ghana that most people consider the rainy season baby-making season. There’s something to be said for being cooped up indoors with the sound of millions of fat rain drops melodiously falling everywhere. It’s strangely romantic the way nature takes care of us, giving us respite from the often oppressive heat. It’s no wonder many of us find ourselves praying for rainfall.

However, these pleasantly soothing rainy seasons have been getting more violent each year. This May, Accra experienced one of the worst flash-storms of the last decade. It arrived (seemingly) out of nowhere, destroying billboards, tearing roofs off brick homes, uprooting trees. I won’t even mention the swimming pool that was created at Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle.

What’s going on?

Global warming, that’s what. Defined as the increase in the atmosphere’s temperature and its subsequent effect on the environment, this phenomenon translates to mean extremely hot days and very heavy storms. Further research reveals that the increase in rainfall is not from more rainy days, but from heavier, more violent, rain storms. It is easy for us to ignore what is going on with our rapidly changing weather patterns because, let’s be honest; we have other seemingly more pressing issues.

But there are no issues more pressing, really. The energy crisis Ghana faced approximately five years ago (when Akosombo Dam was at a dangerously low water level) was a direct result of the lack of rain in the Upper White Volta (which flows into the Akosombo basin). The shift in rainy and dry seasons is also evidence of climate change. The intensity of our rainy season is constantly increasing, and our Harmattan is ever dustier and more intense.

It is even argued that the food crisis the world is currently facing is a result of these changing weather patterns. We must then ask ourselves, ‘What are we doing to protect the investments we are making?’ How can we expand our infrastructure and implement policies to support Ghana’s agricultural sector, when the environment is making it even harder for our farmers to produce the produce in the first place?

Unfortunately, I do not have any answers to these questions, but I do believe these are questions we must start asking ourselves. I mean, who can enjoy the romance of a rain storm when you’re worried your roof is going to fly off?

Visit DustAccra.com to read the excellent article, ‘The Effects of Global Warming on Human Lives in West Africa’. CS

Having recently returned to Ghana for good, Sharifah Issaka takes cues from writer,

artist and New York Times best-selling author of Newspaper Blackout, Austin Kleon,

to create poems with a local spin, blacking out words from The Daily Graphic.

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The pen – they say - is mightier than the sword, but that ethos might change with

one artist’s decision to up the ante. New weapon of choice?

The permanent marker.

Blackout!

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Newspaper Blackout is a collection of art and poetry made by redacting newspaper

articles with a permanent marker.

Austin’s creative style has inspired several

people to start their own blackout poems, and it’s a movement

that the writer gladly supports. “Why come up with your own words

when there are millions in the paper?” he simply asks.

For art so exceptional and personal, it’s quite an easy process: you simply

grab a newspaper, grab a marker, and then find an article. Then you cross out

words, leaving behind the ones you like. Pretty soon, you’ll have a blackout

poem that conveys your own thoughts and sentiments. -JNA

eBeing an election year, it is inevitable that a fool or

two will focus on the things that set Ghanaians apart.

Elorm Adablah’s appeal – however – lies in the idea

that Ghana is bigger than any single group within its

borders. His stage name ‘EL’ is short for ‘Elorm’, a

popular Ewe name. Yet, he lives in Accra and performs

songs that use Ga. “I’m modern Ghana,” he jokes. “I’ve

lived in Accra all my life. Never lived anywhere else. My

mom is Ga. I grew up with my mom’s mom. Dad wasn’t

around until I was six or seven. He was studying in

Russia so I didn’t get the chance to learn [his] language.

I can understand Ewe. But I can’t speak it.”

As a singer, MC and producer, EL is possibly the most

complete artist of his generation. Last year, you could

not turn on the radio without hearing a song that he had

produced, rhymed or sang on. No surprise then when

he was nominated for several Ghana Music Awards.

Widely tipped to win Best Newcomer, he eventually

lost to Stay Jay: “I was just happy to be nominated in

three categories. What made me happiest was that

when they mentioned the nominees, people were

screaming, ‘Obuu Mo Na... Obuu Mo Na...’ [the title of

one of his biggest tunes]. I know the person who won.

He’s okay. It didn’t really pain me at all.”

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Avoiding mediocrity has to be the main thing.

