Whether pepeni or kambonga, headcutters,or snail eaters you are all as black as charcoal. Who cares about you all? I pity your sel-imposed superiority.
Whether pepeni or kambonga, headcutters,or snail eaters you are all as black as charcoal. Who cares about you all? I pity your sel-imposed superiority.
Ken Ntiamoa 7 years ago
Serious and humorous at times
When I was a child, my friends nicknamed me "nt3 homa" because I loved playing marbles and hated to lose at the game. I used to get really angry when they called me that name. Now, I laugh whe ... read full comment
Serious and humorous at times
When I was a child, my friends nicknamed me "nt3 homa" because I loved playing marbles and hated to lose at the game. I used to get really angry when they called me that name. Now, I laugh when the few that are still who are still alive call me that name.
Ken
NO NONSENSE 7 years ago
Why are you Asantes like that? Why dont you also state the derogatory names you call Ewes?
Why are you Asantes like that? Why dont you also state the derogatory names you call Ewes?
ELINAM 7 years ago
When I asked an uncle why we call the Akans Eblu tor, he explained to me that the speakers of Twi speaks as if they're shouting hence the word blu which means raising one voice while being annoyed. But amazingly the Fantiawo ... read full comment
When I asked an uncle why we call the Akans Eblu tor, he explained to me that the speakers of Twi speaks as if they're shouting hence the word blu which means raising one voice while being annoyed. But amazingly the Fantiawo (fantis) are not refer to as such may be due to their proximity to the south.
Similar to fia fia ( boil boil). And this observation probably came about may be some 200 years ago.
When people do not understand other people's language, they create a scene to describe it.
Just over two months ago, a Ghanaian lady journalist living in Dakar,Senegal described the wolof language to the host Anthony of CNN's Places Unknown as a language that sounds like the speakers were arguing/fighting but she quickly added the people are the kindest of all people she came across in her journey across Africa.
What's happening with the African is he or she sees the other African thru the lens of the European.
The European fears the AFRICAN and his powerful languages full of all kinds of gestures and the louder you sound means you're commanding the group in which you're having a conversation with to be heard. These things are common to the African and shouldn't have been a shock to the old pre-colonial ancestors of Africans but they're not common to the white man who started judging these gestures as too aggressive and therefore they're primitive traits. But it is the aye vu ( the TRICKISH DOG) who lacked communication skills with no rhythm to display language in its totality.
On AYI GBE,for most local residents of Akan land especially Kumasi natives, Awona - corrupted as ANGLO - is what they call all EVWHE people. TheY quickly drop that for Ayi gbe when they come to reside in Accra. Most of them first thought it was some kind of derogatory term. LOL
My grandmother told me the story of Ayikushie who was a king of the GAs who seek refuge in Anexor when the Akwamus were closing on the Gas. The Gas had by force circumcised an Awamu prince who was sent as an emissary to the Gas but the ultra religious Wolomei regarded the uncircumcised prince as unclean and a taboo who could not stand on their "holy" palace to deliver the message and thus got to be circumcised. For the Akamus, they have lost a prince and heir to the throne because their kings have to remained forever uncircumcised. This crated the ground for war. The stool of the Gas and the king Ayikushie have to run east to their religious cousins who shared the similar religious belief system as them.
Years went by as peace had returned to Ga land, emissaries were dispatched to let the king be aware that it's all well now to return but unfortunately, the refugees had found home in Evhe land of ANEXOR and beautiful evhe ladies were warming these refugee war lords and Ayikushie the king himself probably had some hand ful of beautiful ones and at this moment, and not even a bulldozer would uproot these new settles in evwhe land away from their new freedom and kindness of their hosts.
Ayikushie by now could speak evwhe very well as it's not that too different from his own language Ga gbe or Ge gbe - the language itself is part of the gbe family of languages.
To the surprise of the emissaries, Ayikushie would refuse flatly to return to a hostile territory besieged by warring Akwamus who felt threatened by strangers on their southern territory.
Emissaries returned to Ga without the king nor the royal stool. That fury and anger still persisted.
From that time on, the Gas would refer to any group of Evwhe speaking people as Ayi gbe ( ayi refused) as they themselves could not make out the differences from their own people - who had now adopted a new language - and the different sub groups of evwhe people.
My grandma told the story to me when I was about to engage in a fight with a Ga boy of equally thirteen years of age when I was fresh from Keta to Tema. She told me AYI GBE is not an insult.
I became aware of the history and felt proud of the hospitality of my folks to a brotherly folks who were under siege.
Since then before any homowo kpoikpoi could be displayed, the first kpoikpoi of HOMOWO has to go to Anexor where the original royal stool of the Gas is securely located and protected.
The Gas felt short changed because of the good spirit of the hosts of Ayikushie. They would have wished the evwhes be "evil" to their guests to force them to return back home but the people were so kind and loving to them that there's no plan for this and this the GAs hated about the evwhes and thus they affectionally would call all ewhes in cluding their own people from Anexor "Ayi gbe julor".
It's sad when "good hearted" people "seized" your king not anything malice but due to their warm hospitality and beautiful women.
KA 7 years ago
ELINAM, read Asimpi's contribution bellow. He has a slightly different take...
Your contribution is great too... If only what our grandparents told us could be based on solid research that is beyond the oral stories handed ... read full comment
ELINAM, read Asimpi's contribution bellow. He has a slightly different take...
Your contribution is great too... If only what our grandparents told us could be based on solid research that is beyond the oral stories handed over the generations...
ELINAM 7 years ago
Well, we'd refused to travel and see thing for ourselves. Anexor is just three hours from Accra and one hour from Keta, and thirty minutes from Aflao.
Following the trail of languages, you'll see the similarity in our langu ... read full comment
Well, we'd refused to travel and see thing for ourselves. Anexor is just three hours from Accra and one hour from Keta, and thirty minutes from Aflao.
Following the trail of languages, you'll see the similarity in our languages across these artificial borders. We have so much in common that the little things that are dissimilar.
The Europeans knew why they kept the borders there. It's in fact doing multi prong things to our disadvantage.
Apraku 7 years ago
When l was about to read this article , l was murmuring to myself this article is too long and it will steal my lunchbreak ,but here l'm praising this writer , this is amazing , a touch of lingual and history, not politicised ... read full comment
When l was about to read this article , l was murmuring to myself this article is too long and it will steal my lunchbreak ,but here l'm praising this writer , this is amazing , a touch of lingual and history, not politicised, a great script , l enjoyed reading it. Bravo Mr. Owusu.
Saint Ghfuo: Mediocrity Stinks Cuuuhh 7 years ago
How can u be an illiterate, with no education, no business, no money, no property and have the nerve to look down on ur fellow man...? Fools
How can u be an illiterate, with no education, no business, no money, no property and have the nerve to look down on ur fellow man...? Fools
kk 7 years ago
Well done. I enjoyed reading it.
Well done. I enjoyed reading it.
Ringo Star 7 years ago
History for a change. Politics must be forgotten, at least for a while. There are some phrases in this article that made me laugh though. Specially the Yevo phrase "sly dog" fits the white man's description accurately. More o ... read full comment
History for a change. Politics must be forgotten, at least for a while. There are some phrases in this article that made me laugh though. Specially the Yevo phrase "sly dog" fits the white man's description accurately. More of this would do us a lot of good.
the eye germany 7 years ago
This is a great and noble article! However,I feel we should try to stop this name-calling culture and unite as Ghanaians and Africans to develop our county or countries.
Whatever we do, others see us as Black people. We ha ... read full comment
This is a great and noble article! However,I feel we should try to stop this name-calling culture and unite as Ghanaians and Africans to develop our county or countries.
Whatever we do, others see us as Black people. We have to unite as Black Africans, for, as the saying goes,united we stand,divided we fall.
God richly bless you,Akoks!!!
