Monday, June 16, 2008

Akwaaba Hospitality

AKWAABA – THE UNIQUE GHANAIAN HOSPITALITY

Betty Gayeh is an African-American from Atlanta, Georgia, the USA. She comes to Ghana with many perceptions from a pictorial African friendliness to a grim picture, which perhaps depicts the medieval age. Is Africa that dangerous? Betty asks her host who comes to meet her at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana. Bewildered, Johnnie Hutton wonders where his guest got those funny ideas. And what has been your own observation since you arrived some thirty minutes ago? Johnnie fires back at his guest. Betty interrupts: Wonderful. With a delightful posture, Johnnie who first met Betty at a United State International Visitor Program in Washington D.C some two years ago again retorts – you ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait till we get to my family home in Cape Coast in the Central Region.


Did you say Cape Coast Johnnie? Yes, I am from Fante tribe and our capital city is Cape Coast, Johnnie answers. Gosh, I can’t wait to see Cape Coast, Betty cried out.

As a conscious member of the African American from the diaspora, Betty reads a lot about the ordeal her ancestors went through during the in human slave trade. Cape Coast in Ghana and Goree, an Island in the Republic of Senegal were some of the last trade points to which the slaves were transported on their way to the Americas and the Caribbean. But before Betty satisfies her curiosity, she observes an unusual gesture from the staring folks at the Airport who apparently are waiting for their visitors.

A light skinned boy presumably in his teens grins and stares at Betty and says: Akwaaba.

What did you say? The young chap laughs heartily and repeats, I say Akwaaba. Betty’s response was only spontaneous, reflecting the friendly gestures of the stranger. She smiles back and tries vainly, "Aakuwaba".

Johnnie: what is Akuwaba? Johnnie replies, it simply means welcome.

And how do I respond back, Betty further enquires. It’s simply thank you, Johnnie answers.

The journey to Cape Coast then begins, with Betty wondering what her arrival in Cape Coast would be like. After a three-hour drive the two arrive in the Central Region capital. Johnnie picks a taxi cab and ten minutes later he together with Betty are in Kawanpaado, where Johnnie’s family home is situated. The welcome by his family was an emotional one with Betty attentively listening to find out whether the Akwaaba chorus will be heard. Soon Betty’s thought became real when every member of the family, in a spontaneous outburst, welcomed the two Akwaabaao. Betty responds: Thank you. Betty cannot believe her eyes. One of Johnnie’s sisters comes to collect her baggage to a decent living room. Another sister comes to offer her some water to drink whilst another member of the family humbly offers Betty some water to bath.

Betty could hardly blink an eye when she decides to have a short nap when a lady comes with lunch. Almost everybody in the house wants to have a word with her. Oldies who hardly speak any word of the English Language struggle to converse with Betty.

Wow, Johnnie, are these wonderful services part of the Akwaaba hospitality? Betty wants to know. Yes, it’s the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality, which has become a norm in the Akwaaba system, Johnnie explains. Johnnie further explains that Akwaaba is not only a mode of welcome but also encompasses the general Ghanaian attitude of showing love and affection for any visitor or stranger irrespective of where he or she comes from.

Johnnie takes his visitor Cape Coast Castle the day after the warm reception. One of the workers at the Castle invites her the next day for a local lunch, which she agrees. Betty and her new friend went to the “Abotare Ye” bar where for once the American enjoys a sumptuous fufu meal. She is touched at the manner almost everybody at the bar wants to know something about America. Conversely they prepared to let
her know everything about Ghana and some parts of Africa.

Betty’s visit to Northern Ghana is equally emotional. People are willing to offer answers to her questions without hesitation. A grand durbar is held in her honour where a chief of the area gives

her gifts ranging from rich Kente cloth to smocks. She comes back dejected. The thought of going back to the state made her sick. Nonetheless she was duty bound to report back to her superiors’ experiences in her mother continent. The American went home but with a firm belief that she will return to pay back to the society that made her stay in Ghana a memorable one.

The United States President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary were amazed at the level reception they

had when they visited Ghana in 1998. Touched with that warn reception President Clinton struggled to mention the word "Akwaaba" just to be part of the much acclaimed Ghanaian hospitality.

President Clinton, who could not believe the overwhelming crowd that thronged the reception grounds to welcome him, still describes the Ghanaian crowd as the thickest and the most

emotionally charge reception tat e has ever had in his political career. Although there was no official holiday for the visit of America’s first family, the interest and the reverence that Ghanaian accord their elders and leaders forced workers, students, and school pupils alike to leave their posts and pay their respect to the American leader.


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