Will Smith's "Pursuit of Happyness"

BTW, I just want you all to know that I spelled happiness as "happyness" because that is the way it is spelled for the movie. Those who saw it know why. Just wanted to say that before you people begin to say I can't spell. In any event, you are prolly wondering what this movie has to do with "all things Ghanaian." Well, the movie is essentially about determination and overcoming extraordinary odds to achieve a dream. Well, I felt like the movie spoke to many things such as father/son relationships, reponsibility, etc. I also felt that it spoke to the immigrant experience. I mean, how many of us watched as our own parents struggled against extraordinary odds to help place us in positions of success. They overcame accent/language barriers, no pali barriers (no papers), "African booty scratcher barriers (if you went to elem. to high school here you know what I am talking about)," and so much more just to make sure that their children would not have to suffer in the same manner. I mean the character exhibited unusual strength of character and commitment to his goal. He wanted a better life for himself and his son and was willing to sacrifice anything in order to achieve it. I cried and cried when he reached his goal. It felt great that his hard work finally paid off. Just as many of our parents' hard work and determination have paid off, particularly with regard to our (their children) successes.

I suggest you go and see the movie and then thank you parents/aunts or whomever was instrumental in helping you achieve your goals. Then also pat yourself on the back for staying strong and committed to your goal... even if it was because you parents had to beat you well, well or "guilt you" into being committed. LOL.

Have a great holiday.

I Go Chop Your Dollar

Ok, for those of you who watched 20/20 on 12/8/06, you are either currently laughing really hard, utterly disgusted, or both. It was insane how people gave up their life savings for things like "black money" or promises of a cut of some large fortune. If you are like me, you receive these emails periodically or maybe even more frequently. Most people simply delete them and move on, apparently some actually respond and begin plans for the transfer of their riches. Kai! Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for those who lost their life savings but really at some point they have to take stock of their own roles in these scams. They became victims as a result of their willingness to dupe whichever government or ex government official whose money they were promised. I do not in any shape or form condone what the scammers do but as my favorite saying goes, "those who don't hear must feel." Those would-be beneficiaries of the scams, or victims as they have now become, probably would not heed the advice or warning of those around them or their own insticts telling them that nothing could be this easy. Therefore they had to feel the effects. Chai!

With regard to ABC's role, I thought they were not very objective in their portrayal. For example, they called Nigeria "a sprawling, crime ridden, corrupt, disgrace of a city." Dang! Also they added a music video, which the audience was prompted to infer reflected the views/ideas of Nigerians in general. The played it throughout the segment to really enrage the viewers. I mean think about how much more it angered viewers that these people were taking their money and singing about it. In actuality, that video was made for a movie. Apparently the actor/music video lead is in "trouble" with the government for acting in the movie. Ehhhh, then Brad Pitt and all those people better be careful. Nonsense. Africans too like "yessa massa" when Americhe or Bylon is mad or feeling duped. So now they have to sanction actors for playing a role. Mbuasem times 2. All in all, this problem can be blamed on both the scammers/masters and the mugu/losers. It is unfair to lose all your money to a scammer but it is also unfair to try to get rich via illegal means. Me Done.

Here is the link for all those that were partying that night instead of watching 20/20:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPrwyZ4nDpk

Ushers...We Beg You Ohhhhhh

Ok, I have another chuch related post...
Aren't ushers supposed to smile when you enter the church?
Aren't they supposed to give you eye contact?
Are they supposed to get an attitude when you want to sit somewhere other than where they want you to sit?
Are they supposed to try to make people in church comfortable, i.e., if it's hot, are they supposed to like turn on fans to make it better?
I am not pointing any fingers oh, I just want to be clear so that I don't expect too much.

Of course there are exceptions to the behavior I have ascribed to the ushers I have come across but it should not be that way. I can literally count how many ushers at my church seem to be happy to be doing their jobs. You can count on the same people to smile at you when you enter the church. The rest...it's a toss up. It is sad cuz their reception(s) can set the tone for how one might feel about the church. If you have a half-hearted reception, it might be diffcult to turn it around for the rest of the service, particularly if you are not accustomed to that type of "welcome" or if you are a visitor. Anyway, I guess that's just the way it is. Ehhh, we Africans have our own brand of customer service but delving into that topic will take much more time than I have right now. God bless you all and make sure that next time you go to church, you look your usher in the eye and force him/her to smile.

MY Ghana Pipuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Yesterday I was talking to my this dude and we agreed that our Ghana peeps are "doing way too much" in Americhes lately. Let me explain...

Of late, we have been hearing too many negative things about some of our brothers and sisters. Actually not just in Americhes, even in Europe and other abrochire places. We are now in the news for things such as drug trafficking, killing spouses, 419 activities. OH HWO! What happened to our reputation as one of the "model immigrant" groups? Why are we becoming so "follow fashion?" Why are becoming such "feel-a-mongers?"

