As i was watching that Nollywood film staring Genevieve Nnaji this morning, I realised how much i miss Ghana and my mum who works and lives there. I miss the humidity that hangs about the air stinging your lungs making it hard for you to breathe. I miss the heat that makes you sweat bucket-fulls and the yoghurt ice-cream, FanYogo, bearing their very own Michael Essien on the wrappers and the numerous street vendors take pride in the fast moving product which magically manages to remain ice cold offering such a refreshing break from the heat (for five minutes but it's worth it). I miss the way the people twist and curl their tongues, grinding their teeth and reaching far down their throats to speak so beautifully, so honestly, making you feel like you've been captured by TV gods and are living out a Nollywood dream.
I miss the long walks to Accra Mall to buy a 1 cidi packet of candy or clothes and jewelry at Mr. Price. I miss the times I would sneak into polo games because the
Campo de Polo belongs to my mother's landlord. I miss the 8PM swims in sun-warmed water, the warm rain, the Ghana staple Jollof rice and chicken/fish take-out, lunches and dinners from Auntie Esther's restaurant (a posh place not justifiably brought out by the name but their fish is exquisite) near the apartment or Shoprite foods at Accra Mall and the endless afternoons spent shopping at Accra's CBD (Central Business District).
I miss the amazing Sunday services spent sweating it out under an overhead fan at ICGC at Pastor Mensa Otabil's church with our driver Tony, a man of few words, (whose gifted vespa I have to ride) and my mother's general factotum, Kobe, a chatterbox whose resilience and life story motivate me to chase after my dreams. I miss the salon banter amongst the women as they swiftly multi-task between plaiting hair, preparing food in the open behind the back door of their premises with the smell of Fufu and fish (God I love their fish) wafting in the air. I miss it all so much!
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| ICGC church |
I want to go back. In fact, i intend to stay there a while; longer than i tend to when i visit. I'll be done with college in May and I'm not so sure they'll let me graduate next year. So if all goes well, as soon as i'm done with my last paper, I'll hop on a jet plane and stay a while with my good old
celebrity mum. I've never really taken it all in. You know,to the point where i feel hurt to leave Accra and all it's splendour behind.
This time, I'll stay there for half a year, just enough time to feel like i belong there. You know, long enough to be able to have a regular
Mama mboga whom i know by name, a market seller that gives me discounts for the clothes and jewelry he sells, and a few tailor made clothes from Liyana our half cast tailor.
I'll get a job. Maybe in the telecommunication industry or at a doctor's office or as one of the major corporate's receptionist. This way, i'll get to meet and speak with many people and possibly make friends that may last a lifetime. I have a feeling my mum challenge me to get a PR job in one of the companies. I might, but only after i do things my way for two or so months.
And when i come back, i hope that i'll see how accomodative i learnt to be by spending time with people from all walks of life cutting between social classes. I hope to bring back a hint of a Ghanaian sound in my tongue, one that can tell their stories with a fresh pair of eyes. I hope to have learnt to be open to new things and experiences, like eating their famous snails, taking a
trotro (Ghanaian matatu) to work, singing with a band at a hotel while at dinner (this one i've done before but I have to do again) or going camping. I've never gone camping but that's a story for another day. I hope to bring back with me a heart that was empty of love now overflowing with a readiness to share myself with both new and old friends and loved ones. I hope to come back ready to dip my toes into the murky waters of love once again. Maybe i get hurt, maybe i don't. I just simply want to learn to love and do things without the fear of failure.
That's what my impending and unplanned trip to Ghana next year means to me and I owe it all to Nollywood. And you know what? I can't wait!
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