It’s only the middle of the month, but November has proven quite challenging for the images of Black women in popular culture and the media. By “challenging”, I mean we’ve taken a full on public flogging, having our chastity, intelligence, desirability and humanity come into question. The assault – which previously would only come twice […]
I was supposed to go to Morning Star School, but I didn’t get gain admittance. I can’t remember if the fees were too high or I bombed the entrance exam or if they just didn’t have room for one more student… I just remember the sense of relief I had when we walked away from […]
Like a bedraggled feral feline presenting a mangled carcass to a would-be master, Twitter will sometimes drops thing on my timeline and looks at me expectedly after I’ve perused its contents. This week, the little blue bird brought me this: *Vulgarity alert for all my religious readers!* [youtube=http://youtu.be/E0CazRHB0so] Now that you’ve been “offended” (or not) […]
There is a well called Stupidity in Ghana. It runs ever deep. Our politicians, civil servants and officials – elected and otherwise – draw from its depths daily. I, like most of you, have never visited this well, because I’ve never had the means or need to. One must be oiled with copious amounts of […]
You don’t know who this is, do you? I’m talking to you, my non-Ghanaian readers. This lovely (and boobie-licious) young lady is Victoria Hammah (former, as of this morning) Deputy Minister of Communications in the West African nation of Ghana. In the last 36 hours, Miss Hammah has been embroiled in a scandal resulting from […]
I don’t own any “church clothes”. This point will become relevant shortly. It’s been two years since I attended church regularly, which is almost a sin because my husband is a deacon. My work schedule (which I confess I chose) had me in-store during the hours of service. I changed my schedule a little over […]
I woke up on Sunday morning with a start. I had had the most bizarre dream and my heart was pounding wildly. With my head throbbing and throat aching, I tried to recollect the details of my dream as my eyes adjusted to the pre-dawn light. Ah. I had it. I had dreamt about a […]
“You can’t handle the truth!!!” It would appear that this was the case on the Bethenny Show, a program on TV that I wasn’t even aware existed until 2 days ago. I am familiar with Bethenny Frankel who is a product of one of The Real Housewives franchises. I never cared much for her persona […]
Ever since our kids have matured enough to grasp the concept of the holidays and the roles required of all the characters therein, we’ve had a hard time contending with the subject of Halloween. By “we”, I really mean “me”, because my husband doesn’t have difficulty dealing with the subject at all. As a devout […]
I was catching up on the Colbert Report this weekend. I like to watch the entire week of the show in one go on Hulu. This Thursday Stephen Fry was Stephen Colbert’s guest. The two have a mutual admiration and affinity for each other, which is always a pleasure to watch. Cable TV is generally […]
Warning: This is a rant, not a political analysis. You’ve been warned. Sometimes, a person – or in this case a group of people – can say something so mind-numbingly idiotic that is takes one’s breath away and chills the brain. What? You’ve never had one of those moments? Prepare yourself. When Mr. Rashid Pelpuo […]
A new guy named Ethan* started at my job a few months ago. Ethan is nothing short of a curiosity. I’ve never met anyone like him. You see, Ethan is a bi-racial redneck. He has this gawd awful Southern twang that makes my ears burn, and his mannerisms comprise of tics I have only witnessed […]
Dear (and I use the term loosely) Yvonne, I was going to title this “Open Letter to Yvonne Okoro”, but with the spate of celebrity open letters clogging the interwebs these days, I decided against it. Besides, nothing gets another African woman’s attention like a sharp “herh!!” thrown in her direction. I am not writing […]
As many parents do, I observe my children and reflect on my own childhood. Did I once really eat my own feces? Was I EVER that creative? Were my own parents as incensed as I am when my kids lie to me? The answers to all these things are “yes, of course”. Some things in […]
*I’m writing this knowing that portions of this post are going to irk some of my conservative and liberal readers alike. The moderates might not be so mad at me. By “moderates”, I mean only one person: A-Dub, my sister. I was recently interviewed by the Ndeye, the curator of Under the Neem Tree […]
One of my favorite things about blogging has been that is has given me the opportunity to meet some really wonderful people. Most of the relationships formed through the blog are digitized, of course, but every once in a while, at the confluence of magic and determination, my readers and/or fellow bloggers get a chance […]
People laugh at me because I have crushes on local Ghanaian artists and entertainers. Like they are not good enough to be groupie-fied and – potentially – groped. To that I say: “Whatever!” My father is a full blooded Larteh man and still catches the eye of young ladies all over the streets of Accra. […]
Condi Rice is back in the news. It appears she has been tapped to join a 12-18 person selection committee for the BCS. Pat Dye, 70-something year old former Auburn University coach, couldn’t be more explicit his displeasure. Of Ms. Rice’s experience he says “All she knows about football is what somebody told her. Or […]
Shyous. It’s the only word that aptly describes President Mahama’s digitally captured image in front of the towering CNN letters at the doors of the media giant’s headquarters in Atlanta: Shyous. You’ll have to forgive me Random Readers and my regular M.O.M. Squad who are not Ghanaian. This may same like a non-issue to you, […]
I have come to the conclusion that Robin Thicke is a Kumasiano Borga. How can I put this in general terms for my non-Ghanaian readers to understand? Hmmm… I’ve got it. You know that guy – that ONE African – swathed in acid washed jeans, neck heavy and blistering with an overabundance of gold chains, […]
Labone, 1989 “Do you want to go to Prince’s house?” My breath caught in my throat on that crisp, rainy season day. I felt my eyes involuntarily fly open and morph into a pair brown half-dollars. “Oh yes! Please! Can we go now?” “Yes. Ask your Mummy of we can go for a walk, […]