MI PA MU KYEW (I am begging you) stop the nonsense and let us try to regain/retain our good reputations. I mean look at a whole Sam Jonah's son arrested for illegal activities in Georgia ( http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=114234 ), look at a whole Daasebre arrested for drug trafficking http://www.ghanamusic.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=787. What about the engineer who decided that his over 100k/yr job was not enough money so he decided to work with ghetto chics to arrange fake marriages http://allafrica.com/stories/200611140632.html . He even went as far as to set up an office (everyone knows you are supposed to ask a close friend or family member for a hookup). Aboa ba.

These are just the popular stories that I have posted. There are many more. It is an embarrasment. We know we are all after the American or European dream but dang do we have to swallow drugs or engage in other illicit activities to attain this dream. My friend, find your level and stop trying to live champangne lifestyle on 40 ounce budget.

Ok, I will now step off my soapbox but for real tho it's annoying.

And so what?

Eyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, I know you people have been insulting me for not blogging in a long time. Well, I will take the typical Ghanaian/African stance that we often take when peeps insult you or point out a mistake:
"And so what, is it you that brought me to America?"
"Is it you that pays my school fees?"
"Is it by force?"
"Is it you that taught me how to start a blogging account?"
"Is it you that showed me how to type?"
"Can you beat me?"
"Am I afraid of you?"
"I know my rights ohhhh!!!"
"Is it because I am African that you think you can talk to me anyhow?"
"My friend, I will not take this your nonsense"
"My friend, find your way"
"My friend stay in your lane and let me stay in mine"
"Who born you by mistake?"
"Go a you"
"Look at your mouth like, "why haven't you been blogging!"
"My friend, in case you have not heard I have been very busy, in fact you are even lucky I have time to talk to you"

...Last but not least...Jai mi life ma mi. Mbuasem
:)

LOL...in all seriousness, I will try to be more "on the ball." Forgive me ohhhh and add your own wonderful Ghanain insults.

Dudes...

I know I have een out of commission for a while but it is America abrabo that has kept me away. Do not fret though, I am still kicking and have not lost my big mouth so I will be sure to flow this weekend. In the meantime, chew on these questions...

Why is it that some Ghana peeps have only been in this country for like 2 years and quicker to claim (in heavily accented slang AKA blowing phone) that they no longer speak the language or cannot remember anything about Ghana than those that have been here forever?

Why is it that there are so many Africans in this country yet only the Latinos participate when there is a protest about INS/green card business yet we complain about how they are taking over...it's called power in numbers people.

Why is it that only African churches do deliverance? Does that mean the rest of you churchgoers are walking with spirits that you are not aware of? Kai!!!

Why is it that African parents give you so many warnings when you go out with your friends that you spend the whole night wondering what it is that you CAN acutally do...you better not talk to such and such, you better not stay past 10, you better not behave like such as such, you better not forget which family you come from...dang it's just a birthday party.

later gatahs!

A whole you

This term is often used by our Naija breathren but we use it as well. Let me break it down...

A whole you can be used in the negative or positive sense--either to assert that you have done something that is unexpected of your station/class and that you need to reevaluate your action or that someone has done something that is not in line with them realizing who you are.

In the negative sense it might be used in an instance in which a girl dates a guy who is not necessarily perceived to be on her level. The verbal assailant might say, "ahh! so you are going to date that, that, that boy? A WHOLE YOU?!?!?!?"

In the positive sense it might be used to bolster your ego or your station/class. In the same scenario described above, the girl herself might say, "can you imagine, that, that, that, boy had the affrontery to try to date me. Me! Me! A WHOLE ME! Kai!"

I have used it when someone has spoken to me out of turn, "see his mouth, talking to A WHOLE ME anyhow. Nonsense!"

Excess

If this does not ring a bell right away, then you are officially not African so let me break it down:
Whenever we travel back home we must pack about 7 suitcases, knowing full well that the limit is 2, then we go to the airport and begin negotiations. Of course the counter agents are always steadfast in their positions and insist that if you are over by even a few ounces, you must pay excess. That is when you begin to tell your sob story about how you have not been home in 10 years and that these things must travel with you, without the charge, of course. At least only charge for every other suitcase. Oh well, I have seen this technique work once so give it a try.

Then don't forget the random people who want you to take the most interesting things back home for them. Things that are often hard to pack or bundled in such a way that your own things may have to be shifted to suitcases 9 and 10. So my brother and I calculated the cost of excess in the instances where someone gives you an entire suitcase and gives you the money for the excess charge (often $150). So for $150 dollars you get to send paracitamol (tylenol), tuna, towels, sheets, shirts, etc., oftentimes, the excess charge is worth more than the items in the suitcase but go figure.

Anyway, this is our tradition and we are sticking by it. You know people will be expecting for you to come from America and dash plenty cash and things so how can you just go with Obroni-type luggage. Some may even take your name to Babalawo or Jujuman for being overlooked in your dashing. So better to haggle with counter agents than to deal with disgruntled "relatives." So the games continue!