SOMEWHERE IN AMANFRA

When the gun shots went up for the Celebration of the Kundum festival, the Women of Amanfra rolled down the husky hay mats hanging in front of their doors, turned over the dry mortars and every hollow thing  in their rooms, and told the Children to lie on their bellies.  The once joyous boom of the Ancestral guns that got the Amanfra women shinning their pots and pans in readiness for the Big  Feast of Kundum was no more. Instead of that fervent zeal of non chalance that characterized their beautiful slim black features on the eve of Amanfra`s biggest Festival, there was in this moment the reign of sullen apprehension coupled with the vexation of waiting.

The Women of Amanfra were almost alike, in the diversity of their different shades of Comportment. They knew when to indulge in flamboyant discourse and when to keep their teeth compact as a sign of reverence and restrain… and on this evening of silent wake keeping, they held a unanimous vigil in their individual homes In the hope of a turn of events. They spoke in whispers so the evil winds would not know their fears…and they were attentive. Attentive to everything around them: the sound of the wind, the croak of the frogs, the tiny flickers of the fireflies and their own shadows…because every bit of these things carried a meaning in such perilous times.

“Lie on your bellies” They repeated almost in harmony to their petrified children who yearned to ask where their fathers were and what was happening in their Village. They did not seem to understand what was being demanded of them, but they obeyed, out of fear and out of the belief they had in their mother`s words:

“If you lie on your back Papa will be defeated in Battle, so lie on your belly”, they said, plaguing the innocent minds of the younger ones with grave perplexity and worriment.

But in actual fact no one had openly declared War against the men of Amanfra.  The former Chief of Beyin (the Capital of the Nzema Traditional Area) Nana Annor Asaman the fifth, was never known to have troubled the people of Amanfra. He was a man of peace and a gentleman of great repute, known for his gentle council and fatherly rule, and although Beyin had for a long time been the political seat of governance in the affairs of smaller regions like Amanfra, Atuabo and Abata, none of these sub-communities had been summoned to Beyin on an “Order of Urgent Inquiry” which demanded all men of the Village to be present at Fort Beyin by dusk. This was the first time, and Amanfra was indeed preoccupied with the probable outcome. Not because the men of Amanfra were cowards, but because this conflict was beyond them. It was first and foremost, a conflict of the big Lords.

This battle had as Catalyst the egocentric desires of one man who had overtaken Beyin by storm, none other than the blood thirsty warrior nephew of Nana Annor Asaman (v), who was popularly known as Ngutan by the Youth of Beyin. After his enthronement by popular approval of the already palm-corrupted Council of Elders in Beyin, he stepped in the stead of his paralyzed Uncle, Nana Annor Assaman (V) as ruler of Beyin. Ngutan, was said to have grown up with violent Ivorian militant soldiers in a war torn zone in Ivory coast. He was a cunning man whose smile faded away quickly and easily. His deep set eyes, thick brows and sharp jaw bones was said to be an intimidating sight and when angered, the veins in his face throbbed with intensity and his hands were uncontrollable. His outer features were sharp and sinister but he did well to cover it all up with sugar coated Charisma and unparalleled smartness.

And so it turned out, that after Ngutan had been enthroned, his first area of “attack” was Amanfra, for he said that the Chief of Amanfra had disobeyed the tenets of Beyin and had sold out great chunks of lands to Belgian Investors and gone as far as enthroning a Whiteman as the Development Chief of the Amanfra Area, without consulting Beyin, or in other words without Ngutan`s consent. So, Ngutan`s anger was kindled towards Amanfra like the anger of a wife, against his huband`s Concubine, and he descended on Amanfra with fiery threats and crippling defiance declaring that he would ‘raze Amanfra to the ground and dine off Bua`s Liver”.  

The majority of the people entreated Bua, the Chief of Amanfra, to go before Ngutan and plead clemency over the Charges brought against him, for there could not be a dream where there was no sleep. In other words, there would be no war if Bua avoided the circumstances for war and calmed the raging storms. But Bua, was a man of wit, who had his dignity set on high shelves. He had for so long consolidated his rule and influence along the South Western lane of the Tano River, and across continents in his trade with the West. Belgians were his predominant allies, and to many of them he had sold huge masses of Beach lands and terrains, and the favors received on account of these auspicious deals were countless. As many of the Villagers murmured in the course of their

surreptitious evening gossips, his first Son had gained admission into a prestigious university in Europe by virtue of his many international contacts and three of his nephews were said to be on the verge of leaving the country for the “ Whiteman`s Land”. And of course, who in Amanfra could ever forget the ostentatious display of wealth during Nana Bua`s 50^th Birthday celebration two months ago. The whole of Amanfra had been fed from the overflow of Nana Bua`s Kitchen but just on that one occasion, they had had a feel of wealth, but just on that one occasion… when they got the blessed chance to see a 24 inch colored TV at close range and drink from plastic bottles and cups which they took back home as souvenirs. As soon as they stepped from his paved backyard unto their brown powdery roads, they could not help but boast to the rest of their relatives that they had been to paradise and back. They prattled on about the architectural design of Nana Bua`s house, the green grass that made funny noises under one`s feet and the sheer pleasure of watching his golden ceiling fan turn in circles. Some even swore to the fact that the WCs were magic ones that flashed by themselves.

