Me: Akosua, I’m going for a book reading at 5:30pm today oo.

Akosua: You kraa what boring life are you living? You’re dressing up to go sit down and fall asleep?!

If I had listened to my best friend, I most probably would’ve missed out on one of the most exciting, fun-filled things I’d have encountered in my entire lifetime.

Romancing Oseikrom Sebitically: A Book Reading, was a program put together by three renowned writers Nana Awere Damoah, Kofi Akpabli and Alba K. Sumprim. With daily Facebook posts as my countdown I was totally and completely gingered up at 5:30pm as I entered the auditorium. Just before I could get to the door I met Uncle Kofi. My heart skipped ten beats! After the exchange of greetings, he asked if I knew him personally, to which I replied in the negative, telling him that the closest I had ever been to knowing him was via Facebook- now that brought forth a smile and a statement I never expected; Send me a friend request and we’ll take it from there. Kuukua Yawson could’ve fainted! I smiled. I just smiled and replied with a resounding ‘definitely’. All emotions within me could not be brought out yet- the program had not even begun!

Oseikrom’s romance story started on a humorous note, all thanks to our exceptional moderator and a new friend of mine, David Aglah. His mannerisms and jokes set the tone for what promised to be an awesome event.

The book reading was to be done in three major sessions, with interludes in-between. These interludes were for interaction with the audience, giving them the opportunity to give submissions, ask questions and also share experiences which were in relation to book excerpts that had been read.

The first session was really exciting and cannot be easily forgotten. Nana Awere started our journey with the ever famous ‘You know you’re in Ghana when…..’ piece. All examples given were as typical of us as Ghanaians.

• You know you’re in Ghana when journalists, like sign writers, do not use dictionaries.
• You know you’re in Ghana when drivers attempt a U-turn at a T-junction.

Nana’s examples took me back to various instances I’d experienced, but had never really read meaning into, simply because they were occurrences I’d considered a normality in the society. A famous example would be our president being blamed for our frequent power outages (Mahama has taken our light!). He also made me realize how happy we are as a country; no matter the situation, Ghanaians had a way of bringing out its humorous side, all in a bid to keep their sanity.

The wheel was taken over by Kofi Akpabli who engaged us in an emotional talk about fufu. I was transported back home, to all the Sundays I spent watching my parents engage in a game of fufu pounding.

Daddy is sweating as he pounds, with mummy rhythmically swerving the pestle. My brother and I are fighting endlessly about whose turn it is to clean up after the game came to an end. All those worries and fights practically evaporated as soon as the fufu was set before us, with daddy getting his usual- two gigantic mountains (probably because of his hard work and loss of body fluids).

I longed for one Sunday, just one Sunday back at home for one last bowl of soft fufu with thick soup!

Alba! Or should I say Araba Sumprim. She charmed us with her personality, as well as her style of reading. With tales based on our very famous catch phrases ‘Are you sure?’, ‘3ny3 hwee’, Alba left us laughing and clapping until the very last sentence.

The second and last sessions were just as exciting. We discovered a great aspect of Ghanaian culture: Soup, as well as the various methods of its consumption. We took a trip to an all new version of the Olympics, where Ghana was greatly represented and assured a silver medal in one and one sport only- Spitting! We drank a few glasses of Akpeteshie, the drink that surpasses Jack Daniels in sales without any form of advertisement! We even earned a lot of REES-PECT from fellow Rasta men who identified with our new hairstyle.

The book reading ended on a very commendable note: Sobolo! Clara Fianu’s Norte Sobolo is one of the best original sobolo I’ve ever had (an excellent ratio of sugar: sobolo). There was lots of popcorn and books. We had the chance of taking pictures with the writers individually and even as a group (their first ever after a reading).

Now my story begins.

After the reading, all I wanted was a photograph. Not just any photograph, but one with all three writers at the same time. Simple? Not in the least. Let me explain why.

Here I was, looking for the writers after the reading for my number one wish list item. I found Kofi Akpabli, right beside the entrance. I smiled. I began searching for NAD (who was on the other side of the entrance taking photographs) and Alba (who had been captured by more than a dozen other people for book signings), only to look back at the entrance to find that uncle Kofi had disappeared. This went on forever and by that I mean FOREVER!

I waited.

And waited.

It was almost 10pm- still no photograph. By this time the entrance was practically empty, leaving just the organizers and myself. I kept waiting.

NAD: We’re leaving oo! It’s getting late.

I could’ve cried! I still had not taken my photograph! I looked at Kobby Blay (the photographer) and looked at them, my face looking like I could cry any second. Realization struck and he quickly led me to them. Finally!

Nana was shocked; Kofi, not so much because I had made him aware earlier; Alba was….can I say happy?

So at 10 something pm, two legendary photographs were taken- the all serious photograph, and the swag-filled photograph (a splendid bonus!). As if that was not enough, I, Kuukua Tsetsewa Yawson, a simple happy child, had the opportunity to sit in the same vehicle with all the writers! ALL THREE OF THEM! Not just Nana, not just Kofi, not just Alba! The whole squad! Saturday felt like my birthday all over again (minus the cake lol).

Saturday was all in all, an awesome day for Oseikrom and we’re looking forward to more of such events in the years to come. I’d like to say thanks again to NAD, Kofi and Alba for being sebitically all shades of fantastic in their writings, readings and interactions. I’m officially never missing another reading session for anything in the world!

Kukie?.

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By Maame Akua T. Yawson

The writer, Maame Akua T. Yawson, is a fourth year Architecture student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology and blogs at www.notesofakukieblog.com.

The post Sebitically speaking: A romantic encounter with Oseikrom appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.