INDIE FUSE 2012

I was looking forward to it for 2 months, not because I had nothing else to look forward to but because it was exciting in 2011. I hate it when good things happen just once in a year, like birthdays, Indie Fuse and Independence, even though we are still dependent. Nobody should fight or argue with me over this, we are still dependent as a country. But that isn’t what I want to ‘argue’ about in this post. I want to touch on something spectacular, something original and authentic.

Indie fuse came off over the weekend (15^th December,2012) at Alliance Francaise in Accra, and it is one of the few shows, if not the only show that started on time, well not exactly on time but I mean, just some few minutes late didn’t hurt anyone. We were even late for the show and we kept on getting calls that the show was about to start. Someone, texted me that the show was starting without me and I thought all were jokes, these friends just wanted us to talk before the show like we always do. I got there with Glen aka @simpol_tinz and the first act was already on stage.  But before this the crowd enjoyed some good tunes from the funky professor himself Kobby Graham who was supported by DJ Kev. I really like Kobby’s choice of music and I think when it comes to music, we share something in common. I think. The hosts of the show were not present so someone else had to play host for the mean time.

Indie Fuse is all about artists being themselves and putting out their works on platforms in the most imaginative way possible. At Indie Fuse, you will find ‘skillful’ artists performing with a live band and this means no miming. Things that happen here are different, even the songs you hear and most of the artists, you hardly hear on radio. The industry follow a single path, it hates to discover, it hates to dig deep into the underground to find out what goes on there. All it deals with are mainstream artists and this becomes boring to me especially. I hardly listen to the radio because most of the music I hear on there are straight trash. I think I am wrong to even call that ‘music’ and they lack creativity. You will be amazed with what you will hear when you branch out of the single path that the industry rides on. There are young people who are built and are doing their thing for fans who are lucky to find them, and I am that type of guy who likes ‘digging’ to discover new artists, Indie Fuse has been one of my grounds. Indie Fuse is a music platform that promotes Ghanaian artists, both locally and abroad and connects them for projects. I connected with Kae Sun, a Ghanaian musician who is based is Canada, thanks to Indie Fuse.

I had been at a couple of rehearsals and also the sound check on that day so I knew this version of Indie Fuse was going to be awesome so there was no way I was going to miss this for anything. Finally, I was going to experience some good live music, whew!! Been to a couple of ‘mime’ shows in these last couple of months and I had been itching to free myself with a good show and Indie Fuse did the trick. So finally the show started, this group called the @sankwasbois were host and I must say that these duo are fools, they branched out of the normal ‘Chris Attoh’ way of hosting and incorporated humour, art and more humour. They did not just come on stage to just introduce the next act just like that but ‘played the fool’ and sometimes blended their introduction of the next act into their ‘fun ways’. This is one of the few times that I have seen a crowd look forward to see the hosts come on stage and even their outfits were…..hmmmm..

The first on stage was Zantou Lansre a group from Niger and from their outfits to the women who were dancing for them really took my mind to a place, the ‘desert region’. The only thing missing on stage was a camel but their songs replaced that. They took the crowd through a couple of their songs which they call the northern mojoblues funk music and you could see the faces in the crowd, they listened with rapt attention and the applause that came after their performance was awesome. Even though a majority of the crowd did not understand their lyrics they really absorbed it and this is why I believe that music is indeed a universal language.

Next was Lyrical Wanzam who also brought his own band to do a song, he also got backing from the ‘in-house’ band, Afro Harmony as well. This band is gradually etching their name in the bosom of the music industry and they are made up of young men who are in their early 20s. They have style and don’t lack creativity at all. They are diverse so serve all, no matter your type of music. Lyrical Wanzam released a mixtape a couple of months back called the AfroPolytank and it did very well. He is made songs with Manifest and I am sure he is cooking something for his fans.

Lady Jay is a soulful singer from Pidgen Music and that mean I share a common label with her. I think she was the simplest dressed artist of the night. She killed it though with her songs which came to live and how she related with the crowd was on point. Sewor, an instrumentalist from the African Relaxation Technique (A.R.T) was there to back her. I have seen her improve by the minute and I am looking forward to what her 2013 will be like.

