toli: n. 1. A juicy piece of news. 2. The latest word or gossip. 3. The talk of the town, typically a salacious or risque tale of intrigue, corruption or foolishness. (Ga language, Ghana, West Africa)
Before going to the point, I have to tell that I have experienced some misfortune as a blogger. First I myself contracted a nasty flu virus, and then, as I had recovered and was writing my next blog entry, I let a virus in my computer. I’m still embarrassed. And the virus apparently sneaked in from a blog site… Therefore I did not dare to return to that site, so my plan of a three blogs’ “technology” series has to wait. But now both me and my computer are again in good health, I have been on a vacation as well, and have sorted out the pile of work that always forms during a vacation week – and it is lovely to be blogging again.
Ghanaian Koranteng Ofosu-Amaah writes a blog called Koranteng’s Toli . His posts are long but interesting.
In his blog, he often describes different kinds of phenomena. Koranteng is an intellectual, very knowledgeable in many areas, and when he starts to reflect on something, he can go through it in many interesting detail and aspect. Strickly speaking, Korantengs’ Toli is not a blog “from the developing world” since Koranteng currently lives in US. However, this blog gives you perspective on Africa, her cultures, politics and life! And in a nicely tongue-in-cheek manner.
Koranteng’s writing is not time-bound – I read with great interest for example Bags andStamps from 2007.
“In Ghana and most of West Africa we call it the "Ghana must go" bag… humourously, they are called "Efiewura Sua Me", literally "help me carry my bag". Indeed there's always someone at the bus or train station who needs help moving such bags. (And yes, I did help that young lady after taking a surreptitious snap with my dodgy cell phone. Chivalry isn't dead even at midnight at the bus terminal).”
And this is followed by an analyses of those bags, their use by refugees, in art and even in top fashion (Luis Vuitton).
“Growing up in Ghana, one was always aware of the poor living conditions. The poverty in the villages was bad enough but the sheer physicality of city slums bring everything to the fore. Poverty often juxtaposed in startling proximity to great wealth and luxury. James Town, where the Ofosu-Amaah family home is, is right next to the Castle, the seat of the government, and is in many ways a very depressing place. But then things change. As a child, Nima occupied a place in my imagination as the worst slum in Accra, a rough and miserable place; the stereotypes of Nima boys was as uncouth, brash, vicious, ill-educated - your garden-variety slum boys. A decade or so on, many of those things are still true but things are changing and it's not just better education. Physically, the shacks are sturdier and perhaps more sanitary - maybe built with tin and the occasional bags of concrete, rather than the asbestos and mud of old. I guess the same is true these days in Soweto, the 'notorious' township of old is now marketed for tourism, rebranded the 'largest urban residential area'. It's a struggle but it is not a static state. Home improvement is not just popular in the US or UK.”
I greatly enjoyed Types and Faces. Have you ever thought about why certain type font is considered “African” – it has not been designed there, it originates in Germany.
And why does a history book on Africa have to have a safari scene on the cover – most Africans have never been on a safari…
At the end of his blogs, Koranteng often has a playlist. Let me copy his idea. Here is my tiny playlist for this blog
Bye for now,
Ulla
p.s. I would be grateful for comments about this blog, and if someone would like to suggest a blog they are following to be presented here, you can send me email at: ulla.karki@kirkonulkomaanapu.fi