Nii Teiko 7 years ago
I just listened to Obama's speech at the DNC congress, and I have come to the conclusion that we have an intellectual midget, in the person of Mahama, as our president. wow! what a speech? and Mahama called himself a communic ... read full comment
I just listened to Obama's speech at the DNC congress, and I have come to the conclusion that we have an intellectual midget, in the person of Mahama, as our president. wow! what a speech? and Mahama called himself a communication expect? Well, may be in the eyes of Bole-Bamboi natives! In Mahama Ghana has our owe Trump. And this is the person Bokor is campaigning for. well birds of the same further, they say, flop together
OOO 7 years ago
Don't try to put presiden Barrack Obama and looter John Mahama in one category. John Mahama does not come even one million miles closer to president Obama. President Obama is morally upright, while John Mahama is moraally ban ... read full comment
Don't try to put presiden Barrack Obama and looter John Mahama in one category. John Mahama does not come even one million miles closer to president Obama. President Obama is morally upright, while John Mahama is moraally bankrupt.
ELINAM 7 years ago
Have you ever listened to our tsiami/kyeami? Aren't they magic the way they play with words? And if you haven't, ask someone who had lived in a palace or around traditional ceremonies.Black people by nature can be great poet ... read full comment
Have you ever listened to our tsiami/kyeami? Aren't they magic the way they play with words? And if you haven't, ask someone who had lived in a palace or around traditional ceremonies.Black people by nature can be great poets and orators but can only be great nine out of ten in their mother tongue.
Mother tongue is what will liberate us and make us eloquent and not english. Ghanaians can not speak the english language. Our lips,tongues, brains and spirits hated it. The way we frame words in our Ghanaian languages is not the same with english. We have nyemi/nua/norvi (brother/sister/cousin) and these words from different ethnic groups have no gender and due to that, we enter change masculine and feminine when we're referring to a male or female, and that's one example why its just hard for Ghanaian to grasp a language that is not fit for our cultural well being and for that matter, we need to develop our languages for effective communication.
Even our MPs under some strange illusion think to be an MP means to behave like an European and in our case as an English man so they put on suit in 100 degree heat and could hardly explain themselves in english. Only God could tell the magic these wanna-be english men could do in the Ghanaian parliament if they could be free to speak their own languages which could also help create jobs for graduates coming out from the Institute Of Ghanaian Languages as interpreters.
NO NONSENSE 7 years ago
How do you teach Hi-Tech to the School Kids? Do you Have Physics, Chemistry Biology books in the Ghanaian languages?
How do you teach Hi-Tech to the School Kids? Do you Have Physics, Chemistry Biology books in the Ghanaian languages?
ELINAM 7 years ago
Translate and write new books on all subjects.
YOUTUBE Dr. Obadele Kambon a linguist of Legon who was born and raised in NY but now in Ghana teaching Akan language to crazy Ghanaians, and he is teaching her daughter physics, ... read full comment
Translate and write new books on all subjects.
YOUTUBE Dr. Obadele Kambon a linguist of Legon who was born and raised in NY but now in Ghana teaching Akan language to crazy Ghanaians, and he is teaching her daughter physics,maths,astronomy and many other subjects in twi. Her daughter is smarter than almost all her age groups in Morning Star Prep School where people like you are robbed to part with huge amount of dollars as school fees.
DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT JUST YOUTUBE IT bruh to change your colonized mind . If the Flemish of Belgium can have their own language and teach their kids with it instead of french, and they're like only three million in population, then why Akans of more than six million can NOT do the same or Gas or Evwhes can not do the same.
Maths is numbers and each time you send a child to go buy stuff from anyone or to the market, that's maths right there. Anytime you tell your child to arrange her room or mama's room you're telling that child to do subtractions and addition. Anytime you tell your child to sweep, she's applying physics. The type of broom she'd use to collect the rubbish based on the mass of the rubbish is all physics that she's doing from early age. when the rubbish is huge in mass, she'd use a heavy broom and a heavy dustpan and not paper and if the rubbish is light in mass, she herself will use good judgement to use the right application and if she could not use her judgement, there you come in.
But if you remained crazy and blind how would you know of these principles that are universal that every environment have a right to name physics, maths,science any name they see fit and they could still come to America and do better than them even if they can hardly speak english.
YOU'RE TO CRAZY TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
DR TRUTH 7 years ago
Can you translate "Overdrive Processor, Algorithms, MetalOxide-Feild Effect-Transistor,Avalanche-Breakdown, Oscillating Frequency, impeadance matching,cross-over modulation"etc in Twi?
Keep talking this BULLSHIT. Just remem ... read full comment
Can you translate "Overdrive Processor, Algorithms, MetalOxide-Feild Effect-Transistor,Avalanche-Breakdown, Oscillating Frequency, impeadance matching,cross-over modulation"etc in Twi?
Keep talking this BULLSHIT. Just remember, Even Germans now teach Hi-Tech subjects in English.You think they are stupid?
Keep teaching & speaking and & promoting Twi. Your children will end up as PALM-WINE TAPPERS and KEY CHAIN HOLDERS. They will NEVER hold their own in international conferences and working environment.
AKM 7 years ago
Ask your parasite brothers living Akanland the languague the speak. They don't speak Ewe there, but twi. How many Ghanaians speak Twi? Almost everybody in Ghana.
How many speak your killer ewe language. Only Ewes speak tha ... read full comment
Ask your parasite brothers living Akanland the languague the speak. They don't speak Ewe there, but twi. How many Ghanaians speak Twi? Almost everybody in Ghana.
How many speak your killer ewe language. Only Ewes speak that heavy languague.
DR TRUTH 7 years ago
Sorry, Look at your Universities. Taken over completely BY EWES. Is their IQ higher? NO, not necessarily. The trick is they speak better English and can pass Exams!!!
If you want to live KOKOASE lifestyle, keep REFUSING Eng ... read full comment
Sorry, Look at your Universities. Taken over completely BY EWES. Is their IQ higher? NO, not necessarily. The trick is they speak better English and can pass Exams!!!
If you want to live KOKOASE lifestyle, keep REFUSING English.
K. Mensah 7 years ago
What arrant nonsense that almost everyone speaks Twi in Ghana! What are your stats to back this stupid and ignorant assertion?
What do you mean by describing Ewe as "that heavy language"? Your language Twi may be "light", ... read full comment
What arrant nonsense that almost everyone speaks Twi in Ghana! What are your stats to back this stupid and ignorant assertion?
What do you mean by describing Ewe as "that heavy language"? Your language Twi may be "light", but the fact that Ewe is "heavy" is the reason why Ewes have no difficulty learning any other foreign language. Just consider the letters in the Ewe alphabet that you Akans especially can't pronounce.
Let me tell you a truism. Some of you Akans, especially you the Asantes, your false sense of superiority is going to kill you before your time. You're in no way superior to Ewes! Never!!! And if you continue to insult and denigrate the Ewes, it's one day going to lead to a civil war. And I can assure you that this time the Ewes will take the war to you in Kumasi, unlike during the Asante war of 1869-73 when you invaded Eweland upon the invitation of your Akwamu allies and the Ewes annihilated you. This great defeat still pains you up to today. This is the main cause of your hatred of the Ewes until today. But why did you invade Eweland in the first place?
Since your historians are too embarrassed to write about this aspect of your history and therefore have kept so ignorant people like you, I strongly urge you to refer to your "Ntam Kesie Miensa" and ask your older folks why your people have invoked the word "Sokode" three times in the third oath.
You're a sad lot to look down upon others!
AKM 7 years ago
If you and your entire householdare not speaking Twi instead of your heavy Ewe languague, how could you survive in Kumasi? Your carpentary products are bought by the Akans. If you are not speaking Twi how could you sell your ... read full comment
If you and your entire householdare not speaking Twi instead of your heavy Ewe languague, how could you survive in Kumasi? Your carpentary products are bought by the Akans. If you are not speaking Twi how could you sell your products.
You are ungrateful. I know for sure that you came from Togo. You are not Ghanaian Ewe. It is your kind like 'burgie man' Rawlings who are ungrateful to Akans.
DR TRUTH 7 years ago
Stop fooling yourself. Do you really know & understand HI-TECH world? How many Twi speakers are in Ghana? Every 2 years, Technology CHANGES. Who the FUCK is there to be writing books for maybe 10 million Twi Speakers of which ... read full comment
Stop fooling yourself. Do you really know & understand HI-TECH world? How many Twi speakers are in Ghana? Every 2 years, Technology CHANGES. Who the FUCK is there to be writing books for maybe 10 million Twi Speakers of which only 500,000 will read it to to keep up?