Jojo Abot, another marvelous singer came on stage to do her thing and she introduced a violinist into her performance. I had good comments from the crowd after her performance and they were surprised that they had never heard about her or heard her music on the radio or tv. This is what Indie Fuse is all about, innit? She has an EP coming out soon and I am looking forward to that. I have seen her perform so many times and she always kills it. What I like about her is how she blends her native Ewe Language into her songs, she mostly sings in English and the ewe helps her cut across boundaries.

Before I forget, let me send a big shouts to Alliance Francaise for the good sound that they have produced over the years. Their sound is always on point and this is where I say Rest In Peace to Mr. Cephas who passed a couple of months back. He was the sound engineer and the person who has taken over is also doing a wonderful job. Mantse was keen on sound during sound-check and I think the finished product was crystal-clear, every instrument was on the right level. Correct nsenku!!! The lighting too was in sync and I love the various colours that clad the stage.

Paapa who is a Jesus Freak and from the Skillions Records had his chance on stage. He is a one-man band with his keyboard and loop station and the melodies that he creates on these equipment are awesome. Jayso introduced him after the Sankwas Bois has (please note why I am using ‘has’ all you English teachers) introduced him and the crowd kept on chanting ‘ice water’ which is a single he released a couple of months ago. Paapa stammers, I met him in 2006 and I am amazed with how he has improved with both his speech and art form. He is very good on the keyboard and I know he has a whole lot up his sleeve for 2013.

If you have seen them perform before, you know how the crowd goes berserk when they perform their single I Dey Feel You Die. Its an AfroRock Band here in Ghana and we all know them as Faint Medal. I am yet to find out the meaning on their name, will leave that for another time. They didn’t perform their hit song this time, but they did perform some wicked songs which I know will catch on pretty soon. Their lyricist, Syn, is very smooth on the mic and Kyekyeku is very agile on the guitar. This time, they brought a young man who did the whole rapping thing on their sound and you should see the energy of the crowd as this man laid his verses. Even though the crowd was expecting I Dey Feel You Die ft Yaa Pono they were satisfied with the show Faint Medal Band put up and I know that those songs will catch on soon.

Yaa Pono was present and also had his time on stage. This young man is always fire when he is on stage and always, and I repeat always gets the crowd on their feet. He is from  Pidgen Music  and I think he has performed on all the previous Indie Fuse Shows. I was mostly back stage when he was performing and I could hear the ‘roars’ from the crowd, it was deafening. I remember his show from last year’s Indie Fuse, I remember like it was yesterday and the little that I saw with this one…….saved!!

Alliance Francaise was filled to capacity, people couldn’t find seats, the aura was bliss and the whole place was made up of people who loved the arts, people who wanted to see authentic artists, people who wanted to watch live performances from artist that they hardly see or hear but know how awesome they are. Everybody who came knew they were paying 10ghc to watch something that will live with them and they were not failed at all. I have read reviews about the show and I have not read anything negative from any of the websites or blogs. I can say this is the most successful show this year and I am already looking forward to next year’s. Yes, already. I have been saying that Indie Fuse should be held twice in a year instead of the current once a year. People can’t wait for that long, when something is that good. I am not looking forward to any other shows this holidays because I know that all I will see is mediocre and nothing but miming.

There were 2 headliners and the first to come on stage was Tawiah, a Ghanaian who is based in the UK and has made a name for herself all over. She has done back up singing for Amy Winehouse and Corinne Bailey Rae. She has worked with Cee-Lo, Mark Ronson, Wale and GhostPoet. He performed with the Afro Harmony Band and also performed with her loop station and Guitar as well. Tawiah has performed on numerous stages including the Glastonbury Festival and I saw her back in 2008 perform at the Bless Da Mic Christmas edition. The crowd loved her, I remember a friend of mine come to me like, ‘cha, that girl be serious oo!!’. Yes she was very serious on stage and just look her up on google/youtube and feel her small wai? I really hope she has other shows in Ghana this December before she leaves for the UK.