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nderstandably: while his rise may seem sudden to some, EL

has been doing this music thing for awhile. His father played

a part in that, buying him a small keyboard when he was

eight, watching him mimic the church organist and feeding

his Michael Jackson addiction:

“I was really into Michael. Dad really messed me up. He got

me all the tapes. I could sing them front to back. The dance

moves? Not so well. But I used to watch the videos and I was

fascinated by how this man was loved and revered at his

shows. The way people would collapse. It was just fascinating

to me.”

Nevertheless, it took Elorm awhile before he would commit to

music. Like many a creative, his parents advised him to focus

elsewhere, so he found himself at the University of Ghana,

eventually graduating with a degree in Political Science. Yes:

political science. Like many young Ghanaians though, he

holds politics – or rather, what it has become - in contempt:

“I know it’s not right: but I don’t vote. When I was a child, the

government really set my Dad back. From then on, I decided

to have nothing to do with politics. It’s very emotional for me.

It was a very big problem for us when there was a change

of government... These guys on the radio talking about this

or that; that’s all I hear on Sunday mornings. I don’t want to

have anything to do with [them].”

Regardless, EL studied political science. Music stayed with

him though: “I hadn’t planned on making it my main gig. It

was [just] something I was really into... There came a time

when I was really into what my loved ones wanted me to do

when I realized this is not really what I want to do: when I

was neck deep in it. I had to come out of it and say “let me

give this a try” and try to avoid the mediocrity that comes

with doing your own thing.”

EL – and the BBnZ team that he is a part of – does not

believe in mediocrity. When DUST visited their studio on

the top floor of Nima’s Airtel Building, we were somewhat

blown away by how simultaneously creative and corporate

the office felt. DUST favourite Hansen Akatti is part of

Team BBnZ and his artwork literally adorns the walls.

Not framed: painted on the walls themselves: “The vision

is to be ahead of the rest in every way possible; to be as

innovative and creative as possible... We are a bonafide

record label committed to doing things right: the way they are

supposed to be done. It’s all in an effort to avoid mediocrity.

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hen I told my Dad I was leaving that

job to do the music, he said ‘fine. So

long as you avoid mediocrity and

pride myself on how to do things

the right way.’ It has resonated with

me in everything I do – even once or

twice I slip and let my boxers show

– avoiding mediocrity has to be the

main thing.”

He’s come a long way from the

undergraduate who stored his

software on the laptop of another

DUST favourite, DJ Juls, who was

down the hall from him: “I used to

sample like crazy. I’d go to his room,

make a beat. [Juls] took it from there.

He’s crazy now. He’s really good at

it.”

EL’s first track was a song he wrote

and recorded for a girl he liked on

campus. It was called ‘A Song I

Wrote’, and never saw the light of

day: “I gave it to the girl but she

didn’t really like it. She left for London

without telling me...”

Ouch.

Eventually he graduated and spent

his year of national service with a

software development firm: “It was

miserable. I was in traffic for two

hours to go to a cold office with a

boss who was always nagging... It

wasn’t me. When I didn’t have things

to do - even when I had piles of things

to do - I was making beats with my

headphones on. After work, I’d go

back to the studio and then I’d feel

at home...”

That studio was run by Jayso, an

old friend of EL’s from Presec who

he would cross paths with again at

Legon and who eventually became

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the founder of the Skillions, a creative collective

that has spawned the likes of the gospel musician,

Paapa (who writes in this issue); the singer,

Raquel; rhymesmith & Channel O presenter, J

Town; ‘Lapaz Toyota’ producer, Ball J, and more.

“Initially we rapped in English. We were doing

the Jay Z style. Styles P. Jadakiss. Dipset... What

we were hearing on those records was what we

were trying to do.”

Like many Ghanaians, EL was exposed to a lot of

American hip-hop in secondary school. “Method

Man. Talib Kweli. Camron. Clipse. Pharrell. Kanye.

Styles P and Jadakiss, in particular... [but] the

artist who opened my eyes to the art of it was

Eminem. He was so cocky but at the same time

so lyrical. I’d get the CD and be alone in my room

listening to it from front to back. Listening to these

guys, I didn’t understand 20% of what they were

saying. I was trying to grasp the terminology, the

art of it; the metaphors and punchlines; how to

count bars. It was fascinating to me.”

