Many foreigners who are privileged to work in Ghana for more than a few weeks find themselves given a Ghanaian name. It usually begins with the question, 'On which day of the week were you born?' The Akans of southern Ghana have seven day names for boys and a corresponding set of day names for girls. So a day name is quickly decided for most friendly foreigners, but the award of a second or family name may take a little longer and will carry more weight if conferred by a person of high social status. The author was especially honoured to receive his full name from the Queen Mother of Ashanti.
The reason for the visit to the Queen Mother, sometime in the mid-1970s, was to seek an audience with the King, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku-Ware II. All land in Ashanti belongs to the Golden Stool and the King allocates leases to applicants who can satisfy him and his council of elders that their intended use of the land will benefit the people and meet certain statuary requirements. The author joined a party of local people who wanted land for a meeting centre in Kumasi for their organisation.
At the appointed time, the group waited upon the Queen Mother: Nana Amma Serwaa Nyarko II (1945 - 1977), at her palace in Manhyia, Kumasi, not far from the palace of the Asantehene. She received her guests seated at the centre of a line of six or seven other elderly women who were subordinate village queen mothers and advisors. The visitors were invited to sit in a facing line with the main spokesperson at the centre. The room was poorly lit but one could see that the Queen mother herself was of advanced years, still very alert and retaining the naturally serene bearing of royalty.
On such formal occasions it is usual for the Queen Mother to speak through an okyeame, or linguist, who will translate if the visitor does not speak the vernacular. Even if not required to translate, the okyeame will repeat the Queen Mother's words in the vernacular. It is usual for the supplicant to also speak through a linguist in the same way. The system involves a good deal of repetition but should leave no doubt about the understanding of the outcome.
The formal business was soon settled. The venerable lady was sympathetic to the plea and promised to arrange an audience with the Asantehene. Then the proceedings became less formal and the Queen Mother asked more about her guests. She was intrigued to discover that her Oboroni (European) visitor could converse directly with her in the Asante dialect. Saying that her own uncle was also a tall man, she conferred his name upon her visitor: Akwesi Berko. Strictly meaning: born on Sunday the first son of his parents, the name was totally appropriate and accurate.
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