Bua was not a fool to give up his empire of influence at the mere threat of a fellow man with beard and muscles, but he was not unwise to declare his stance or plans in haste. He was a man of tact. He sent a meek reply of submission to Ngutan`s demand to “summon Amanfra`s men before him by the break of day” and then he began to plan.                                            

                                                                          { II }

As the Akan Elders say, ‘If it were left to only the snail and the Tortoise, there would be no gunshot in the Bush” The Women of Amanfra secretly wished by their lighted Candles that this whole feud between their Chief Nana Bua and the Almighty Ngutan would end, so that life in Amanfra could take on its colourful Petals again. Bua and his men on the other hand seemed engulfed in a strategic plan for the defence of Amanfra, if the need arose, that is, if Ngutan in all his pride decided to declare war on Amanfra, they were also ready to STRIKE. The  Sages predicted that Ngutan was going to subdue and enslave Amanfra after a huge Battle in which many lives were going to be lost and such rumors got the women of Amanfra clutching their lower bellies in torment.

Maame Nzeh was one of the women who could have been said to have felt the sharpest pain of anxiety. Even before the Cocks gave out their disheartening crow for the start of another morning, she was staring through her tiny sieved window to find out if her husband was on his way back. She had heard through the winds of yesterday`s gossip that the talks on war had been suspended, that Almighty Ngutan had given the people of Amanfra and thereby Nana Bua, their Chief, an ultimatum. She did not know the detail but she knew that whatever resulted from this strife would hit her and her husband first.  As a palace guard in Bua`s palace and a member of his “Mazo” team: the team set up to mobilize the youth to undertake communal tasks, Maa Nzeh`s husband had for the past two years enjoyed Supernatural favors from Bua`s palace. Their Oven-sized mud hut had been extended and modified into a brick building and though it had not been fully plastered and the pink paint had not been enough to touch up on all the sides, they were by all standards the envy of Amanfra. The day they got in their rubber carpet and table top fridge, the whole of Amanfra heard of it and friends came by in groups for a chat and a sip of chilled water.  They were the first recipients of every good thing in the Village.

The first water pump was closest to their house, they owned their own set of public urinal and washroom so they did not have to trek way up to the hill in the bush as the rest of the civil villagers did in the evenings. They were privileged and they clearly lived the wise Saying of the Elders that the chick that stands by its mother gets the thigh of the Grasshopper. Maame Nzeh`s husbands closeness to Chief Bua had indeed earned the couple the so envied luxurious privileges of the court.

 

‘We are to surrender or prepare for War.” Maame Nzeh`s husband, popularly known as Officer Somebody, summarized to the anxious neighbors outside his house.

‘But our men are alright. Your hubands and Sons will return home by midday. Now be at peace and leave the rest to the Council of Elders.” He assured.

 The old Village Professor who lived in a one room shed on the left side beckoned him closer.

’Son, tell me, how does Ngutan really  look like?  Did you enter the Ancient Fort at Beyin, In fact, I have a fresh keg of palm Wine in my shed, why don`t we go in and chat man to man?’

The Officer declined, almost abhorred by the Old Professor`s infantile curiosity and trivial talk.

 

“Egya, my wife is waiting and it is you the Elders who say that the mouth that opens too wide surely invites a swarm of flies. Let us first thank the heavens for our lives, and for the safe return of our men. As for Ngutan and the affairs at Beyin, I prefer to say the least until the appropriate time. Goodnight.”

  Without doubt, the honorable Palace Guard of Amanfra had immeasurable skill and potential to protect his people, stand for what was right and defend the cause of justice. He executed his tasks with tact and considered his options carefully. He was brave, fearless and passionate,  but the only enemy that could conquer him was his greed. Earlier this year he bought an enviable motorbike and acquired his dream farmland by the Tano Lagoon where he began a large sugarcane plantation. By the end of the year, he hoped to start a poultry farm at Heman and then negotiate a good price with the Old navy Officer at Abatta for the land to build his own house; a huge house of full cement, not half brick half clay, but full cement, with Terrazzo pavement on the floor and quality Azar paint on the wall. In his mind`s eye, it looked even more glorious than Chief Bua`s Mansion. He had big plans. No wonder his palms were always greased, and when the proposals came his way he often could not find the strength to say No, no matter how dirty the deals were.

“So are you going to step down?” Maame Nzeh asked her husband when he paused to catch his breath in between mouthfuls.

“No, that is not an option. The leadership of Amanfra cannot just be dissolved because of one man`s wish. “The Officer echoed his fervent wishes.

“Indeed it can`t be!  Ngutan and his men at Beyin cannot come and laud it over us here in Amanfra, we are not their Slaves.” Maame Nzeh opined, throwing her proud chin in the air like the Queen she saw herself to be. She sat on a lower stool beside her husband removing the braids that she had fixed just three days ago. She planned on fixing a new one, a more stylish one, to go with the Kaba and slit she had sewn last week, just in case the usual women`s meeting at the Palace came on that Saturday. The Obaapa (meaning Good Woman, or Virtuous woman) was a kind of Saturday Evening Meeting organized by the old Queen Mothers of the Amanfra Palace to pass on the Values and Virtues of Womanhood from the older generation of women to the younger ones and to sensitize them on their roles in Society building. But the meeting had long lost it intended purpose and had gradually been stripped off its meaning as a result of constant bickering and rivalry among the women. All that was left of it was a Dress-Up competition in which the women displayed wigs that was the size of their pride and walked on heels that depicted the heights of their husbands` status.

Maame Nzeh went from untangling her braids to sorting her clothes. As soon as the sun came up, she would go to the River to wash. But all through the day, she kept thinking and imagining what her life would be if Ngutan invaded and subdued Amanfra. If the people of Amanfra suddenly had to serve and be subjected to the rule and dominion of Ngutan and the Chiefs at Beyin, what would her life turn into? Everything could change drastically. She may no longer be the wife of Officer Somebody and who knows, she may even end up as one of the Servants in Ngutan`s Palace. No, it could not be! She murmured a prayer amidst her husband`s loud snores, hoping that all of this life was not a flimsy dream.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE SECOND PART.

Written By: Alice Blighton.