On the Ghanaian side of things, he cites M3nsa’s

first album as a heavy influence: “I got the tape.

He was really rapping on that and I was like,

“Okay, we have these guys in Ghana as well?”

That made me know there was a possibility...”

As a fan of M3nsa’s it was perhaps inevitable

that the Locally Acquired Foreign Language thing

would shed itself: “It came to a point, we just

decided to add a little bit of local language... a

little pidgin. I remember Jayso saying, “sometime,

you for just talk some “kweh!” in there.” We didn’t

really plan to change that much. I remember the

first song I did purely pidgin in was ‘Chale’ (with

Jay Foley). I didn’t really plan on doing a pidgin

song. It just came to me.”

‘Today, the line he is most known for makes

no sense at all: “We didn’t even write it. It was

something [where] we just went into the booth and

did it line by line. The song rhymes throughout.

We needed something that we could finish up

with. We wanted to make “Korle Bu” make sense

with “gutter” but we couldn’t get the last line, and

I was like “E be too non-fa. E be “sometin sometin

Korle Bu gutter...”” What can we say about Korle

Bu gutter? You can’t put any sense to it...”

The subsequent popularity of that line – taken

from ‘Obuu Mo’ - taught EL that people like

things that are new. It was a lesson that would

be buttressed when - alongside fellow beatmaker,

Krinkman - he produced one of Azonto’s biggest

hits, Sarkodie’s anthemic ‘U Go Kill Me’: “We didn’t

realize the beat was that hot until we finished it,

it came out and people hopped onto it.”

“Azonto is not really a sound to address public

issues. Most listeners we are catering to just

want to go to the club, have a good time and

forget about their troubles outside of the club. Go

to the club, have fun with all the terminology...

free their minds. Then they can go home back to

their issues... It’s comedy. The rhyme schemes are

fun to listen to. It’s creative in that way. It’s not

supposed to say, “do things for Mother Ghana.”

We can do that in Azonto music but the main

core is to have fun.”

EL’s debut album, ‘Something ELse’ is exactly

that. Recorded over almost two and half years,

it is a double CD containing 25 songs: already

something different. You can hear his Timbaland

influences in the electronic feel of the album, but

it is more than just an azonto record: “We’ve

arranged it in such a way that the azonto crowd

have their CD, and you have the cooler, R&B

and real hip hop songs on the other. There’s

something on that album for everybody. It’s very

eclectic. Takoradi has a country-like bounce to

it. I have a song that is very rock and roll with

Raquel.” Language-wise, there are flashes of

pidgin, Ga, Twi and more. Not bad for someone

who taught himself to speak Twi in secondary

school by listening to Obrafuor’s album, ‘Pae

Mu Ka’. Today’s EL is confident enough in

his vocal gifts to rhyme the way he speaks.

KG.

We decided to add a little bit of local language... a little pidgin. Sometime, you for just talk some “kweh!”

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DANIELJASPER

Daniel Jasper is a painter and

commercial artist based in Teshie. He

has spent the last decade painting

artwork known as Cinema Art, a

collection of highly graphic paintings

influenced by blockbuster action and

horror movies.

Words & Photos by Jason Nicco-Annan

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In Ghana, childhood memories of movies are fostered firmly by two main archetypes. You

have the invincible good guy known as The Blow-Man, and his archenemy The Last Killer, who

probably killed our hero’s kung-fu master or wife or something. But there’s a less-celebrated

element of Ghanaian film culture. From the local cinemas in Kaneshie and Odorkor, to the home

video clubs in Nima or Old-Tafo, the most intriguing thing has always been the promotional art

plastered outside the film houses. This accompanying aesthetic, known simply as Cinema Art,

is something I have admired, if not obsessed over, since I was seven.

We all remember those vivid paintings of Steven Seagal and Van Damme with grossly enlarged

atomic biceps poised for battle, with a huge explosion in the background. Then there were

the horror movie posters, with eerily gruesome visuals of vampires with foot long fangs and

streaks of blood. But this isn’t just about a bunch of paintings. It reflected a local view, a

cultural consciousness shaped by art, grotesque imagination and spiritual fantasy. Cinema art

is a genre of visual art that is uniquely African, yet so disregarded. One can’t help but notice

the slight graphic similarities between Ghanaian Cinema Art and American Blaxpoitation film

posters of the 70’s, a more popular aesthetic complement to film with hand painted murals of

actions scenes and cast members (think Foxy Brown, Shaft, and even the recent blaxpoitation

spoof Black Dynamite).

