October 2, 2010 
Day 16 – Do you know me?
The Castles always stir up inside of me another one of my missions. To spread the truth about WHO I represent in the BIG PICTURE out here. Sad to say, but the majority of our peeps don’t know who I am.
We hit it early again today. Headed out to take Jen to Kakum Park. We had a good laugh with Kofi last night telling stories about his two experiences at the Canopy Walk. Jen is adventurous, so she is the type that likes challenges that others may be a bit intimidated by. But you can see that she has a little anxiety. But Kofi is talking like, “Oh, you will see when we get there…I’ll take good pictures for you…what time are we leaving…” WE?! “Where are YOU going Son? You have too much to get done here to be running up the canopy to hang out.” Esi started cracking up. She said, “Oh Dad, Kofi is annoyed that he can’t go!” and started laughing again. I have noticed that things have shifted for Esi and Kofi. They have this jousting thing going on. Esi points out Kofi’s weaknesses and Kofi will find ways to state that he is going to ask so and so to find him a Wife so that he can be happy in life. It is the funniest thing when they do it. So Kofi has to eat this one and deal with him not going and his list of tasks to complete with his ‘Jestering Ex’ getting at him in the cut. LOL!!! It was even funnier when the taxi came and Kofi came all dressed up in my long plaid shorts, tan socks with white nikes and a long MLK Black T-shirt. He came in while Esi and I were talking about food and asked, “So am I going today or not Dad?” I looked at him and laughed. “Don’t you have stuff to get done here, Son?” He smiled and looked down. Esi laughed and said, “Oh maybe it is because you are dressed like an Old Man. That’s why you can’t go!” and then started cracking up. I was ROLLING! TOO FUNNY! She said, “Dad, he is annoyed…He can’t go!” I said, “Esi, why?! Have you ever been to Kakum” She said “No.” Kofi chimes in and said, “Oh, so I will be REMEMBERING what Kakum is like while they are gone. As for you, you will still be thinking about what it must be like.” WOW! This is some good stuff yall. But I have to go. LOL!! TOO FUNNY!
On our way to Kakum, the Driver tells me that he needs to stop for gas. While Jen and I are talking about politics, I see a laborer nearby working as a carrier of stones for the mason. He is wearing a T-shirt with a Confederate Flag on the front. I told Jen to look over. “That’s what I’m talking about. Anything from America is GOOD.” This scene reminded me of when we took our first ride in the taxi from the airport in Accra to Elmina back in 1997. The inside of the Taxi Driver’s car was plastered with USA flags. Small U.S. flags blowing, U.S. decals, U.S. air fresheners, U.S.A EVERYWHERE! AKWAABA…Welcome to Ghana?So we pull up to the entrance gate at Kakum and someone says, “Kojo Bey is that you?” I looked and it was Josh. The Brother of the Groom who’s wedding we drummed at in Litchfield, CT before I traveled to Ghana. He told me that he would be coming to Ghana to run a marathon. He is currently assigned to Mali with the Peace Corp and I met his parents at one of my drum circles in Woodbury, CT. He called me the other day and told me that he was in Cape Coast and wanted to make it out our way to Brenu to stay for a few days. He told me that I would hear from him by Monday. Today is Saturday and he asked me if they could come to Ocean Breeze tomorrow afternoon. Cool…Full Occupancy at Ocean Breeze! LOL! Everyone sing: “It’s a small world after all; it’s a small world…”
something…hmmmm.
Jen breezed through the Canopy Walk. No problem for her. In fact, she enjoyed it VERY much. It was good to see how much fun she was having out there with the other folks that weren’t so at ease and was also experiencing it for the first time.
We headed right back to OB because I have a meeting with our Board Members here and the OYC Supervisors (they like Supervisor better than Project Director). I communicated with the family a bit and went out to check on the status of the clearing of the ‘forest’ for our Pineapple garden. While I was out there, I caught a vibe. I remember when I was first excited about the POSSIBILITIES of getting land in Africa. Then it progressed to the potential to get beachfront land. I can still remember the images that would conjure up in my head as to what it would look like and how the village would receive me. As I look at the beach and back at Ocean Breeze, I can truly say that “You did a DIVINE JOB, MOST HIGH!”
We talked to them for sometime before the tour started and it turns out that 3 of Josh’s friends that he is with from the Peace Corp in Mali that we just met are from Seattle where Jen lives. They all attended the Univ of Washington and one of them was in Jen’s Undergraduate program. Just different years. Very funny. I told yall to sing with me! So, that was a nice exchange between them. It was time now for the tour. Jen was more open about her relationships now after I told her about the side effects of the Malaria meds for men. She laughed and said, “OH MY GOODNESS, you just lifted a crazy weight off of my shoulders that I have been carrying around for some time. He made me think it was because I wasn’t really giving him any during our trip.” I laughed. I told her that wet dreams were a side effect for men that take that drug. LOL! She talked about her current Boyfriend and broke out pictures of him and her cat on her camera. I guess maybe last night’s photo sharing opened up
something…hmmmm.