Keep rejecting English and speaking TWI.
1) Woyome cheated his way by preparing an English CONTRACT Twi speakers cant understand.
How many foreigners have cheated their way with Ghana Contracts because those POT-Belly Ministry officials refuse to learn or speak English?
1 Loaf 7 years ago
You only pointed one finger at Mahama but had the rest pointing back at yourself. What an Intellectual giant'. Chaeii!!
You only pointed one finger at Mahama but had the rest pointing back at yourself. What an Intellectual giant'. Chaeii!!
Kokuvi Da Togolese 7 years ago
The twi word for a white person is oburoni coined from aburokyire. Aburo (not corn) is the original twi word for large expanse of water (sea or lake)as in abura (small stagnant water/well)so oburoni is a person who comes from ... read full comment
The twi word for a white person is oburoni coined from aburokyire. Aburo (not corn) is the original twi word for large expanse of water (sea or lake)as in abura (small stagnant water/well)so oburoni is a person who comes from beyond the sea.
KA 7 years ago
Kokuvi, do you have the evidence that Oburoni was coined from aburokyire or you're also just saying something you heard which you think makes sense?
Is it not more likely that our ancestors who first met the white man will ... read full comment
Kokuvi, do you have the evidence that Oburoni was coined from aburokyire or you're also just saying something you heard which you think makes sense?
Is it not more likely that our ancestors who first met the white man will describe them by the difference of their skin and hair than that they came from "beyond the big lake"?
Anyway, I think the writer is saying that the true origin of the word may have been lost...
Kokuvi Da Togolese 7 years ago
Skin colour would have been kokoo (light skin) but as you said, it's possible the actual meaning is lost!
Skin colour would have been kokoo (light skin) but as you said, it's possible the actual meaning is lost!
TRUTH 7 years ago
Did we have such sharp ethnic segmentation among Ghanaians before 'con man' JJ Rawlings and his Ewe tribemen came to steal power through the most satanic revolution the world has ever witnessed? Ghanaians should sit down and ... read full comment
Did we have such sharp ethnic segmentation among Ghanaians before 'con man' JJ Rawlings and his Ewe tribemen came to steal power through the most satanic revolution the world has ever witnessed? Ghanaians should sit down and cast their mind back to thirty years. Then, we will realize the harm and destruction JJ Rawlings has brought to bear on the social structure of Ghanaian society.
The 'con and burgee man'JJ Rawlings who murdered innocent Ghanaians on allegations of corruption has institutionalized corruption and nepotism in our society. The extent of looting and stealing JJ Rawlings and his notorious P/NDC have done against our economy is unprecedented in the history of politics.
There is no civilizednation on this globe that some government officials won't be prosecuted and punished with regard to Woyome stealing of C59.8 Million. Woyome, who was not a government worker nor a government contractor was paid such an amount by government officials. There was no interdiction on the part of those notorious and corrupt NDC officials.
From the first day of inception of PNDC satanic revolution that JJ Rawlings and his gangsters condoned and determined to steal and loot Ghana. We often heard from these revolution hooligans that they have been cheated for far too long. I wondered who cheated them.
For con and burgee man JJ Rawlings and his gangsters to have their way to embark upon destruction of Ghana, this 'conman' call JJ Rawlings had to pitch all ethnic groups against Akans. Why did this 'con and burgee man' sa to the whole Ghanaians at cape coast that Ghanaians should not buy Appiah Minka soap? Why did he destroy Mr Siaw Tata Brewery company? All because of his hatred towards some ethnic group.
Now, this 'con and burgee man' and his P/NDC gangsters are filty rich. He has stolen Nsawam factory that belong to Ghana. Last week, this 'con and burgee man' confessed of stealing $2 million from Nigerians.
The path this 'con and burgee man' JJ Rawling created, all his P/NDC government officials are walking on it. Stealing and looting of state assets are order of the the day in NDC government.
President John Mahama does not want to be seen as stupid, for the Ewes have stolen and looted Ghana. Why not doing the same because it is his turn. He forsake goodness and tend to follow the evil ways of 'con and burgee man' Rawlings. President John Mahama is no exception. He too is just a 'con and burgee man like JJ Rawlings. It was sad to hear that brainless NDC official from the Northern region of Ghana appealing to northerners not to vote on wisdom, competenceand goodness, but rather the northners should vote for John Mahama just because he is one of them. Where is our future if we keep on walking on this path that has no chance of bringing any success to our nation?
Considering the thievery, looting and incompetence nature of John Mahama administration,it is malarkey to vote for John Mahama to continue destruction and looting our state coffers.
My fellow Ghanaians, it is time to reject ethnic segmentation and embrace all Ghanaians. It is when we see ourselves as one nation, one people with common destiny that we can bring meaningful development to our nation we all love.Let every Ghanaian reject tribalism. The only person we can blame for this sharp tribal division in Ghana is 'con and burgee man' JJ Rawlings.
NO NONSENSE 7 years ago
Check the case "Salah & Apollo" Busia sacked most Ewes in Civil Service.
Before that, Akans made a coup in 1967 went and killed ONLY Ewe military officers.(Capt Borkloe, Capt Avevor, Gen Kotoka) Stop distorting History.
Check the case "Salah & Apollo" Busia sacked most Ewes in Civil Service.
Before that, Akans made a coup in 1967 went and killed ONLY Ewe military officers.(Capt Borkloe, Capt Avevor, Gen Kotoka) Stop distorting History.
ACCOUNTABILITY 7 years ago
This Ewe looter, who call himself 'No No nonsense, but has no little sense in his armorphous shaped head. He is here to attack people who say the truth.
I know he is or his father is among Ewe gangsters led by 'con and bo ... read full comment
This Ewe looter, who call himself 'No No nonsense, but has no little sense in his armorphous shaped head. He is here to attack people who say the truth.
I know he is or his father is among Ewe gangsters led by 'con and borgie man' JJ Rawlings who have looted and stolen every asset in Ghana's coffers. Your dirty insults won't deter truthful and patriotic Ghanaians to tell the truth. You won't keep the assets you Ewes have stolen. Those assets will be retrieved, I bet you.
Just keep on insulting hardworking Ghanaians who have worked to provide those assets you Ewes have stolen and looted. You will meet your match soon.
Koo Bantoma 7 years ago
Fine. Your comments well read.
But note that this segregation or tribalism became more pronounced when Busia took over the reigns of government.
Fine. Your comments well read.
But note that this segregation or tribalism became more pronounced when Busia took over the reigns of government.
Kjo Krachie 7 years ago
In a recent article,a writer from one of the war-torn areas in West Africa warned Ghanaians not to introduce tribal differences in our politics since this was a dangerous path to thread.He has seen the same tribal differences ... read full comment
In a recent article,a writer from one of the war-torn areas in West Africa warned Ghanaians not to introduce tribal differences in our politics since this was a dangerous path to thread.He has seen the same tribal differences simmer to the top in his country and led to the killing of many.
He cautioned Ghanaians not to let our geographical locations in the country determine how we think,but use our differences in our dialects as a strength.I am echoing what this brilliant man said and I am begging all to refrain from threading on this dangerous path.
Ghanaians have avoided the brutal tribal wars that has destroyed other African countries,let us continue talking to one another rather than the hatred being spewed by a few.
PRINCEWILLY@YMAIL.COM 7 years ago
I am half Ewe and half Akan.I was born in Takoradi Army Barracks.
I spoke Hausa,Ewe and Akan,
My uncles are the Priest of the Klikor Afegame shrine and Nogokpo shrine.
Anytime i go to visit them,they say Dzogbedzitor has c ... read full comment
I am half Ewe and half Akan.I was born in Takoradi Army Barracks.
I spoke Hausa,Ewe and Akan,
My uncles are the Priest of the Klikor Afegame shrine and Nogokpo shrine.
Anytime i go to visit them,they say Dzogbedzitor has come"
The word"Dzogbedzitor is not an insult.
