eee eee eee ee eee ee ee ae Anticipation Nana Adaku II, Omanhene of Akwasin, was celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his accession to the stool of Akwasin. The capital, Nkwabi, was thronged with people from the outlying towns and villages. It was in the height of the cocoa season, money was circulating freely and farmers were spending to their hearts’ content. Friends who had not seen one another for a long time were renewing their friendship. They called with gifts of gin, champagne or whiskey, recalled old days with gusto and before depart- ing imbibed most of the drinks they brought as gifts, No one cared, everyone was happy. Few could be seen in European attire; nearly all were in Gold Coast costume. The men had tokota sandals on their feet, and rich multi- colored velvet and gorgeous, hand-woven kente cloths nicely wrapped round their bodies. The women, with golden ear-rings dangling, with golden chains and bracelets, looked dignified in their colorful native attire. ‘The state drums were beating paeans of joy. It was four o'clock in the afternoon and people were walking to the state park where the Odwira was to be staged. Enclosures of palm leaves decorated the grounds, ‘The Omanhene arrived in a palanguin under a brightly-patterned state umbrella, a golden crown on his head, his kente studded with tiny golden beads, rows upon rows of golden necklaces piled high on his chest. He wore bracelets of gold from the wrists right up to the elbows. He held in his right hand a decorated elephant {ail which ke waved to his enthusiastic, cheering people. In front of him sat his “soul,” a young boy of twelve, holding the sword of office. After the Omanhene came the Adontehene, the next in importance. He was resplendent in rich green and red velvet cloth; his head band was studded with golden bars. Other chiefs came one after the other under their brightly. colored state umbrellas. The procession was long. The crowd raised checrs as each palanquin was lowered, and the drums went on beating resounding joys of jubilation; The Omanhene took his seat on the dais with his Elders. The District Commissioner, Captain Hobbs, was near him. Sasa, the jester, looked ludicrous in his motley pair of trousers and his cap of monkey skin, From An Afelcan Treasury, edited by Langston Hughes. © 1080 by Langston Hughes. Used by permision of (Crown Publishes, In,ves, om, ant, GHANA + Mabel Dove-Danquah ‘He made faces at the Omanhene, he leered, did acrobatic stunts; the Omanhene could not laugh: it was against custom for the great Chief to be moved to laughter in public, The state park presented a scene of barbaric splendor. Chiefs and their retinue sat on native stools under state umbrellas of diverse colors. The golden linguist staves of office gleamed in the sunlight. The women, like tropical butterflies, looked charming in their multicolored brocaded silk, kente and velvet, and the Oduku headdress, black and shiny, studded with long golden Pins and slides. Young men paraded the grounds, their flowing cloths trailing behind them, their silken plaited headbands glittering in the sun, ‘The drums beat on. ‘The women are going to perform the celebrated Adowa dance, The deco- rated calabashes make rhythm. The women run a few steps, move slowly sideways and sway their shoulders. One dancer looks particularly enchanting in her green, blue and red square kente, moving with the simple, charming grace of a wild woodland creature: the Chief is stirred, and throws a handful of loose cash into the crowd of dancers. She smiles as the coins fall on her and tinkle to the ground. There is a rush. She makes no sign but keeps on dancing, ‘The Omanhene turns to his trusted ling “Who is that beautiful dancer?” “Lam sorry, 1 do not know her.” “I must have her as a wife.” that lately he kept calling them by the wrong names. His new wife cried bitterly when he called her Oda, the name of an old, ugly wife. “This dancer is totally different," thought the Chief; “she will be a joy to the palace.” He turned round to the linguist: “I will pay one hundred pounds for her. “She might already be married, Nana.” “I shall pay the husband any moneys he demands." The linguist knew his Omanhene: when he desired a woman he usually had his way. “Get fifty pounds from the chief treasurer, find the relatives, give them the money and when she is in my palace tonight I shall give her the balance of the fifty pounds. Give the linguist staff to Kojo and begin your investigations now. Nana Adaku II was a fast worker, He was like men all over the world when they are stirred by feminine charm: a shapely leg, the flash of an eye, the quiver 117of @ nostril, the timbre of a voice, and the male species becomes frenzy Personified: Many men go through this sort of mania until they reach theis dotage, The cynics among them treat women with a little flattery, bland tolerance, and take fine care not to become seriously entangled for lifa Women, on the other hand, use quite a lot of common sense: They are not particularly thrilled by the physical charms of a man; if his pockets are heavy and his OE nan eure: he is @ good matrimonial risk, But there is evolving a new type of hardheaded modern woman who insists on the perfect lover as well as te income and other necessaries, or stays forever from the unbliss of marriage. By 6 p.m. Nana Adaku I! was getting bored with the whole assembly and Was very glad to get into his palanquin. The state umbrellas danced, the chiefs Sat again in their palanquins, the crowd cheered wildly, the drums beat, Soon the shadows of evening fell and the enclosures of palm leaves in the state park stood empty and deserted. The Omanhene had taken his bath after dusk and changed into a gold and Sreen brocaded cloth. Two male servants stood on elther side and fanned hina accession to the Akwasin Stool, He must have dozed. When he woke up the young woman was kneeling by his feet. He raised her onto the settee, “Were you pleased to come?” “I was pleased to do Nana's bidding.” “Good girl. What is your name? “Effua, my lord and master.” itis @ beautiful name, and you are a beautiful woman too. Here are fifty sold sovereigns, the balance of the marriage dowry. We will marry privately tonight and do the necessary custom afterward,” Nana Adaku Il is net the first man to use this technique. Civilized, semi-civilized and primitive men all over the world have said the very same thing in nearly the same words, “I shall give the money to my mother,” said the sensible girl, “She is in the corridor. May I?" The Chief nodded assent. Effua returned, “Nana, my mother and other relatives want to thank you for the hundred pounds,” “There is n0 need, my beauty,” and he played with the ivory beads lying 0 snugly on her bosom, “They think you must have noticed some extraordinary charm in me for yor qo have spent so much money.” she smiled shyly at the Omanhene, “But, my dear, you are charming. Haven't they eyes?”i | | 1 | | | | | GHANA - Mabel Dove-Danquah 119 “But, Nana, I cannot understand it myself.” “You cannot, you modest woman. Look at yourself in that long mirror over there,” The git] smiled mischievously, went to the mitror, looked at herself. She came back and sat on the settee and leaned her head on his bosom. “You are a lovely girl, Effua.” He caressed her shiny black hair, so artistically plaited. “But, my master, I have always been like this, haven't I?” “I suppose so, beautiful, but I only saw you today." “You only saw me today?” “Today.” “Have you forgotten?" “Forgotten what, my love?” “You paid fifty pounds... and married me two years ago.” What does this story reveal about marriage customs in Africa? Might this story have been developed differently if the writer had been a man? The love most frequently praised by writers is young love — bold and courageous.