I would like to commend ACCRA [dot] ALT who are the producers of Indie Fuse and also all those who came on board to support this good course especially the Institut Francais, Alliance Francaise, The Republic Bar and Grill, REDD KATT, Dust Magazine, Fullish Art, Pidgen Music, Skillions Records, Nandimobile, Goba Hub, Smoothy’s Café and Global Outdoor Systems. They made Indie Fuse 2012 possible and I hope that come 2013, more companies will come on board so we have a better show.

The second headliner was a group called the Fokn Bois…hmmm.. need I say more? I know that most of you are aware of this fokn group and their ways already. I am sure that you know how they get creative on stage and also involve the crowd in the performances, and I am also sure that you are aware of the depth in their lyrics. This duo, made up of Wanlov and M3NSA performed some songs on their latest Fokn Wit Ewe album and from their solo albums. They performed all the songs with the Afro Harmony Band and they were also joined by Ryan Ansah, who is good with the guitar. A section of the crowd had to give up their seats and come to the front of the stage to work their feet to songs like Adjuma, African Gypsy and Gimmie Pinch. I remember how the crowd laughed and giggled to the lyrics of Sextra Terrestrial Sex. Joking about how semen would float in space and how comets are really the semen of aliens etc. The fokn bois really live up to their name and it was good to see them together once again on a local stage after touring several countries in Europe during 2012.

This post is so long so I need to just end here before most of you stop reading. I am sure by now some stopped reading somewhere in-between, too bad. But Indie Fuse 2012 was so successful and like I said, I cant wait for the next one. There was also a mini show at the Republic Bar on Friday 14^th December and that too went well even though I had to leave early because I was so tired. Anyway, the hosts of the show were really myself and @simpol_tinz and we make up the Sankwas Bois.

Kudos to Mantse and Sionne of Accra[dot]Alt and also to Gyedu Blay Ambolley for that small talk during the show.

''Bed-Wetting''

I eat and drink everything during the day without thinking. I drink a whole lot, and I am not talking about liquor, please. I know how you people think. Always waiting to hear something like this then you start judging. I drink lots of water during the day and that forces me to pee every now and then. Thank God I have a very good bladder and I do well to control it………….sometimes.

Last night, I ate quiet late, which is not good for me because quiet recently, I always wake up with a full belly when I eat late the previous night. And if care is not taken, I will get a potbelly in no time, it is coming but I am doing well to control it. I have been doing sit-ups and all form of exercises recently and I have started playing basketball after about a 6-year break. I am writing this post with a very full belly even though I haven’t eaten this morning. Food in there was from last night and I regret I ate that late

One thing that happens to me when I eat late is, I have all sort of weird dreams at night and this started at a very tender age. My mother said it is normal because it sometimes happened to her and I have had a couple of friends tell me the same but I don’t understand, where is the link? Where is the link between ‘satisfaction’ and weird dreams? Sometimes they are nightmares and those are the ones I really hate. I had a weird dream last week, and in the dream, I was in a coke bottle, someone had trapped me in a coke bottle and I was trying to get out. Some friends gathered around and they were yelling ‘Genie,Genie,Genie!!!’. I still don’t understand why I had such a dream but like I have said earlier, I have weird dreams or nightmares when I eat late.

Very often, I usually have this dream when I see myself peeing , and this is a very tricky type of dream because I have on a couple of times wet my bed because of that type of dream. I nearly wet my bed last night, a tone from my phone woke me up right on time, I would have done it. I got home last night and I was already asleep so I just jump straight to bed even though I knew I had to pee. Sometimes, I can’t be bothered with matters related to my bladder because I think I have a good bladder and I do well to control it. If I had wet my bed last night, I would have been able to do nothing, apart from drying my mattress In the sun and my tenant would be wondering what’s up. I mean, I dry it once in a while but you know how your brain works when you do something bad or wrong. And the pee-pee marks/stain would have been on the mattress and they would have seen.