DR PROUD 7 years ago
Ewe is a structured language. Most Ewe names or nouns are actually phrases or sentences. "BLU" means "SCREAM" or "YELL". It also means "PROTEST"
"E-BLUTOR-WO" will in this case mean "THE PROTESTER-S"- This probably came fr ... read full comment
Ewe is a structured language. Most Ewe names or nouns are actually phrases or sentences. "BLU" means "SCREAM" or "YELL". It also means "PROTEST"
"E-BLUTOR-WO" will in this case mean "THE PROTESTER-S"- This probably came from the colonial times when the Asantes were mostly the ones against the British. It finally was used for every Akan speaking folk.
Dr. K. Asimpi 7 years ago
DR. PROUD, I'm afraid, you're totally wrong here. Yes, "Blu" can and does also mean to "yell" or "scream"; it's one of the homonyms we are dealing with here. And homonyms have quite different and diverse meanings. To get the ... read full comment
DR. PROUD, I'm afraid, you're totally wrong here. Yes, "Blu" can and does also mean to "yell" or "scream"; it's one of the homonyms we are dealing with here. And homonyms have quite different and diverse meanings. To get the proper meaning of a particular homonym, therefore, one has to consider the context in which it's coined and used. That's precisely what I've done in my contribution.
When the Ewes began to call Twi-speaking people "Blutowo" or "Ebluawo", it's from their own experiences with them. As I stated, when the Ewes and the Akans began to interact with one another, the Ewes realised that the Akans had great difficulty learning and speaking Ewe; they couldn't even pronounce Ewe words properly, because, as you know, the Ewe alphabet has several peculiar letters with sounds that are not available in many foreign alphabets. On the other hand, Ewes are good at any foreign language, including Twi. There're no Twi words or letters that an Ewe man or woman can't pronounce properly. Indeed, in a study conducted by UNESCO in the late 1960s or early 1970s on African languages, Ewe was singled out as one of the languages whose speakers don't have much difficulty learning and pronouncing other foreign words. It was the difficulty the Akans have in their failed attempts to master the Ewe language that our forefathers coined the term "Bluto" or "Blutowo" to describe them In other words, our forebears found the Akans to be "mixed up", "confused" or "perplexed" in their often failed attempts to learn and understand and speak the "difficult" Ewe language.
The term therefore has nothing to do with "yelling", "screaming" or "protesting".
kalma 7 years ago
good one there
good one there
Peter Ayamga 7 years ago
Insightful
Insightful
Dr. Kofi Asimpi 7 years ago
I'm surprised to read your statement that the Ewes themselves don't quite know how they came to call all Akans "eblutorwo". As an Ewe, I've known the meaning of the term and I've not met any Ewe who doesn't understand it, for ... read full comment
I'm surprised to read your statement that the Ewes themselves don't quite know how they came to call all Akans "eblutorwo". As an Ewe, I've known the meaning of the term and I've not met any Ewe who doesn't understand it, for it's quite self-explanatory. The problem may have to do with the corruption of the term by today's Ewe scholars who're unfortunately shamefully trying to anglicise their Ewe names and other Ewe words, for its proper writing is actually "Blutowo" or "Bluawo" or "Ebluawo".
The term "Blutowo" (or "Bluawo" or "Ebluawo") constitutes two words, namely, "blu", meaning "confused" or "perplexed" and "towo", literally meaning "those of", which is equivalent to the "fuo" in Akan, like "Akan-fuo". Thus "Blutowo" or "Ebluawo" simply means "those who are confused" or "confused people".
The term was coined from time immemorial by the Ewes for Akans when the two ethnic groups began to interact with one another and they found that the latter was having great difficulty learning and speaking the Ewe language. From this perspective, then, the term may be regarded as derogatory, but in course of time as the Ewes have continued to use the term for the Akans, its derogatory meaning has disappeared and therefore the Ewes cannot be said to regard Akans as being inferior to themselves.
About the etymology of the term "Ayigbe", I have a slightly different version from yours. History tells us that there was a severe dispute among the Ga (Osu, Accra, specifically) royal family and one faction led by their chief Ayi moved away with the royal stool and settled at their current place called Anexo in Togo. The name Anexo in Togo was the adoption by the Ga settlers there. And there is indeed a section of Osu still called Anehor. It was when the Ga people sent emissaries to their kinsfolk for the return of their stool but they refused that they returned to Accra to report that Ayi had refused to release the stool to them. In other words, as you've correctly stated, "Ayi gbe" to go back to Accra with the stool. This incident happened in the 1600s. It was from this that the Gas have begun to derogatorily call Ewes "Ayigbe", which other non-Ewe ethnic groups have also adopted for the Ewes. (See Osofo E. K. Paku's Togo Nutinya Tso Fe 1482 Va Do 1980, Lome: Haho, 1980).
As you can see, the dispute had nothing at all to do with the Ewes. The Gas (i.e., Ayi and his people) went to the Ewes in Togo and asked for a place to settle and the Ewes were generous enough and gave them a land. The Ewes didn't steal the Gas' stool. The dispute was between two Ga factions. The Ewes' involvement was only that they magnanimously received Chief Ayi and his people and the language the Ga emissaries used to report back to their people in Accra was Ewe. It is therefore totally wrong for the Ga people to refer to Ewes as "Ayigbe dzulo". It is from this understanding that most Ewes, like I myself, very much resent the term when it's applied to me. I did once fight a Ga classmate of mine in Accra when he called me "Ayigbe".
Kofi Akuapem 7 years ago
What is the meaning of Ohuani
What is the meaning of Ohuani
HFG 7 years ago
I don't know the meaning, but I know that certain part of Ghana, Ewes are called "shwafoc'.
I don't know the meaning, but I know that certain part of Ghana, Ewes are called "shwafoc'.
KA 7 years ago
Good contribution and quite informative especially the one about the probable etymology of "eblutowo". Your narrative about "ayigbe" also sounds more logical. If all the Gas were moving and one part got lost, how come they st ... read full comment
Good contribution and quite informative especially the one about the probable etymology of "eblutowo". Your narrative about "ayigbe" also sounds more logical. If all the Gas were moving and one part got lost, how come they started speaking a different language (Ewe) from the one spoken by the main column that reached Osu?
But does "towo" literally mean "those of" as a possessive as we may say "Englishman" breaks down to "man of English/England"?
Is the date of publication of Osofo E. K. Paku's book (1980) correct? He couldn't have published a study stretching over several centuries in the year in which his study period ends...
Hope you're no longer fighting your Ga friends who call you "Ayigbe"...
Jim 7 years ago
Thank you Dr Asimpi.
Thank you Dr Asimpi.
Dr. Kofi Asimpi 7 years ago
Mr. Stephen Atta Owusu, a version of the etymology of the word "Ayigbe" escaped my mind when I was writing my contribution last night in response to your article. I'm therefore adding it now.
According to Jakob Spieth, "Ay ... read full comment
Mr. Stephen Atta Owusu, a version of the etymology of the word "Ayigbe" escaped my mind when I was writing my contribution last night in response to your article. I'm therefore adding it now.
According to Jakob Spieth, "Ayigbe" is the shortened version of "Ayigbesilawo", describing a major function of the Ewe people. In other words, "ayi" means the vegetable "bean" and "gbe", means "grass" or "field" (or "grassland", as compared with a jungle or a thick forest) and "silawo", literally meaning "clearers", or "cultivators" or "farmers". Thus "Ayigbesilawo" means "beans farmers" or "beans cultivators".
This is because beans became a common staple of the Ewe people as they migrated from Ketu in Benin (formerly Dahomey) to Notsie in Togo and finally to their current locations. During their migrations, they passed through lots of grasslands and for their sustenance they cultivated beans which take only a short time to mature for harvest and consumption.
Please see Jacob Spieth's Die Ewe Stamme. Berlin: D. Reiner, 1906. Spieth was a missionary of the North German Missionary Society to Eweland until the early 1900s. His version of the etymology of the term "Ayigbe" may be right while that of the Ga history may also be accurate. Rev. E. K. Paku has also cited Spieth in his book that I've made reference to.
