GLOSSARY

Pronunciation of Ghanaian words

· gy, dj, and dz are pronounced like j in just.

· ky is pronounced like ch in church.

· e is rarely if ever silent.

Terms

Abatasu: plant whose leaves are reputed to help rid a person of disturbing spirits.

Abeg (ah-beg): corruption of I beg you.

Adinkra: symbolic designs or logos used to decorate colorful patterned cloth, often expressing concepts such as bravery or loyalty. Originally used for funeral wear but now acceptable for other occasions and as a tourist item.

Akasa: porridge made from slightly fermented corn dough.

Ampe: a girls’ rhythmic jumping and clapping game in which the participant scores points according to which foot she puts forward at the end of a sequence in relation to the other player’s foot (reminiscent of rock-paper-scissors).

Ayekoo: congratulatory exclamation recognizing an achievement or hard work.

Banku: fermented corn-cassava dough mixed proportionally and cooked in hot water into a smooth, whitish paste. Bulla: vulgar for penis.

Calabash: dried, hollowed-out gourd used as a container.

Cedi: Ghana’s monetary unit, approximately equal to one U.S. dollar in this work.

Chaley: friend, familiar term only, as in buddy. Chaley-wate: sandals made from old, discarded rubber tires.

Chinchinga: Ghanaian shish kebab.

Chop bar: a small food establishment where quickly prepared meals can be bought. Cutlass: machete.

Dash: money given as a tip, gift, or bribe.

Durbar: ceremonial meeting of a Ghanaian chief and his subjects (deriv. Indo-Persian for “ruler’s court”).

Ewe: major language of the Volta Region spoken by approximately five million people in Ghana, Togo, and Benin (pronounced “eh-way”).

Fien nawo: Ewe for good evening (short form: fien).

Fufú: cassava, yam, or plantain pounded into a soft, glutinous mass and shaped into a smooth ball, usually as an accompaniment to soup, particularly palm nut soup.

Ga: predominant language of the Greater Accra Region.

Gari: starchy carbohydrate made from cassava, approximately the consistency of couscous.

Kai: expression of revulsion.

Kawkaw-kaw: verbal representation of a knock on the door, used to announce one’s arrival at someone’s home and to request entry.

Kelewele: ripe plantain cut in cubes and deep-fried with ginger and other spices till crispy.

Kontomire: stew made with cocoyam leaves, palm oil, hot peppers, and other flavorings.

Libation pouring: at many important events, tradition of pouring small amounts of alcohol or other liquid on the ground accompanied by entreaties to the gods and/or ancestors.

Ndo na wo: Ewe for good afternoon (short form: ndo).

Okro: variation of okra.

Oware: a count-and-capture game of strategy played with pebbles on a wooden board with shallow pits.

Shai Hills: forest and grassland reserve fifty kilometers northeast of Accra.

Small-small: just a little bit.

Toto: vulgar for vagina.

Tro-tro: passenger minivan commonly used throughout Ghana for mass transit. (From tro for three pence, the fare charged during British colonial rule.)

Woizo: Ewe word for welcome.

Zongo: any of a number of communities in Accra with large Moslem populations.

Kwei Quartey

Kwei Quartey was raised in Ghana by an African American mother and a Ghanaian father, both of whom were university lecturers. Dr. Kwei Quartey practices medicine in Southern California, rising early in the morning to write before going to work.