I was still wetting my bed in primary school, I think in JSS I was still doing it but it wasn’t frequent. My mom would let me eat early evening because she knew I would wet my bed when I ate late, even with that, I still did it. I gave her and my grandma a tough time because they would have to wake me up every now and then to make me pee, the least mistake, I would wet that bed. My mom did all she could to make me stop, I remember she took me ‘somewhere’ when I was in Grade 4 to seek help and the doctor said I was still young and it was normal but she wouldn’t understand since my 2 other siblings were not doing it. Well, they were but it was only when something really really went wrong. Sometimes, my mom would threaten me that she would bring my mattress to my school, St. Martin de Porres for my mates to boo at me and that was really frightening. She did all she could but I never really stopped, I think I stopped completely right before I entered Secondary School and no matter when I ate, I would wake up to pee at night. I wonder why I couldn’t just do this in those days.

Is bed-wetting a disability of some sort? I know some people my age still wet their beds and in Accra Academy I knew a couple of students who were wetting their beds constantly. It was so sad and those people were the most quiet in the school because a small mistake and we would start teasing them. My mom always called me ‘gyinsokrobo’ or ‘shamɔlɔ’ which means a ‘bed-wetter’ in twi and ga respectively and I got so angry when she called me that but sadly, it was true.

Who I Voted For!!

It is a new week and finally,my ears can rest after months of debates and arguments on radio,TV and social media. I got entangled in a couple of them on twitter myself and it so good to know that social media is helping us put words across and also know how people think and attack issues relating to politics. I have heard radio and TV stations read and communicate with listeners/viewers via Facebook and Twitter and all i can say is 'kudos. And to all those who still haven't seen the light, i pray that you walk that path soon.

May Atta Mills rest in peace, he was a good man and i want his good light to shine through our new president-elect, John Dramani Mahama. It was a keenly contested race and i will also like to commend Nana Akuffo Addo for a good fight. Even though this looks like the end of him to me, i know that his works will be etched deep in the annal of this country's political history. Indeed, he has done a lot for this beautiful country of ours.

I am a citizen of this country and i voted,that is a right that i can't throw away. When people ask me who i voted for, i hesitate a little since i am not comfortable saying, for what reason, i don't know. I don't know why people don't want to say who they voted for, i have heard a couple of reasons and i will say that all the reasons i have heard so far are stupid. I am yet to hear something more sensible. Anytime i am asked who i voted for, i ask the person why they want to know then after hearing them, i just say, i don't know. i wonder why i do this, why i can't say who i voted for. 

My late mother was very political, she was a serious member of the National Convention Party (Kow  Nkensen Arkaah) and later became a National Democratic Congress member. In those days, i saw prominent people who were in politics walk in and out of my house and she also took me to so many political activities, the best was the numerous 6th March parade at the Independence Square and i say it is the best because we always sat at the VIP Section which was always very close to where JJ Rawlings was. That man became a god to me after i shook his hand.

Ghana politics has really come a long way, i won't say its the best but we are doing really well, especially when its that time again for vote. People always talk about how they are scared that something will happen but little did they know that we are peace loving peeps who are also aware that we have nowhere to go when there is mayhem. This elections saw some disturbance but that was it, no lives were lost or nobody was hurt. Some unlucky people who tried to snatch ballot boxes were lynched though and i think they deserved it. I mean what do you do with the ballot box? I just don't get it.

I started voting in 2000, and the process is fun, i remember the first time i was going to vote with some of my childhood friends, we felt like we were part of a process, like we were adults and had a say in the affairs of this nation. Since then, i have not missed an election, i sometimes ensure that the indelible ink on my left 'pinky' is so visible so people coming from a distance can see. I know that by now, you are thinking, 'what party does Mutombo vote for?' Well that is a question that i will answer soon and i hope that everybody reads this post so they know where i belong. I am just tried of swerving your question, it is such a 'chore'.

i have been voting for the NDC since 2000 and i voted for them a couple of days back. I have so many reasons why i have voted fro the NDC, yes, because of their policies and all. I don't want to get into that but the topmost reason why i vote the NDC is because of my mom. Maybe one day, i will vote for the NPP or some other party if i realise that they have something positive for the country and its citizens. I hope that the new president-elect, John Mahama doesn't fail Ghanaians because 4 years is just around the corner and Ghanaians are not fools. I wish the best for him and his cabinet and may he go for it.