KA 7 years ago
But the Ewes do not call themselves "Ayi gbe silawo". It is others who call them ayigbe. If Spieth's thesis is right, then those who call them so must be speakers of Ewe. How else could they use such a descriptive Ewe phrase ... read full comment
But the Ewes do not call themselves "Ayi gbe silawo". It is others who call them ayigbe. If Spieth's thesis is right, then those who call them so must be speakers of Ewe. How else could they use such a descriptive Ewe phrase to call a people who do not call themselves that?
What exactly did Rev Paku say on this point? Did he dismiss Spieth's explanation?
ELINAM 7 years ago
Can't be true. Ayi is for Ayikushie. The German can't be right simply because he's a priest and wrote a book about people he knew nothing about in 1909.
My grand mother never being to school but from a royal family in Anglo ... read full comment
Can't be true. Ayi is for Ayikushie. The German can't be right simply because he's a priest and wrote a book about people he knew nothing about in 1909.
My grand mother never being to school but from a royal family in Anglo told me the story I wrote in my comment.
The German is a bloody lair.
Research can allow anyone to write a book that spans 1000 years so trying to discount the Togo Ntsinya as being published in the 70s can not be valid.
Most white people had written so many damaging books about us in 18th century but had never even stepped on what they assumed was the "dark" continent.
KA 7 years ago
But Spieth may have talked to people much older than your grandmother and therefore nearer to the events that started the oral tradition.
I don't give much credence to his theory but you should not just dismiss him off ha ... read full comment
But Spieth may have talked to people much older than your grandmother and therefore nearer to the events that started the oral tradition.
I don't give much credence to his theory but you should not just dismiss him off hand. Remember too it was the Germans who first tried to write down our oral history and gave us the Ewe alphabet.
You must meet his argument with better argument.
I am your worst nightmare 7 years ago
absolutely brilliant. I loved this masterpiece. Wow! But again, hmmm, the oburonis suffer most. They are chased and chanted at, "oburoni k)k) makyen ya fikyri gongo"..."Yevu yevu gaiga"..."blofo nyo bi tatale"..."Bature banza ... read full comment
absolutely brilliant. I loved this masterpiece. Wow! But again, hmmm, the oburonis suffer most. They are chased and chanted at, "oburoni k)k) makyen ya fikyri gongo"..."Yevu yevu gaiga"..."blofo nyo bi tatale"..."Bature banza"....eii when they say things of this nature and a Ghanaian oburoni replies in the local dialects, they vanish like a ghost, now you see it now you don't, especially that some local Ghanaian oburonis are fluent in many local languages.
ghanaman 7 years ago
Stephen Atta Owusu has displayed in yet another piece, his ability to produce articles based on background research, a characteristic lacking in the majority of opinion pieces on this platform. Also, it is re-assuring to note ... read full comment
Stephen Atta Owusu has displayed in yet another piece, his ability to produce articles based on background research, a characteristic lacking in the majority of opinion pieces on this platform. Also, it is re-assuring to note that most readers' comments appreciate the author's effort. May healthy debate and discussion rein on Ghanaweb!
Kay 7 years ago
i wish to commend all of us who have commented, except one or two, for providing us with education and insightful angles. it is refreshing to read comments and articles that educate you. well done Mr. Writer
i wish to commend all of us who have commented, except one or two, for providing us with education and insightful angles. it is refreshing to read comments and articles that educate you. well done Mr. Writer
DON DEE 7 years ago
NICE EDUCATIVE PIECE AND CONGRAT. BUT I GUESS U GOT THE MEANING OF YEVU WRONG.YEVU MEANS RED OR WHITE SKIN PERSON.
NICE EDUCATIVE PIECE AND CONGRAT. BUT I GUESS U GOT THE MEANING OF YEVU WRONG.YEVU MEANS RED OR WHITE SKIN PERSON.
Kwame 7 years ago
Most names have negative connotation..
Russians are people who cut or fell trees. The Poles are people who live in the grassland. To the Slavs Ukraine is like Amedzofe as it is to the Ewhes. Russians had the French as their ... read full comment
Most names have negative connotation..
Russians are people who cut or fell trees. The Poles are people who live in the grassland. To the Slavs Ukraine is like Amedzofe as it is to the Ewhes. Russians had the French as their teachers and house keepers, but when the Germans came because they do not speak French the Russians call them Nemeth, dump people.
The name eblutor emanated from the Ewhes in general after the defeat of the Ashantis in the Akatamanso war, the friendship that was re-candle after that unfortunate war, which, but to some extend made some Ashantis part of the Volta Region. Ewhes do no refer to Nfantis as a eblutor, but only other Akans. The matter was that the Ashantihene want a salt tree to be planted at Anloga in Kumasi for him and his people by Ewhes whose friendship he lost but found again, hence Eblutor.
i and i 7 years ago
hahaha which professor taught you this that ewes defeated Asantes at akatamanso war? You are re-writing history right?
hahaha which professor taught you this that ewes defeated Asantes at akatamanso war? You are re-writing history right?
ELINAM 7 years ago
Aye means trick and avu means dog in the Evwhe language.(a)yevu - a trickish dog - shortened as yevu. Yi means white and dzi means red. Those two descriptions are missing in yevu. Unless you wanna say the evwhe ppl do not k ... read full comment
Aye means trick and avu means dog in the Evwhe language.(a)yevu - a trickish dog - shortened as yevu. Yi means white and dzi means red. Those two descriptions are missing in yevu. Unless you wanna say the evwhe ppl do not know how to describe what they see. white skin person would be ameyior ameye. In EVWHE, those have a very dark skin are described as ameyi as the color black is described as yibor but they do not say ameyibo to describe complexion it's rather shortened as ameyi. White sometimes is pronounced as ye but depending on who is speaking but yi is the most common in descriptions when it comes to white cloths and white fowl,eg koklo yi which is somehow similar to fi taa in Akan.
AA(Naked) say as it is 7 years ago
Br? in twi language means over or above the sea.
Abr?kyire means over sea.
The word ?br?ni in twi language means a person from over sea country, Abr?fo or ?br?ni doesn't mean a wicked person. ??br?ni k?k?? is a derogatory ... read full comment
Br? in twi language means over or above the sea.
Abr?kyire means over sea.
The word ?br?ni in twi language means a person from over sea country, Abr?fo or ?br?ni doesn't mean a wicked person. ??br?ni k?k?? is a derogatory terms mean devil, in akan culture k?k?? represent a bad thing so refering person using red signifies many bad things
AA(Naked) say as it is 7 years ago
Br? in twi language means over or above the sea.
Abr?kyire means over sea.
The word ?br?ni in twi language means a person from over sea country, Abr?fo or ?br?ni doesn't mean a wicked person. ??br?ni k?k?? is a derogatory ... read full comment
Br? in twi language means over or above the sea.
Abr?kyire means over sea.
The word ?br?ni in twi language means a person from over sea country, Abr?fo or ?br?ni doesn't mean a wicked person. ??br?ni k?k?? is a derogatory terms mean devil, in akan culture k?k?? represent a bad thing so refering person using red signifies many bad things
Markos Lemma. MD, Phd 7 years ago
It suffice to quote One of the great African leader of this millennium: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandeba or affectionately named Madiba once said quote unquote: "... I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself "
It suffice to quote One of the great African leader of this millennium: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandeba or affectionately named Madiba once said quote unquote: "... I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself "
poers 7 years ago
a WELL-BALANCED ARTICLE. tHOUGHT-PROVOKING.
a WELL-BALANCED ARTICLE. tHOUGHT-PROVOKING.
IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA 7 years ago
I WAS ALL THE TIME WONDERING WHY THE AKANS CALL CALL ME PEPENI. WITH YOUR EXPLANATION I NOW KNOW THAT IT IS NOT DEROGATORY. THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION.
I WAS ALL THE TIME WONDERING WHY THE AKANS CALL CALL ME PEPENI. WITH YOUR EXPLANATION I NOW KNOW THAT IT IS NOT DEROGATORY. THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION.
