Part II

Asaase ye duru

So heavy this our earth,

My friend

It’s yonder sea that’s heavy!

But heavier earth carries it.

O yes; so heavy is this earth.

Francis Kayper-Mensah, »Adinkra Poems«

II-01: Fish or Gold

If tradition had had its way, Morkeh Adiaba of Pokesu would have become a fisherman. And if Morkeh had become a fisherman, his life would not have taken a completely different turn, with an outcome nobody in Pokesu or in Europe would have even imagined as possible. It all began with a simple decision. Though not clear at the time it was taken, it was a far-reaching decision that was designed to drastically change his life and that of his children.

At the age of twelve, Morkeh Adiaba decided to break radically with a generations-old tradition. Throughout history, Morkeh’s extended family had been fisher folk. His great-grandfather had been the most intrepid fisherman of his times, and Morkeh’s own father – Kwaw Bilé – had set the record for catching the biggest ekyiekyi, blue marlin, ever landed on the coast. All of Papa Bilé’s relatives had known no other trade. It was no surprise that from the age of seven, Morkeh dutifully began to accompany his relatives to sea, sometimes with Rudiger, the white man. All children did.

But when Morkeh was twelve and the time came to take possession of his first canoe, as tradition required, he surprised his family and the entire clan by choosing a different trade.

»I want to become a goldsmith,« he said laconically on the eve of the traditional initiation ceremony.

»Why, in the name of the Almighty do you want to become a goldsmith? Of all things!« his distressed father asked.

Morkeh lowered his head, looking for a good answer that would not annoy his father. Then looking up and speaking in a low voice to signal that he did not mean to be impertinent, he replied:

»I love melting metal, I love travelling, and I love meeting people. The Europeans pay high sums for everything made of gold and I’ve heard that those in the big fort in Axim cannot even get enough of it.

»Melting metal! Meeting people! Travelling!« exclaimed old father Bilé, clearing his throat as he mockingly repeated his son’s timid mutterings. »Where did you get this hot air from? Have you done any of these things before? How do you know you love them? When did you see any of us doing that? Do you know what it entails? Do you? Tell me!!«

»Yes father,« replied Morkeh with his face down.