'….so let's choose that man with a ton of sense, see how my clothes got ripped when i sat on the fence. No matter what you do you can't refuse to choose, and even if you don't, you will still be governed by the same man you accuse…….so let's choose wisely…'-taken from a poem of mine

NDC 3y3 ZU,3y3 ZA!!

December 7

I don't even know how to start, i have forsaken thee. I hope non of you forgot about me. Jesus has been gone for how many centuries now, but you still remember Him, right? I have not posted anything on my blog for just a couple of weeks, just a couple of weeks, why would you ditch me? Come on, son!!

I have so much to tell you guys and you know that when one has a lot of important things to say, they end up saying nothing at all. I would love it if you stopped reading now because i am not going to say anything relevant. My life has been awesome since i left you guys, we'll not so awesome but since i still have life, i should be thankful, innit? December 7 is just around the corner and we will be going to the polls to 'pick' a president who is going to govern us for another 4 years. Town has been so busy lately, and i won't hesitate to mention the noise pollution from campaign  vehicles that carry huge megaphones on their roofs and chirp out distorted party chants and music. After they come to power, they will warn us about noise pollution and how one can be jailed for that. These people, i don't trust them at all.

Anyway, this is the time that the politicians become friends with the average man, all because of votes and the average man does not slack at all during these times, they will 'salvage' all that they can get from the politician because he knows the next time he will come around again is when it is time to vote. But this year's campaigning has been fun, for even me because i am that type who will never watch a Presidential Debate. For what?? Tell me, why should i? What they say never comes to pass, they come to power and forget about all the promises and even hurl down their manifestos from skyscrapers and i am tired of hoping, charley!! I am simply tired so i am just living. But i watched this year's presidential campaign, all the 2 and to be very honest, i did  enjoy every bit of it. Not because of the promises NPP or NDC made but because of the presidential candidate for PNC, Hassan Ayariga. This man is awesome, i must confess and i doff my hat to the people who are behind his selection. He is the best thing ever when it comes to Ghana's Politics and i am sure his name will be on the lips of many Ghanaians for years to come.

I really want Ayariga to win this election but you know how the Ghanaian voter votes, NPP and NDC has taken control of our whole mindset and its annoying. You have a good man like Ayariga, why don't you vote for him. Think about his policies and plans, all the good things he has for the country. Why don't you want to vote for him? I won't even go through some of his terms and speeches because……nah…..Malcolm X and Martin Luther King should still be quoted, charley. It has been fun. We should also do well to blame the media for any mishap, i was forced to listen to local radio for a couple of days and what goes on there is really disgusting, very. We have a long way to go and i hope we get there real soon because i won't allow my kids to listen to those junk on radio and tv. Anytime you hear something about the ELECTIONS you are bound to hear 'PEACE' or 'WAR' and i don't know why we have to juxtapose these, i have no clue why.

Anyway, 13 years ago, my mum died and it was on the 7th of December so as i join the queue to vote, deep inside, i will be thinking about such a beautiful soul. My Friend and Mother. VIM

The Campaign(Spoken Word).1st Performance at Hiphop Nation

My Interview With A Failed Comedian But Good Poet

Elections

Charley, what’s going on? I have more vim for this side and I hope everybody reading this has vim too. Let us have a vimious week and rest of the year. Talking about the rest of the year, I guess or hope you know we are in October now and in a couple of week, we will be going to the polls to choose a president. Are you aware of this or you have been sleeping? Wake up oo, I beg for we are all involved, if you like it or not. On the 7^th day of December, 2012, we are going to choose a president. Oh!!I just remembered Atta Mills, so our president really died? No, I still don’t believe this. Anyway, he is dead and gone and I know he is resting in peace. He was a good man, yes he was indeed.