MARK BOLGA 7 years ago
The author of this article is a brave man. He has treated a very sensitive topic with such alacrity. Kudos
The author of this article is a brave man. He has treated a very sensitive topic with such alacrity. Kudos
Markos Lemma. MD, Phd 7 years ago
More quotes:
Syephen Atta Owusu's Article has demonstrated that what The Great Scientist of the last millenium Albert Einstein has said. Quote unquote: "..Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The importan ... read full comment
More quotes:
Syephen Atta Owusu's Article has demonstrated that what The Great Scientist of the last millenium Albert Einstein has said. Quote unquote: "..Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning"
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 7 years ago
Stephen, point of correction. First, it was my late grandmother who explained the words "pepeni and ntafuo" to us (my younger sister and I) when we lived with her. Again, I first wrote about the two words, their origin, meani ... read full comment
Stephen, point of correction. First, it was my late grandmother who explained the words "pepeni and ntafuo" to us (my younger sister and I) when we lived with her. Again, I first wrote about the two words, their origin, meaning and relevance to contemporary Ghanaian politics in 2012, soon after the then Vice-President assumed the office of the president after the sudden death of President Mills and people started referring to him as "pepeni or tani". See my article entitled, "Is Pepeni still Relevant in Contemporary Ghanaian Politics", Ghanaweb, September 4, 2012
It appears my comment on Charles Agbenu's article is now what others remember but I also made reference to the September article in that comment. Your article has given insightful information on the entomology of other terminologies used in Ghana and they are very educative.As you rightly pointed out, the origins and meanings of words are different to different groups and in different places and they do change over time. An original negative word could change to positive over time and space and vice versa. For that reason, there will always be disagreements on the true origins and meanings of words, particularly in a culture that some of these were not documented on paper or written down by passed onto generation by word of mouth. This is a good contribution to the debate and I am sure yours will not be the last.
G. K. Berko 7 years ago
Kofi, you are right. Stephen would not be the last... as surely he has not been the first to invoke a productive discussion on this sensitive topic. But what he has achieved with his article is lifting the topic to a new and ... read full comment
Kofi, you are right. Stephen would not be the last... as surely he has not been the first to invoke a productive discussion on this sensitive topic. But what he has achieved with his article is lifting the topic to a new and more academic elevation for all of us to contribute healthily to it.
That could well be a much solid foundation from which to dilute the squalid, fetid ethnic tensions we have mostly been led by Politics to build among us, often spewing derogation per those terms at each other.
We must always remember that it has long been the habit of us all to infuse derogatory sensitivity into many of these terms that originally were just benign description of those we could not understand linguistically. We all fear the unknown, the inexplicable, the hard to fathom, even if to varied extents. It is the fear that breeds suspicion, as we then tend to find a comforting alliance with others we understand for some security against those others we fear, or distrust.
The above partly, at least, explains why racism and tribal or ethnic tensions rise in all societies when economic conditions go sour in Nations or Communities we share with others we see as different.
That is the angle from which the Politicians have often moved to divide and conquer us all. We are experiencing an upsurge of that phenomenon in the USA right now, where the many American Whites blame immigrants for their relative hardships of the moment.
In Ghana, we have allowed such tribal and ethnic differences to eat deeper into our Politics, lately. Dr. Nkrumah in his visionary wisdom foresaw the need to mitigate that temptation very early, and that is part of his reason for rejecting the Federal system Dr. Busia and Dr. Dankwa and others advocated for, and also for inserting into our Constitution a section that banned tribal or ethnic Political Parties.
The various Coups that ensued after Nkrumah did little to assuage the fears of such inclination, and allowed us to drift further into tribal Politics. In fact, in some instances, coded inflammatory rhetoric that claimed some superiority to a particular group or two by some of the Coup leaders emerged. But largely, the Coups that succeeded, as if to affirm our intrinsic preference for diversity, prominently featured joint leadership of Soldiers from different tribal and ethnic backgrounds. Those that failed were noticeably skewed with the preponderance of a particular ethnicity at the leadership.
Nevertheless, unfortunately, the Politicians who emerged from the Coups could only see themselves achieve their parochial goals by invoking their loyalty to their particular Tribes or Ethnicities. They always searched for some reasons to divide us more on those lines. That attitude infected the ordinary folks to make many believe more steeply in their illusive superiority over other Ethnic groups. The Ethnic groups or Tribes that felt besieged then began to close ranks to seek and share opportunities more selfishly within themselves. Thus, all that subtly re-arranged people's desires to claim the larger share of our national cake to themselves and their Ethnicity, or Tribes, at the expense of all other groups.
If only we could use such insightful information as Mr. Atta Owusu has so elegantly laid up, we just might succeed to be less disrespectful and more appreciative of the other Tribes or Ethnicities, and draw closer to one another for united efforts at building our Nation.
Long Live Ghana!!!
Berchie 7 years ago
This is an interesting and educative article. It would have been perfect if the author had expanded the research to know how "Northerners" refer to Akans. I am told it's translated to mean "donkey" because it was strange fo ... read full comment
This is an interesting and educative article. It would have been perfect if the author had expanded the research to know how "Northerners" refer to Akans. I am told it's translated to mean "donkey" because it was strange for them in the years of yore to see a person carrying a load on his/her head as the Akan did and still do. It's interesting these days northerners also carry goods/loads on their head. Are Akans offended by that "derogatory" description? I don't think so.
I am your nightmare 7 years ago
Ashantis are referred to as as "Asantawa"...
Ashantis are referred to as as "Asantawa"...
Efo Atsu 7 years ago
I enjoyed reading this piece of information. It was excellently put and neutral but very educative and ethical.
I enjoyed reading this piece of information. It was excellently put and neutral but very educative and ethical.
KKO 7 years ago
Stephen,
This is an interesting piece. You forgot “Habanasefo” or people from the forest areas. As used by Coastal Fantes, to describe people from up country. That was one of the terms used by Ata mills in his 2012 camp ... read full comment
Stephen,
This is an interesting piece. You forgot “Habanasefo” or people from the forest areas. As used by Coastal Fantes, to describe people from up country. That was one of the terms used by Ata mills in his 2012 campaign in the Central Region, particularly among the fisher folk. Again, some Fantes will tell you it is not derogatory, but it is!
With respect to “Obroni” and “Abrofo”, I believe the term began in Fanteland, when white people first came in contact with the Fantes. “Abrokyir” in Mfantsi literally means “overseas.” Therefore “Buronyi” (Abrofo, plural) means someone or people from “Abrokyir” and not “Oborfo” or “Aborfo” for a wicked person or persons.
KA 7 years ago
Those of us interested in the topic have learnt a lot from the contributions.
KKO, yours is also a very worthy addition to our stock of knowledge.
Thanks for the candid admission that "Habanasefo" is derogatory.
Those of us interested in the topic have learnt a lot from the contributions.
KKO, yours is also a very worthy addition to our stock of knowledge.
Thanks for the candid admission that "Habanasefo" is derogatory.
Paa Willie 7 years ago
Good article. Congratulations to the author!
Good article. Congratulations to the author!
Afrifa Richmond 7 years ago
No matter your race,it is the same human blood that runs through each other.We shouldn't look dowm upon anyone.Different colours,but one people.
No matter your race,it is the same human blood that runs through each other.We shouldn't look dowm upon anyone.Different colours,but one people.
Kwami - US 7 years ago
Blu/Eblu in Ewe means Brong in Akan. Blutorwo/Bluawo means people who speak the Blu language which is Brong(Akan)language. One example of Bluawo/Eblutorwo (Plural) is Brong Ahafo. The Ewe language that is spoken in Aneho (Ane ... read full comment
Blu/Eblu in Ewe means Brong in Akan. Blutorwo/Bluawo means people who speak the Blu language which is Brong(Akan)language. One example of Bluawo/Eblutorwo (Plural) is Brong Ahafo. The Ewe language that is spoken in Aneho (Anecho by colonizers) is Mina or Gaingbe (Ga).The Mina people originated from El Mina and the Gain also originated from Ga/Adagme. And when the two tribes came to meet at Aneho both started practicing the Ewe language using a different accent that is known today as Mina/Gaingbe.The people of Aneho (Ane or Anani,hor/xor means building). So Anaho literally means 'Ane's building'. Ane is the short form of Anani in Togo but in Ghana it becomes Anan/Anane.
