Take your time on this

Best friends become that for tiny things they don't even realise. My best friend always knows how to make me rethink life and decisions.

Anyway she shared this with me and I think it'd be good for you all to take time off and read it. never know it might inspire you for greatness ( because you all have inbuilt greatness)

XxX
Kui


...a great reminder when you don't feel like going on....it's by Ishmael Osekre...wonderful wonderful wonderful poet. enjoy!


Once upon a 2:30am

Its 2:30am, sun and moon have exchanged places in the skies, but I am still in the library; writing a paper I do not have to present tomorrow. Sleep has embraced the world around me in a city that doesn't sleep but, my eyes refuse to close and my mind insists on staying awake. Ideas are running through my mind at a pace faster than my fingers can move to write. It is not the first time and it doesn't feel like it will be the last.

I stop to ask myself why I am up at 2:30am in the morning, writing a paper I do not have to present tomorrow. I try to find reasons why I am up at this time of the night, but I find none. I think of my bed and I remember it is comfortable. I think of the air conditioner and I find nothing wrong with it. I think of coffee but I have not drunk coffee. I think of my room mate but he is quietly asleep.

I spend the rest of the time between my thoughts and my paper, like the pendulum swings, trying to make an argument on my writing paper at the same time, hoping to find answers to what is making me stronger than myself.

While writing on my paper about roots and wings; about why if my roots do not teach me, my wings will never know and why I amongst other things, I can never forget my roots and wings that have brought me here, I feel my words gain momentum and my sentences illuminate with color. In worlds of thoughts, amidst shapes and forms of imagery, I discover "it".

I discover why I am up at 2:30am in the morning, writing a paper I do not have to present tomorrow. I discover why sleep has embraced the world around me in a city that doesn't sleep but my eyes refuse to close. In an instance, in fractions of seconds I discover at the table I sit to write my paper that, I represent more than myself. I discover at the only illuminated table of the night in the library that, I represent the countless number of people who have added to roots that hold me in the rocks whose inspiration have given me wings to fly.

I represent those values which informed me that, "hard work breaks no bones," when I was growing up in Kokomlemle in Accra. I represent the advice to be better, the motivation to be stronger, the caution of knocks, and the ancestral proverbial wisdom that was imparted whether I was ready or not. I represent those I did business with on the streets in Accra when I carried cold water in plastic bags. It was a short experience, but an always to be remembered enterprise.

I represent my junior secondary school teacher Mr. Nyaonu, whose name I will not always remember but whose advice I will not forget. He took me outside the classroom one fine day and told me, "When people are meant to be exceptional, sometimes, their qualities are detected when they are young'' and he said, "You will be an exceptional one in the future."

I represent the young men of Kokomlemle who I grew up with. I represent those young men I left behind at home, who I helped to do homework and took inspiration from me and those adults whose words of advice were most crucial when I needed to be talked to as a child; they confirm the African saying that, "It takes a village to raise a child."

Its 2:30am, sun and moon have exchanged places in the skies, but I am still in the library; writing a paper I do not have to present tomorrow. The hunger that has kept me up will not cease; the hunger that I feel will not be satiated by food and water. As I write my paper, I am reminded that, I represent more than myself. I represent women who trade their property for their children to receive an education they did not have: my mother. I represent "Rabbi" the priest who refused to sack me home for fees and allowed me to go through high school for those debt stacked final years uninterrupted until my fees were paid later. He gave me the chance.

I represent Ms. C.S. Acheampong who must always be mentioned in the hall of fame of teachers/mothers who gave their students the best mentoring at the high school level. She took my first poems and essays and helped me find legs for words to walk on.

I represent Kojo Oppong Adjei, the radio DJ/programme director of Sunny fm in Ghana who discovered me at the University of Ghana, Legon, he negotiated an air time and a salary for me to have my first media experience on radio without prior training or expertise and insisted I went to school to gain tertiary education because he saw a lot more in me than I saw in myself. Kojo believed in me.

As I sit at this table to write, I represent Demay Ackah -Yensu the lady who spotted me at the British Council and made me a weekly guest amongst other guests she hosted on the book review segment on Metro TV in Accra. I will not forget her last words to me that, "I am a gem" before I left home for the US.

I represent Mr. Tom Pigmann who told me during my first month in the US that, "Osekre, I know your spirit will grow to fill up the places of New York." A motivation which drove me to successfully audition at the Apollo theatre, to get a spot on a community based station on Wall Street and to successfully host a poetry event at the Bowery poetry club in New York.
I represent those generations unborn whose lives will meet mine and whose ability to see further will depend on the shoulders that support my arm. I must not disappoint them. I represent the many more whose stories I can't tell but will never forget.

Sweet inspiration has embraced me on this quiet night of sweet encounters. I feel wisdom cooks the pots and inspiration feeds my thoughts and imagination spreads itself through my faculties. At one point I am contemplating truth, at the other, I am imbibing it. At one point I am taking leaps, at the other, I am making flights with invisible wings.

It is the year 2005, and I am at the threshold of a remarkable educational experience. An experience that has its challenges and its glories both of which I am willing to embrace.