Enough of the death talks, now back to business, a friend of mine told me there are about 23 political parties in Ghana, I don’t know if it’s true or not because that girl tells me all sort of lies all the time so someone please confirm this. Let us be frank with each other, even though it is alleged that we have all of these political parties, only 2 are relevant for now and they are the NPP and the NDC. I didn’t know which political party to mention first and please don’t start drawing conclusions already. I tossed a coin and NPP won so I needed to mention them first. Sometimes doing these things can be work, one least mistake and someone sitting somewhere will start talking.. Yes I tossed a coin in order to know who I should mention first. Are you trying to tell me PPP will win this election or PNC is going to come out victorious? We know that this is impossible, at least not this year’s elections. The race is between NPP and NDC, I won’t even beat about the bush to make this post long.

I don’t even know why I am talking too much. My main reason for this post is a little bit worthless, to you, but I like thinking about minor stuff, stuff that someone will see as irrelevant, that is what I take at heart. Why am I not seeing or feeling the whole campaign fever? Less than 2 months to elections and I am seeing nothing. I am not saying nothing is going on at all but let us compare this year’s to the others and tell me if this year’s isn’t dull. In the past, even when I wasn’t eligible to vote, these politicians will come around and give us party paraphernalia (t shirts, key chains, hats, colourful posters etc) and we would ‘shee jama’ all day long following them around. Even in my small community, they held rallies and went from door to door begging for votes. Their cars with PA systems made noise on the streets and I remember how those decibels worried my ear-drums. Its silent now, nothing is going on. I don’t see people wear political party t shirts much and I don’t hear anything. Is it because the people are fed-up or I am not paying attention? No, I have kept these ears to the streets and charle, I am seeing or hearing nothing.

Anyway, it is still coming on and I hope the people choose wisely. Do you think Atta Mills’ death will play a role in this election? Would people have sympathy for the NDC and go like, ‘because Atta is dead, let me console Mahama with this my 1 vote’? I know how the Ghanaian voter thinks, they can be funny sometimes and you will be shock with the reasons they will give if you ask them why they voted for a certain political party. As the date draws nearly, I would want us to remember that, we should do this in peace, once again we should show the world that we can do this. Let us be a blazing example to all those countries who were not able to do theirs peacefully. We are one people, we shouldn’t let any politician cause us to fight amongst ourselves. Remember, they will leave us here and we will be left to suffer.

Ah yes!! Now I know why the campaign is dull this time, Wayome took all the money away.

Uncle Obama

Errm, this is just a quick one, I won’t talk plenty with this post. I guess you have all seen the Uncle Obama video by Sister Durbee. Yes you should because it was premiered last Friday at the Silver Lounge. Ah, it’s true, I was even the emcee that nice and it was fun. Don’t argue with me when I put info on my own blog. Why, did you create it for me? I beg, I beg.

If you have not watched it, I will add it to this post, maybe you have already seen it at the top, if not, then check the ‘below’. I was in that video too, I was/am Uncle Obama and as for my boogies, nobody should challenge. I remember when Deborah called on me that she wanted me to be the Uncle Obama in her video, I didn’t hesitate at all because I love that song and also for some other reason. I won’t tell you!!! Kokonsafuor!! Okay, let me be nice this time and tell you. The other reason was because, I wanted a free shirt from London. Yes, the t shirt I wore in the video was shipped from the UK by Deborah to be used in the video. She gave it to me like a month before the video, when the video was ready to be shot, the shirt had discoloured and was stretched. I wear am saaaa!!!

 

Anyway, the making of the video was fun, especially the market scene and I am very glad to be a part of Deborah’s first official video. I hope more will follow but I also dey wonder, will she be willing to perform when she is invited? I think she should because the ‘dance formation’(trying to spell chorography) and everything is on point. Imagine Sister Durbee on stage paa….