Bolo,Finland 7 years ago
This piece of writing has really clarified the prejudices we have with each other and it's my fervent hope that many literates/elites would read to discard all unnecessary,pessimistic and unfruitful impasse amongst tribes.Onc ... read full comment
This piece of writing has really clarified the prejudices we have with each other and it's my fervent hope that many literates/elites would read to discard all unnecessary,pessimistic and unfruitful impasse amongst tribes.Once again bravo!
Stephen-Pipes Afrifa 7 years ago
This article has really given me an understanding as to how the word PEPENI came about and it's meaning really causes no harm. However, the way some of the Akans mention the said word sometimes provoke the northerners which t ... read full comment
This article has really given me an understanding as to how the word PEPENI came about and it's meaning really causes no harm. However, the way some of the Akans mention the said word sometimes provoke the northerners which they in turn give a twist to it, hence always angry with such..... But from this article I know I brothers and sisters from the north will understand
Ashenafi Degefu Phd 7 years ago
A Reply To: OOO
You made one serious mistake because of your absent of knowledge. The recorded history of the past 70 years or so teaches us that B. Hussein Obsma is the most violent warrior and warmonger in the U.S history. ... read full comment
A Reply To: OOO
You made one serious mistake because of your absent of knowledge. The recorded history of the past 70 years or so teaches us that B. Hussein Obsma is the most violent warrior and warmonger in the U.S history. He came to power criticizing George W. Bush for one unjustified war against Iraq and with a promise of peace and equality of Nations. But after coming to power he has executed 5 wars together with France and small Britain and killed well over 5 million people ( Only in Lybia 1 million people) and brutally destroyed the infrastructure of Lybia; Obama together with with a Stone Age tyrants of Saudi Arabia, Quatar and Turkey has financed, trained and armed the former Sadam Hussein Special forces and founded the monster ISIS:ISIL. As far as corruption is concerned according to the Whistelblowers, Obama is not immune either. Furthermore, he has become an attack dog for a violent, militarist H.Clinton. It is important to mention that heavy weight and 4 Star Generals and former top CIA employees have two- three times have warned the American people not to endanger the future of the planet by voting for H. Clinton. It will take time but surely the Whistelblowers will make it public the extent of Obama's corruption. H.Clinton hates Russia because Russia has reclaimed its place in military terms its place in the world stage, In fact already having an edge in Nuclear Submarine, Fighter destroyers jets and in defense and Offence Rocket technology and the Rusdian President has made it clear that Never again will a war will be fought even in One sq.m of The Russian soil and that Russia reserves it's right to first use its destructive Nuclear ICBM's and Short range Nuclear missiles which can penetrate all the available U.S defense systems.May God al mighty save the World from a Nuclear Hollocaust. Thoug he is having his own slip of the toungue, however it is not comparable to the liar, corrupt, warmonger H. Clinton for whom Obama has become an attack dog. As the saying goes: ".. Tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are" . I sincerely hope that Donald Trump will win the Presidency so that we will hopefully come out of the sabre rattling and war mongering policy of the Violen and warrior policy of Obama and Clinton.
Oti Akenteng 7 years ago
Good article but it doesn,t matter how we regard or call each others,Peace And Love is what we need.
Good article but it doesn,t matter how we regard or call each others,Peace And Love is what we need.
Dan 7 years ago
This is a good piece to enlighten our understanding of some terminologis used by us. Though not all may agree with the meaningsame but it worth reading.
This is a good piece to enlighten our understanding of some terminologis used by us. Though not all may agree with the meaningsame but it worth reading.
Whether pepeni or kambonga, headcutters,or snail eaters you are all as black as charcoal. Who cares about you all? I pity your sel-imposed superiority.
Serious and humorous at times
When I was a child, my friends nicknamed me "nt3 homa" because I loved playing marbles and hated to lose at the game. I used to get really angry when they called me that name. Now, I laugh whe ...
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Why are you Asantes like that? Why dont you also state the derogatory names you call Ewes?
When I asked an uncle why we call the Akans Eblu tor, he explained to me that the speakers of Twi speaks as if they're shouting hence the word blu which means raising one voice while being annoyed. But amazingly the Fantiawo ...
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ELINAM, read Asimpi's contribution bellow. He has a slightly different take...
Your contribution is great too... If only what our grandparents told us could be based on solid research that is beyond the oral stories handed ...
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Well, we'd refused to travel and see thing for ourselves. Anexor is just three hours from Accra and one hour from Keta, and thirty minutes from Aflao.
Following the trail of languages, you'll see the similarity in our langu ...
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When l was about to read this article , l was murmuring to myself this article is too long and it will steal my lunchbreak ,but here l'm praising this writer , this is amazing , a touch of lingual and history, not politicised ...
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How can u be an illiterate, with no education, no business, no money, no property and have the nerve to look down on ur fellow man...? Fools
Well done. I enjoyed reading it.
History for a change. Politics must be forgotten, at least for a while. There are some phrases in this article that made me laugh though. Specially the Yevo phrase "sly dog" fits the white man's description accurately. More o ...
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This is a great and noble article! However,I feel we should try to stop this name-calling culture and unite as Ghanaians and Africans to develop our county or countries.
Whatever we do, others see us as Black people. We ha ...
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I just listened to Obama's speech at the DNC congress, and I have come to the conclusion that we have an intellectual midget, in the person of Mahama, as our president. wow! what a speech? and Mahama called himself a communic ...
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Don't try to put presiden Barrack Obama and looter John Mahama in one category. John Mahama does not come even one million miles closer to president Obama. President Obama is morally upright, while John Mahama is moraally ban ...
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Have you ever listened to our tsiami/kyeami? Aren't they magic the way they play with words? And if you haven't, ask someone who had lived in a palace or around traditional ceremonies.Black people by nature can be great poet ...
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How do you teach Hi-Tech to the School Kids? Do you Have Physics, Chemistry Biology books in the Ghanaian languages?
Translate and write new books on all subjects.
YOUTUBE Dr. Obadele Kambon a linguist of Legon who was born and raised in NY but now in Ghana teaching Akan language to crazy Ghanaians, and he is teaching her daughter physics, ...
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Can you translate "Overdrive Processor, Algorithms, MetalOxide-Feild Effect-Transistor,Avalanche-Breakdown, Oscillating Frequency, impeadance matching,cross-over modulation"etc in Twi?
Keep talking this BULLSHIT. Just remem ...
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Ask your parasite brothers living Akanland the languague the speak. They don't speak Ewe there, but twi. How many Ghanaians speak Twi? Almost everybody in Ghana.
How many speak your killer ewe language. Only Ewes speak tha ...
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Sorry, Look at your Universities. Taken over completely BY EWES. Is their IQ higher? NO, not necessarily. The trick is they speak better English and can pass Exams!!!
If you want to live KOKOASE lifestyle, keep REFUSING Eng ...
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What arrant nonsense that almost everyone speaks Twi in Ghana! What are your stats to back this stupid and ignorant assertion?
What do you mean by describing Ewe as "that heavy language"? Your language Twi may be "light", ...
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If you and your entire householdare not speaking Twi instead of your heavy Ewe languague, how could you survive in Kumasi? Your carpentary products are bought by the Akans. If you are not speaking Twi how could you sell your ...
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Stop fooling yourself. Do you really know & understand HI-TECH world? How many Twi speakers are in Ghana? Every 2 years, Technology CHANGES. Who the FUCK is there to be writing books for maybe 10 million Twi Speakers of which ...
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You only pointed one finger at Mahama but had the rest pointing back at yourself. What an Intellectual giant'. Chaeii!!
The twi word for a white person is oburoni coined from aburokyire. Aburo (not corn) is the original twi word for large expanse of water (sea or lake)as in abura (small stagnant water/well)so oburoni is a person who comes from ...
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Kokuvi, do you have the evidence that Oburoni was coined from aburokyire or you're also just saying something you heard which you think makes sense?