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In the age of Photoshop and digital printing, it’s a novelty to actually be good with your hands

artistically. This rareness makes visual artist Daniel Anum Jasper the last of a dying breed.

He’s been in the hand-painting business for more than two decades and is one of a bare

handful of painters left in the industry. His concept art draws much of its inspiration from

science fiction, horror and action movies. Creating these pieces with acrylic and oil paints on

huge plywood boards, Jasper hardly ever uses the plot of these movies as a reference for

his paintings. He doesn’t just capture the vibrant and apparent appeal of the characters, but

goes further to create his own perspective and lets his imagination run wild.

I meet up with Daniel on a cloudy Saturday morning at his studio in Teshie which, according

to his website, is a 25-minute drive from the Trade Fair site at Labadi. If you’re from Spintex

and you’re being driven by a taxi driver with zero sense of direction, it takes about an hour

and a half. He’s waiting for me when I arrive. Daniels comes off as unassuming, but I feel

that I am in the presence of greatness. His talent is present in his studio, with cinema boards

and canvases leaning on every wall. The worn-out brushes and Milo tins half-empty with

paint remind of how I wish my room would look sometimes: half-chaotic, half-productive. I’m

like a schoolboy at a funfair moving around his studio taking pictures.

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A few minutes after composing myself I ask him about his influences and what inspires him to paint. He

simply says his talent is “a gift from God.” As a kid in Teshie he started doing chalk drawings on blackboards.

He honed his talent as a teenager and studied briefly at the National Arts College, but left after a year

and a half and developed his craft under the apprenticeship of the late Emmanuel Okine. Fast forward to

today, and Jasper is still painting, but on a larger capacity and with more flourishing results. He also does

signboards and other commercial artwork for businesses. That seems like a huge benefit considering how many

barbershops and Internet cafes spring up on a daily basis, but Daniel is quick to disregard that assumption.

“Digital printing is a big competitor,” he notes. “Even though it’s more expensive, people prefer printing because

it’s faster. But printing fades quickly, so they still end up coming. A printed sign will last about 8 to 10

months. But a hand-painted sign, even though it takes long to do, will be there for 4, 5 years – why waste

money while the art is there?” Still, Daniel isn’t nerved by the lack of patronage, as he’s earned an unlikely

niche market of outsiders. He always has tourists from Europe and the States dropping by his studio. Most

of the time they want to buy every single painting he owns; he jokingly informs me that I’m lucky not to be

taking pictures of a bare workshop. “I don’t know why they like the art like that!” he says frankly, looking

genuinely baffled. “Sometimes I just don’t’ understand. But then our own people don’t appreciate our art, so

foreigners are the people I concentrate on. All the things you see me working on right now? They’re all for

whites. They respect art. Sometimes they ask for the painting to have a [vintage] feel so once I’m done they

won’t come for until it has gathered dust.” He shakes in head in modest disbelief. “Seriously, they love art.”

This international appreciation has indeed spawned some of his best collaborations. His work was featured in

the Cadbury Dairy Milk “Zingolo” TV campaign in 2009, which celebrated the company becoming Fairtrade

Certified and was developed by creative agency Fallon in London. He had no idea lending his creative services

to a mere 60-second TV spot would create bigger opportunities. “Two of the filmmakers from Fallon were

based in South Africa,” he notes. They showed my work to some guy and he loved it. I’ve never met him

before; we’ve only spoken on the phone. But he trusted me to do what he wanted.”

This “guy” happened to be South African musician Spoek Mathambo, a rapper and producer whose electric

mash-up of traditional South African music and techno has propelled him to international stardom. Spoek

signed a multi-album deal with the legendary Seattle-based imprint, Sub Pop in 2011 and released his

second album Father Creeper in March, but not without the help of an artist that would help him turn

heads. Daniel first created the art to his lead single “Put Some Red On It”, incorporating his signature style

of blood and gore. For the art for Father Creeper, Spoek requested visuals that had more local perspective.