The Video Release Party was at the Silver Lounge on the 28^th of September and it was fun, you know that when I am the emcee…..world up!! People came not just to see the video but to see this handsome man do his dance(I shaa papa). There was ‘finger food’(I still don’t know why they call it finger food) which people were fingering like they were foreplaying before the real food, there were lots of drinks and come see the way @simpol_tinz was drinking, a teetotal like me tasted alcohol so just imagine. Deborah displayed her Bananazonto with her girls and did a few lines. The only people lost on the night were the foknbois but I know they were with us in spirit. DJ Just Ice did justice to the music and a big echo to Luu Vision.

If you ask me, I love the video, it’s a fun/jolly video and I can’t wait for it to start showing on TV. Check the video out!! 

1st Single off my PHOTOSENTENCES ALBUM

SWEET MEMORIES

DOWNLOAD TRACK HERE

Man never knows what tomorrow brings because its opaque,

but the brain can always cut through the transparent past and tap those nostalgic memories to wake.

Imagery of childhood renovates brain so it looks like a gallery,

portraits and abstract but one mosaic depicts the crucifixion on calvary.

This is when he really died because everything was bliss,

an eye for an eye was then an eye for a kiss.

This is in remembrance of childhood like its dead and gone but this past still lives on,

like greats whose works and name have been caligraphed on life’s papyrus.

We children who were vagrants like my pappy was,

the only difference was that we had better dreams because we came home to sleep the night away.

Fly away kites made of paper and broomsticks with strong threads to give them skyscraper heights with floors of about ninety six,

experts in building these flying creatures so when it broke we could always fix.

The dreams we had then for today were that tall,

midget physique, so when we looked up, we went dizzy and we did fall.

Parents with whips were like robots, they swung it with an even interval,

so we all had cain stripes like zebras in the wild.

The rod was never spared if things were not done properly,

but stones and caution were thrown to the wind because we were God’s property.

police and thief was a brand new hide and seek,

and because each group wanted to win we adopted a war-like technique.

Dummy weapons were aimed opponent with an accuracy

because our elbows had grease but none of my peers were Greeks.

Life if those days was a portrait we all had smiles like Mona Lisa,

I was a local kid so I knew what was kontomire and pona didn’t know what was pizza.

Fanta and Coke were not common to us, they only came through on special occasions,

easter and Christmas conjured more eggs so there was a celebration.

HOOK

Life in those days was bliss

All those memories that I still do miss…….4X

Rains that the clouds puked dropped on the soft earth with dignity,

we enjoyed games in the mud because there was key soap and elders

greeted each other, you could feel the serenity.

The football we played needed no stadiums like the Bundesliga,

we were both players and referees back then we didn’t know what was FIFA.

Presence of a socks ball or case 5 made the moment just right to play small poles or 4 corners,

It was with our barefeet because we had no trainers.

Shins were hardened like craniums,

and we worked ourselves up during the day so at night we slept like we had several pills of Valium.

Nana Osei was daddy and Abena Serwaa was mummy in playhouse,

and the game for miniature parents then was, you remove my shirt and I take off your blouse.

My street is dead now, way back it was filled with hawkers,

every junction was occupied by noisy petty sellers

and if I knew this type of horn then, I would have called them vuvuzelas.

I used to catch tadpoles in big gutters

and trapped grasshoppers in poki rubbers because at home it was just a dog

so I wasn’t content.

You should see how my mom hopped back when she checked the content.

The alikoto that we played had more spin than the potters wheel,

we went on top of hills so our tyres could glide and those sticks were our steering wheel.

If I can meet the past once again in my future once again I’ll beg her to take me back into time,

so I can knock my friends on their heads when they forget to say no zanzama,

play chaskele or dicos with Mick and Mahama and mock 6 year olds when they lose a tooth.

Memories that I never want to forget and I will do it over and over and over again with no regrets.

HOOK

Life in those days was bliss

All those memories that I still do miss…….4X