Jen breezed through the Canopy Walk. No problem for her. In fact, she enjoyed it VERY much. It was good to see how much fun she was having out there with the other folks that weren’t so at ease and was also experiencing it for the first time.We headed right back to OB because I have a meeting with our Board Members here and the OYC Supervisors (they like Supervisor better than Project Director). I communicated with the family a bit and went out to check on the status of the clearing of the ‘forest’ for our Pineapple garden. While I was out there, I caught a vibe. I remember when I was first excited about the POSSIBILITIES of getting land in Africa. Then it progressed to the potential to get beachfront land. I can still remember the images that would conjure up in my head as to what it would look like and how the village would receive me. As I look at the beach and back at Ocean Breeze, I can truly say that “You did a DIVINE JOB, MOST HIGH!”
Our meeting was about to start, so I went up to get prepared. Everyone could not make it, but it was alright. It was me, Kofi-Board Member/Secretary, Papa Mensah-Board Member, Julius, OYC Supervisor for Akwanda, and Mr. Charles Amissah, OYC Supervisor for Mpeasem. We had a very good meeting and they all gave some very good input. It was the type of excitement that I experienced when I first sat down and met with Sis. Esther about OYC at Brenu. The highlight of the meeting came almost at the closing when Mr. Amissah changed over to Fante and talked to Kofi about protocol when we arrive to meet with the Chief and Elders at his village tomorrow. I knew what he was saying because I knew the context in which we were speaking. It wasn’t until later that Papa Mensah brought us back to what Mr. Amissah said. He told me that Mr. Amissah wants to make sure that we are ready to bring the schnapps for…I cut him off and did the cut your throat sign. They all looked at me like, what is wrong with this man. I told them that I’m done with the European Liquor thing in Ghana. No more schnapps for me. So, they went on about tradition and custom and I let them speak. I then explained that I know their history AND I know mine from the west. “I know a very important story about all of you Fantes here on the coast and your relationship with Europeans.” I told them. “And that liquor thing does not bring up good feelings inside of any of us that knows history.” The Elder, Mr. Amissah, looked at me with a face like does this guy know that he is offending our tradition and about to offend my Chief and Elders. I know that’s what’s running through his head. So Julius, a well educated teacher at the JSS chool in Brenu and one of our OYC Teachers chimes in with more talk about custom, respect and tradition. I listened and then told them to sit back and let me tell you a quick story. I told them that “You don’t know what happened when our ancestors boarded those ships and left these shores. I DO. They went to islands like Jamaica and worked as slaves in sugar cane fields. Do you know what they make from sugar cane? Molasses. From the Molasses they made Rum in America. From America, rum was sent to Europe and straight to West Africa to trade Rum for African Slaves. The Africans were brought to the islands to do what? Right, work in sugar cane fields. To make what? Right, Molasses. To then make what? Right, Rum. To go trade for what? Right, OUR ANCESTORS. So, who does that make ME? EXACLTY! One of the returning descendants of that wicked trading process. Now do you think I would really want to make an offering of LIQUOR, knowing the history? And you need to stop saying that is your custom and tradition, because that was not started by an African!” Julius, my Man, said “In fact Mr. Kojo, I have learned much today. I think that we all have learned much. So I propose that we offer something else because our Elders will expect something until they are properly educated.” I agreed. “Like what, Julius?” He came out with, “Money.” I said, “Alright, so I am going to pay you so that I can help your children and village?” It stumped him and he had to pull THAT one back as well. I offered up a suggestion of some refreshments and biscuits. They all agreed that would be fine and we were good now. Later on after dinner, I found myself telling Jen the same story and the role that Rhode Island played in that. She was so stunned that she never even heard about that. I told her that a lot of us haven’t heard it. That’s why me and my peeps do what we do. Then I went on for about an hour about what I experienced at New Milford High School and Schgaticoke MS. She was BLOWN AWAY. She said, “Kojo, you never told me about that stuff while we were there!” I said, “The writing was on the wall…LITERALLY! And on the tables and lockers and KKK costumes during Halloween. Why would I need to TELL anyone? It was in plain view. Maybe we see what we want to see and can’t see what doesn’t matter to us.” It was a good session. She spoke to me about some of her experiences with her family when I left NM. It was good to hear how she developed from who I remember when I was there up to who I see in my yard today. She’s still like Little Jen to me though.
“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”
Love Family.