“It’s this Xhosa initiation ceremony where people burn their childish belongings.” He said of the artwork in

an interview with Okayafrica TV. “So it’s also about me maturing as a musician, and burning all the childish

stuff and moving into the future.”

Daniel Jasper’s own future is looking good. He’s working on a few things, but admits that things could be

better. “It depends on the season. [Tourists] usually arrive around June and July.” Until they do, his popular

Obama paintings will be selling like hot cakes. When I ask him if he thinks Obama will win this year’s

elections, he responds with a confident laugh and says, “Oh, yeah, he’ll win – just like my guy Mills.” An

NDC advocate? Maybe, but after spending a good two hours with Daniel Jasper I doubt he is the typical

Teshie guy. Up on his studio wall is a painting from 2005, of Rawlings and Kuffour having hearty laugh

over a drink. The painting is blanketed with dust, and he has no intention of selling it. This is the imaginative

painter’s beacon of hope. “This will happen one day,” he says, gazing at his work with optimism. “Sooner or

later we will all come together.” -JNA

Sou

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WAKING

UPA church leader, theologian, and apologetic; I’m none

of these. All I am is a receiver of God’s grace, who

continually seeks the face and heart of God. I’m

also a young man who hates nightmares. I usually

don’t remember my dreams, but nightmares stay

with me for awhile. Here’s one I had a few years

ago that will always stay with me.

By Paapa hMensahPhoto Credit: Seton Nicholas

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I was in one of the many identical churches on my

street. The pastor was preaching about God but oddly,

the God he described sounded a lot like a vending

machine ready to cough up several houses, cars, US

visas and millions of cedis to anyone who gave huge

money offerings to the church. I trembled throughout

the preacher’s sermon on financial prosperity

because in real life, genuine preachers look for change

within the hearts of people, while the false preachers

continually ask the church members for their change.

Hundreds of his church members clapped and danced

for joy as they dutifully dropped their tithes & savings

in the offering basket, hopeful that the vending

machine God would honor their selfish desires. I

could tell that a few of these people had done this

routine week after week, and grown disappointed and

doubtful, yet had no choice but to remain hopeful. A

single mother muttered under her breath, “After all,

the preacher used to be so poor a few months ago

but look at him now. The church is growing bigger

and has more branches. He’s now driving flashy cars,

wearing designer clothes, and selling thousands of

books. His messages must be true!”

I spotted a few deadened eyes in the crowd as

well. These eyes were connected to bodies that

were the least lavishly clothed in the room and ran

on completely disheartened hearts. They had been

here week after week for several months, dropping

every scrap of income they earned each week into the

offering basket, waiting for the vending machine to

produce the returns that the preacher always spoke

about…

I knew it was just a nightmare but hard as I tried,

I couldn’t wake up from it. I wanted so badly to

wake up to real life; where preachers extensively

and consistently teach Jesus’ selflessness instead

of this blatant self-interest and pursuit of material

wealth; where the concern was not to make church

buildings bigger, while the hearts of the people in the

churches remained so tiny.

But there I was – stuck in the godforsaken dream. The

church service was now over and - looking out - I saw

church members scrambling for the exit gate saying

very little to each other. I thought it such a shame

that broken people had come hoping for someone to

care about their exhausted hearts. Instead, fumes

from their cars’ exhaust pipes now filled their lungs

– their hearts still empty.

I returned my gaze inside the church building. It

appeared that some church elders were now busily

rebuking a young man for having a tattoo, and

repeatedly quoting Leviticus 19:28 “Do not cut your

bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.

I am the LORD.” The young man boldly interjected

with Leviticus 19:27 “Do not cut the hair at the sides

of your head or clip off the edges of your beard”,

pleading with them to think critically about the context

of such verses.

The elders raised their voices higher than their tall

pride, bristling at the boy’s boldness. He then stood

up sharply and left the company of these Pharisees.

He stormed out screaming, “You people are so in love

with this place, but there is no love in this place!”

never to return to the church and forever resentful

towards Christianity.

At this point, I badly wanted to wake up. I craved

to be back in real life where all Christians followed

after Jesus without knocking down anyone who was

walking differently. But I was stuck in this place

where they piously and angrily marginalised anyone

losing their way, taking a break or going a different

direction.

I couldn’t believe I was still stuck in the nightmare.