Is it not more likely that our ancestors who first met the white man will ...
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Skin colour would have been kokoo (light skin) but as you said, it's possible the actual meaning is lost!
Did we have such sharp ethnic segmentation among Ghanaians before 'con man' JJ Rawlings and his Ewe tribemen came to steal power through the most satanic revolution the world has ever witnessed? Ghanaians should sit down and ...
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Check the case "Salah & Apollo" Busia sacked most Ewes in Civil Service.
Before that, Akans made a coup in 1967 went and killed ONLY Ewe military officers.(Capt Borkloe, Capt Avevor, Gen Kotoka) Stop distorting History.
This Ewe looter, who call himself 'No No nonsense, but has no little sense in his armorphous shaped head. He is here to attack people who say the truth.
I know he is or his father is among Ewe gangsters led by 'con and bo ...
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Fine. Your comments well read.
But note that this segregation or tribalism became more pronounced when Busia took over the reigns of government.
In a recent article,a writer from one of the war-torn areas in West Africa warned Ghanaians not to introduce tribal differences in our politics since this was a dangerous path to thread.He has seen the same tribal differences ...
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I am half Ewe and half Akan.I was born in Takoradi Army Barracks.
I spoke Hausa,Ewe and Akan,
My uncles are the Priest of the Klikor Afegame shrine and Nogokpo shrine.
Anytime i go to visit them,they say Dzogbedzitor has c ...
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Ewe is a structured language. Most Ewe names or nouns are actually phrases or sentences. "BLU" means "SCREAM" or "YELL". It also means "PROTEST"
"E-BLUTOR-WO" will in this case mean "THE PROTESTER-S"- This probably came fr ...
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DR. PROUD, I'm afraid, you're totally wrong here. Yes, "Blu" can and does also mean to "yell" or "scream"; it's one of the homonyms we are dealing with here. And homonyms have quite different and diverse meanings. To get the ...
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good one there
Insightful
I'm surprised to read your statement that the Ewes themselves don't quite know how they came to call all Akans "eblutorwo". As an Ewe, I've known the meaning of the term and I've not met any Ewe who doesn't understand it, for ...
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What is the meaning of Ohuani
I don't know the meaning, but I know that certain part of Ghana, Ewes are called "shwafoc'.
Good contribution and quite informative especially the one about the probable etymology of "eblutowo". Your narrative about "ayigbe" also sounds more logical. If all the Gas were moving and one part got lost, how come they st ...
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Thank you Dr Asimpi.
Mr. Stephen Atta Owusu, a version of the etymology of the word "Ayigbe" escaped my mind when I was writing my contribution last night in response to your article. I'm therefore adding it now.
According to Jakob Spieth, "Ay ...
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But the Ewes do not call themselves "Ayi gbe silawo". It is others who call them ayigbe. If Spieth's thesis is right, then those who call them so must be speakers of Ewe. How else could they use such a descriptive Ewe phrase ...
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Can't be true. Ayi is for Ayikushie. The German can't be right simply because he's a priest and wrote a book about people he knew nothing about in 1909.
My grand mother never being to school but from a royal family in Anglo ...
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But Spieth may have talked to people much older than your grandmother and therefore nearer to the events that started the oral tradition.
I don't give much credence to his theory but you should not just dismiss him off ha ...
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absolutely brilliant. I loved this masterpiece. Wow! But again, hmmm, the oburonis suffer most. They are chased and chanted at, "oburoni k)k) makyen ya fikyri gongo"..."Yevu yevu gaiga"..."blofo nyo bi tatale"..."Bature banza ...
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Stephen Atta Owusu has displayed in yet another piece, his ability to produce articles based on background research, a characteristic lacking in the majority of opinion pieces on this platform. Also, it is re-assuring to note ...
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i wish to commend all of us who have commented, except one or two, for providing us with education and insightful angles. it is refreshing to read comments and articles that educate you. well done Mr. Writer
NICE EDUCATIVE PIECE AND CONGRAT. BUT I GUESS U GOT THE MEANING OF YEVU WRONG.YEVU MEANS RED OR WHITE SKIN PERSON.
Most names have negative connotation..
Russians are people who cut or fell trees. The Poles are people who live in the grassland. To the Slavs Ukraine is like Amedzofe as it is to the Ewhes. Russians had the French as their ...
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hahaha which professor taught you this that ewes defeated Asantes at akatamanso war? You are re-writing history right?
Aye means trick and avu means dog in the Evwhe language.(a)yevu - a trickish dog - shortened as yevu. Yi means white and dzi means red. Those two descriptions are missing in yevu. Unless you wanna say the evwhe ppl do not k ...
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Br? in twi language means over or above the sea.
Abr?kyire means over sea.
The word ?br?ni in twi language means a person from over sea country, Abr?fo or ?br?ni doesn't mean a wicked person. ??br?ni k?k?? is a derogatory ...
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Br? in twi language means over or above the sea.
Abr?kyire means over sea.
The word ?br?ni in twi language means a person from over sea country, Abr?fo or ?br?ni doesn't mean a wicked person. ??br?ni k?k?? is a derogatory ...
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It suffice to quote One of the great African leader of this millennium: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandeba or affectionately named Madiba once said quote unquote: "... I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself "
a WELL-BALANCED ARTICLE. tHOUGHT-PROVOKING.
I WAS ALL THE TIME WONDERING WHY THE AKANS CALL CALL ME PEPENI. WITH YOUR EXPLANATION I NOW KNOW THAT IT IS NOT DEROGATORY. THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION.
The author of this article is a brave man. He has treated a very sensitive topic with such alacrity. Kudos
More quotes:
Syephen Atta Owusu's Article has demonstrated that what The Great Scientist of the last millenium Albert Einstein has said. Quote unquote: "..Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The importan ...
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Stephen, point of correction. First, it was my late grandmother who explained the words "pepeni and ntafuo" to us (my younger sister and I) when we lived with her. Again, I first wrote about the two words, their origin, meani ...
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Kofi, you are right. Stephen would not be the last... as surely he has not been the first to invoke a productive discussion on this sensitive topic. But what he has achieved with his article is lifting the topic to a new and ...
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This is an interesting and educative article. It would have been perfect if the author had expanded the research to know how "Northerners" refer to Akans. I am told it's translated to mean "donkey" because it was strange fo ...
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Ashantis are referred to as as "Asantawa"...
I enjoyed reading this piece of information. It was excellently put and neutral but very educative and ethical.
Stephen,
This is an interesting piece. You forgot “Habanasefo” or people from the forest areas. As used by Coastal Fantes, to describe people from up country. That was one of the terms used by Ata mills in his 2012 camp ...
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Those of us interested in the topic have learnt a lot from the contributions.
KKO, yours is also a very worthy addition to our stock of knowledge.
Thanks for the candid admission that "Habanasefo" is derogatory.
Good article. Congratulations to the author!
No matter your race,it is the same human blood that runs through each other.We shouldn't look dowm upon anyone.Different colours,but one people.
Blu/Eblu in Ewe means Brong in Akan. Blutorwo/Bluawo means people who speak the Blu language which is Brong(Akan)language. One example of Bluawo/Eblutorwo (Plural) is Brong Ahafo. The Ewe language that is spoken in Aneho (Ane ...
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This piece of writing has really clarified the prejudices we have with each other and it's my fervent hope that many literates/elites would read to discard all unnecessary,pessimistic and unfruitful impasse amongst tribes.Onc ...
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This article has really given me an understanding as to how the word PEPENI came about and it's meaning really causes no harm. However, the way some of the Akans mention the said word sometimes provoke the northerners which t ...
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A Reply To: OOO
You made one serious mistake because of your absent of knowledge. The recorded history of the past 70 years or so teaches us that B. Hussein Obsma is the most violent warrior and warmonger in the U.S history. ...
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Good article but it doesn,t matter how we regard or call each others,Peace And Love is what we need.
This is a good piece to enlighten our understanding of some terminologis used by us. Though not all may agree with the meaningsame but it worth reading.
Very interesting article. Well done bro.
Is it only now you saw this piece?
Anyway, better late than never...