Fact Number One: South African music legend Hugh Masakela speaks better Fanti than me. Which doesn't say much since my Fanti doesn't travel far beyond basic greetings.
Fact Number Two: Senegalese singer Akon is a descendant of a family of fisher folk originally from Ghana. And his real (Ghanaian) name is Ackon. Or so claimed a guest at the wedding reception I hosted at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
Akon wasn't available for me to verify his ancestry but as for Hugh Masakela, I met him. He was the reason wedding guests stayed deep into the night shaking their bodies to 'Lady', 'Rekpete' and his other hits. I was privileged to share a few words with Uncle Hugh just before he went onstage. I didn't test his Fanti but it turns out he's married to a lady from the Volta Region. And by the way, his pronunciation of EÊ‹e words is impeccable. At the end of our chat, I asked him how he'd like to be introduced. "Don't overdo it!" he growled, eyes twinkling at the same time.
I'm glad to report I didn't disobey.
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