Rejoinder: Random RandomThoughts

The random thoughts expressed evoked this rejoinder:

why havent I moved out of this shoebox?
he he he! you must be (i) broke, (ii) not anxious to leave the pretty maiden next door, or (iii) moving out's just too much work for you!

What is my purpose here?
hmmnn. Prov. 15:22: Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established! Give it more thought and more prayer- na utatambua!

Can I make a difference?
Differences are often made in small bits and many times the best deeds will go unnoticed or complemented. Then again, we wouldn't want our heads to grow with each positive impact that we have on this world or members thereof.

Who is my friend?
At this point i wonder if the questions were rhetoric! (but i nonetheless continue- this is more interesting than the piles of files on my desk!) Anyway... "Trust ye not in a neighbor; put ye not confidence in a friend; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoreth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me." (the highlighted part gave me a brief laugh!)

Why does money mean so much? so little?
To me, it means more than it ought to (more than i want it to). This adrenaline rushes on pay day halafu the mightly slump that ensues after the budget is drawn ! ... 'but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal' (Matt 6:20)

What would my sister look like?
lol! I know how stunning mine is! Nonetheless... Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. (Prov. 31:30)

Are we slaves of social or genetic fabric?
Took too much thought time!

I have given up trying to be cool.
To some extent, thats the way it should be.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Why cant I put on any weight?
Pole chief, i've also gongad rock on that one! Anyone out there with an answer!?

Complacency is my worst enemy.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint (Isiaih 40:30-31) or get complacent!

Deno, i actually enjoyed doing this, more than i figure you will reading it! Blessings!

random random thoughts

why havent I moved out of this shoebox?

What is my purpose here?

Can I make a difference?

Who is my friend?

Why does money mean so much? so little?

What would my sister look like?

Are we slaves of social or genetic fabric?

I have given up trying to be cool.

I miss my parents.

Why cant I put on any weight?

Complacency is my worst enemy.

Cant wait to be immersed in something i really love.

Patience is such a valauble trait.

I need to go to bed. early.

AFLEWO 2005

Hi good people,

Finally the Aflewo 2005 Worship service is here..

This Friday 23rd september 2005 at NPC Karen From 9 pm till dawn

That's not all. If you get your hands on the AFLEWO flyer, you have the privelege of purchasing Nescafe at your nearest Nakumatt outlet at a discount. All you need to do produce it when purchasing nescafe products. This offer is valid till 31st of october 2005.

How about that for spiritual and physical nourishment.

Hope to see yo'all (that are in Nairobi) on Friday at Aflewo 2005.

Kibet Chebii

RE: Close Calls

Hi All,

In light of Denis' last post, I found this that should lift spirits.I'ev also been having some hell of my own and this totally cheered me up.

Enjoy.


Malachi 3:3: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."


This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this
statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women
offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group
at their next Bible Study.


That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch
him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest
beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.


As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and
let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the
silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn
away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought
again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of
silver."


She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front
of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. He answered yes, he
not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on
the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a
moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.


The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do
you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered,
"Oh, that's easy -when I see my image in it."


If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye
on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

RE: music

hi y'all jus to echo vicki's music appeal, can someone pliz tell us where do get sounds?
am lookin for Dead Prez 'Hip Hop' and Lil Scrappy's 'No Problem'.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Plus who knows Cowi's phone number? Been tryin her Safcom &Celtel line, she's mteja plus the sms's aint delivered. wanna give her the pics from that long past Coast trip of ours, so she can upload 4me. my scanner's broke.
tell her to holla

Close calls

So i had a terrible week. I'm over it.

what im not over is how many close calls I've had -

1) As I'm crossing the road and this idiot in a black racish-mazda-looking beast of a vehicle speeds incredibly fast towards me, and as i scurry away like a mjinga, alas, the guy was pulling one of those handbrake u-turns that are straight out of Transporter 2 (which i should warn u is just a cartoon on testoserone). One mistake in that highly masculine manouver, and I'd have been grilled minced meat.

2) I almost burnt my kitchen, along with the rest of my building down making fries. All in the name of a quick dinner. lets just say i'll be spending more time cleaning that friggin oven.

3) ok so theres no number three. but 2 close calls in a week is more than enough!

God are you trying to tell me something? I promise I'll listen if u just write it down and mail it to me.

This had better be a good week I'm running out of that 'stay positive' juice.

Constant gardner: the good the bad and the ugly

I saw The Constant gardener the second time this past tuesday, and I had lots to say.

The good:
The scenic shots of kenya, Nairobi, Kibera are real, gripping, and beautiful at the same time. The manner in which the central themes of this flick are presented is very provocative, if you take the time to think about them beyond the obvious web of conspiracy theories spun by the script.
Dont want to say too much lest i spoil it for those who havent seen it.

The bad:
It wasnt your everyday edge-of-your-seat action-packed nail-biter, i felt the build to the climax was painfully slow, even though the use of flashbacks was nicely done. It had the potential to be so much MORE thrilling.

The ugly:
I knew examples of what the film was trying to explore existed, but i didnt think i'd find them this soon.. Vioxx, produced by Merck, one of the worlds largest pharmacutical firms, is a living case of what is so wrong with a capitalist healthcare system.