The Ghanaian movie ‘Beyonce’ lashed our political leaders

Introduction

A couple of weeks ago the movie ‘Beyonce’ was beamed on the channel OBE TV across Europe. Until Nigerian stations took over the Sky Channels with their free 24hr movie channels OBE TV was a leader in showing Ghanaian movies. Apart from the wonderful picture quality and good casting coupled with unique sound combination this film used series of metaphors and symbolisms to poignantly reveal very important political messages which are so relevant to the situation in the country. A satirical message juxtaposed on the love triangle between Ciara, Beyonce and Raj that went berserk.

The Love Triangle

The film opened with Ciara saving the life of Raj in a car accident. This encounter brought them together and subsequently resulted in them becoming lovers. When Beyonce was introduced onto the scene she apparently had met Raj at a shopping mall and was smitten by the smell of his perfume and looks. She is the president’s daughter and thus wields so much power. Beyonce as a character is a very violent and ruthless lady with one aim of snatching Raj from Ciara. She is a symbol of the power drunk and overtly ambitious political leaders who have caused the people so much pains over the years. These politicians just like Beyonce will go to any lengths to amass wealth and deny the ordinary people their basic needs.

Ciara on the other hand represents the vulnerable in society. She represents the voiceless that are exploited, used and abused by the likes of Beyonce in the society. She is an orphan who lives with her sister with no family member to support them. In contrast Beyonce lives in a very posh house with a bevy of ladies attending to her needs. She rides in a motorcade and has 24hrs personal security all paid for by the tax payer. The story did not suggest she was working but she could afford a house for Raj the male protagonist in the film. While this pomp and pageantry is being displayed by Beyonce the larger society represented by Ciara are strangulated. They are robbed, maimed and raped on a daily basis by ruthless armed robbers. They are defenceless with no protection from the state.

Forensic Science

These robbers just like Beyonce are bold and fearless, and have no regard for law and order. They brazenly go on their plundering sprees without any fear of the law enforcement agencies. Usually in the developed countries such robbers will wear balaclavas to hide their identities. They will also wear gloves and make sure they destroy any DNA evidence. The situation is different in Ghana. Robbers display their faces openly and touch anything they can lay hands on. Some of them even rape their victims leaving behind copious amount of DNA evidence. They fire warning shots leaving behind empty shells.

In this era of Forensic Science these pieces of evidence could be treasure troths for solving the armed robbing menace in the country. In spite of all these pieces of evidence the security men cannot track them down. Ballistic experts in the police service can easily use empty shells to trace guns to the owners but the perpetrators of these crimes go unpunished. One cannot blame the police though because the country has no DNA data base and probably forensic detectives who could piece this evidence together to solve the crimes. Why bother anyway there is still the mundane ‘Talk True’ method where suspects are beaten into pulps or tortured to confess their crimes.

Law and order

The film said it all; Ciara who is the symbol of the general public cannot be protected by the security services or the state. She is violently attacked in her own home with a flower vase by Beyonce in the full glare of witnesses and yet nothing is done. She has a substance poured on her face which results in her having a new identity and no investigation is conducted. The security service is more concerned about the safety of the president and his family at the expense of the public whose backs they rode on to power. Elections are far away so why bother about Ciara and her woes. So long as the wheels of propaganda machinery are well oiled to keeps it moving victory is sure. The radio and TV stations will blurt the message of hope as usual when there is none in sight. They will talk about rainy days ahead when there are no signs of clouds in the sky.

The politicians

These politicians have never stopped popping up with their empty slogans. It has been so since Osagyefo left the scene. Hitting hard at our ears with promises they do not fulfil and yet get away with it because the system thrives on lies and deceit. In the past they came through the redefusion boxes and now it’s the FM stations. Yes they came in their droves, the politician who could not protect Ciara each tooting weird ideas which were very difficult to decipher.

Operation Feed Yourself (OFY

There was this one called Kutu who came with his Operation Feed Yourself (OFY) and Operation Feed Your Industry (OFI) madness. He overthrew one of the finest brains of the land, the first African to graduate from Oxford. He took delight in unleashing his hyenas on hapless students. Those were the days Legon students spent hours on end demonstrating against him. For our today these heroes sacrificed one of their own in the person of Adjei Barima whom history has forgotten. This nincompoop of a leader came out with some weird policies like ‘Yentua’ (we wont pay) policy and fell foul with the West. Those dark days mark the era of ‘Kala Bule’ and ‘fa wo to bedzi Golf (sex for Golf car). Our women were raped and dehumanised.

One man one toilet

Then came the preacher men preaching ‘one man one toilet, one man one house’. Why should people like Ciara living in Nima queue for public toilets while the likes of the Beyonces living in Cantonments have so many toilets in their homes? The preaching was captivating and many were swayed and cried ‘let the blood flow’ and it did flow. In order to save the public purse cheap communisto cars like the Niva and the like were preferred. As time went on the Niva became too slow and very uncomfortable. How could Beyonce ride in such an uncomfortable and slow car? If the tortoise cannot run let him make way for the agile footed hare. The Nissan Pathfinder is a faster car which will take her faster to Tamale.

Positive change

Beyonce had won over Raj’s mother and sister with her wealth and had entrenched herself in the family. These two characters are epitome of the greed and avarice that have engulfed the fabric of the society. Ciara and the sister just like many others started looking for a saviour to lead them to the Promised Land. In the midst of the chaos and confusion they came promising the people a change; a ‘positive change’. The people believed and went along with it only to realise that ‘positive change’ does not mean having roof over your head or food on the table. It does not mean putting an end to the armed robbery menace or perennial water shortages at Adenta and its environs. It does not mean clearing the filth in the open drains in Makola and Alajo to prevent flooding.

‘Positive change’ means globe trotting with a retinue of Adowa and Kete dancers and praise singers on a regular basis. It means an enhanced motorcade 100 times what Beyonce was using. Motorcade that stretch from Tetteh Quarshie to 37 military hospitals. It also means driving the motorcade during peak hours to delay other motorists. Yes; positive change means selling state properties like International Student Hostel to yourself and your cronies. This was a national icon which was once the home for some prominent African leaders.

Conclusion

Well the omen was foretold decades ago by Ayi in ‘The Beautiful Ones are not Yet Born’. When that will happen only time will tell, but for now we just have to moan and whimper in desperation. Nkrumah never dies. The only leader with a true vision. A vision that was brutally snuffed before it grew into fruition by some adventurers who had no clue as to what it takes to rule a nation let alone to build one.

Francis Kwaku Egu, UK

kwakuhull@yahoo.com