That last scene felt like it should have been the

climax that would wake me up abruptly and leave

me panting. I needed badly to see real life Christians

again; recipients of grace who desperately wanted

others to join them – not through force and legalism,

but through love (the verb). I needed to see the many

who loved me as they loved themselves, while I loved

them as I loved myself, because we understood the

humility that God’s grace came with. The Christians

outside this nightmare understood that our faith

didn’t make us better than other men, but made us

better than the men we were without it.

But see, I never woke up.

Sex

& R

elat

ions

hips

The theme for this month’s edition of DUST is ‘authenticity’.

Relating that to this section, what does it mean to be

sexually authentic? Does it mean staying true to your

sexual desires? Admitting to yourself what your sexual

orientation is? Ensuring your sexual life matches your

values (so if you’re a member of the church choir, for

example, no sleeping with the choirmaster or mistress

– naughty, naughty...)

Being authentic connotes concepts of being true to one’s

self, and sticking to one’s values and principles. In my

mind, it is a continuous, life-long process. Assuming that

seeking sexual authenticity is akin to achieving sexual

nirvana, allow me to share my thoughts on getting to

that coveted state.

Firstly, being sexually authentic means being true to you.

Yep! You can’t lie to yourself anymore (when it comes

to sex). Have you ever pretended to be having a better

time in bed than you were actually having (yes, baby...

that’s it... right there... yessss... yessss…)? Being sexually

authentic starts with forgetting all those bad habits you

may have acquired from watching ‘blue’ films or reading

‘Mills and Boon’. Being sexually authentic starts with

listening to your body, understanding what your sexual

desires are, and learning what pleases you.

Being sexually authentic starts with the self, and then -

here’s the big step - teaching your partner (or partners)

what you have figured about yourself. Now, this is no easy

step. It demands confidence, even if it is false bravado

to begin with. If it helps, all the recent surveys about

sex I have seen in women’s magazines state that men

really want to please their partners (and I’m guessing

this means that lesbians equally - if not more – want to

please their partners too), and absolutely want to hear

what turns you on, what gets your juices going, what

leads to the big O. So ladies, speak out no matter how

hard it may seem in the quest of sexual authenticity.

Speaking out doesn’t always mean using your

voice. One of my personal favourite ways is through

Blackberry Messenger (and yes, I know not everyone

has a Crackberry, so substitute BBM for text messages,

Whatsapp, emails, or good old fashioned letters). On

BBM, you can start semi-flirtatious conversations with

your partner, tell them what you enjoyed about your

last hook up, and tell them what you really want them

to do to you the next time you’re together. This has

multiple purposes. You’re giving him or her feedback,

and building anticipation/desire. Surely that can only

be a good thing?

Seeking sexual authenticity doesn’t happen in a day. You

might have to evaluate (or even re-evaluate) whether

you are being truly sexually authentic at different

stages of your relationship, like when you start a new

relationship, or when your old relationship has become

a tad too comfortable. Are you going along with stuff

‘cos you cannot be bothered? Because you don’t want

to hurt your partner’s feelings? Sexual inauthenticity

alert! Think of seeking sexual authenticity as a journey.

Occasionally you may lose your way or pull off at a rest

stop, but listen to your inner GPS and you are bound

to arrive at the right destination.

Have a safe and happy journey!

Sexual authenticity and all that B.S.

By Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

dventures from the Bedrooms of African Women

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It is impossible to have a serious conversation about highlife

- classic, jazzy highlife, that is - without Jerry Hansen’s name

coming up.

With a catalogue of over 200 songs, Ramblers International - the

highlife band that Hansen founded in 1962 and subsequently

lead - made immense contributions to both live and recorded

music in Ghana. As the resident band at Kumasi’s Star Hotel,

and as regulars at Accra’s Ambassador Hotel (now Movempick),

and numerous State functions, during and subsequent to the

Nkrumah Administration, they set a standard that many live

bands today struggle to meet.

When Hansen passed away in Korle Bu Hospital in April, Ghana

lost not only a son, but a hero who truly stood a class apart.

Mr. Hansen: DUST salutes you.

KG

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the websiteDon’t forget to check out the brand

new DUST website for the most

compelling content on Accra,

Ghana, and Africa!

www.dustaccra.com