Outrageous

By Kwaku Oxxaz

This literary work dives deep into rough waters, it bravely explores the minefield of confusion & conflict that clouds Africa’s socio-economic, political, and cultural atmospheres and environments. Undoubtedly, it offers a powerful editorial commentary backed up with interrogations, debates, and symposiums. 
It also provides the reader with a comprehensive assessment of some of the troubling, teething, complex and traumatizing issues confronting humanity today.
Those intriguing but true-life stories inspire the writer to emulate the dynamic eagle’s eye view, giving him the courage to dive deeper, to play and investigate some of the socio-political, cultural nightmares and quandaries that have been causing African conflicts and confusion for years. Additionally, it makes hopeful suggestions to solve some enigmas, ensuring the success and survival of today’s and the yet-unborn generation.

A Market analyst, in-fused with journalist traits, dissecting issues from culture 2 fashion.
A critic with in-depth analysis on geo-politics, socio-political affairs with suggestions & synthetic solutions; In addition to recommendations, sharpened with emphasis to re-engineering global planetary society. Hole-in background on international market strategies; MBA -- International Marketing -- London School of International Business; Corporate Member of International Export Association and Journalism; London School of Journalism – Diploma.
Journalistic field: 1. Sportswriter: (a) Football (b) tennis – lawn/ table (c) boxing (d) golf (e) volleyball (f) athleticism. 2. Correspondent: (a) Parliament (b) Diplomatic  3. General reporter: (a) Courts reporter (b) Culture & Fashion
Specialty: (a) Script (2) Speech write-ups, (b) Investigative reporting.
Interest: (1) Freelance journalism (2) business, i.e., entrepreneurship. *travel & adventurism
Graduate of Ecole Schultz—Geneve: (1) commerce (2) langue (3) Computer science.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Europa Edizioni
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9791220148191

Book preview

Chapter 1

@ The People’s Congress—Let’s Gossip

The link section: of Ya-pee republic... 

November10: at Ya-pee republic cite, sited just 30 km off Akosombo, which holds Ghana’s big hydro-electric platform ; it experienced the area’s highest record of down pour in a century;  for the second day running, the rains continue to fall off the skies; today, it’s been quite exceptional with the waves rolling from the east corner off the Volta Lake with the speed of lightening and bump crashing the other which raised off the Lake; It was a sort of surprise attack, giving no indication, no warning whatsoever, that it was going to crack. 

All that my ears could pick up were direct hit on the ceiling, a sound of a sort of carpet bombing, being blindly dropped from a concealed dug-in cave, by enemy forces. Peeping out, I found the tall mahogany trees violently shaking, and threatening its bones of tap roots: the tornado like winds kicked the tree, shaking it violently, tossing it from left to right. The wind violently plugged off leaves from other nearby trees, without mercy. It was actually a heavy down pour of the sort, a near rainstorm….

With the rains setting in, it turned up to be a boring midnoon, under slight mid-night cover. I glanced round the hall, going straight for my cell phone. In my contact list of what’s up, my dazzling eyes flashed on a particular picture. Name on that list appeared foreign: I rechecked, couldn’t make a tail end out of the head of that particular picture. A cute little girl with a flashing semblance, tracing a line to a memory of a recent painful past...

I watched the picture 4 times, scratch my head looking for quick answers to unlock the mystery; my mind went complete blank.  I then realized the best solution was to look up for that direct phone number, to call & to verify… Good noon Maa, sorry to disturb you; my name is ox. I need some help, said in a cool undertone.

Yes, what can I do to help you, replying in a sympathetic manner which encouraged me to spill the beans… I’ve seen that cute, beautiful looking girl you used on your DP, pointing out. 

Oh, that little girl, she enquired...

Yes Maa, I cut in, being anxious, a little impatience that she would readily drop-off... 

Oh, my granddaughter she said, holding on for a brief moment without a word. Not to lose the line contact, I quickly queried… Great, it definitely gives a click that you’re ante Adjoa, I guessed, not remembering her maiden name. Not to slip into an error, I quickly reintroduced myself. Laughter mixed-up with curse was what followed…

All these years you have been on the fence, keeping your distance and remaining silent?, she declared and without hesitation snapped-up: I’m busy at the moment, Okay Maa, when can I call, I asked politely, word analysing her hot pepper contention…

Don’t worry, will call you, but prepare for a fight she warned. We will have to fight first before we settle on good terms. Me, I pull no punches, I jokingly replied. I reflected on her statement on arena of an open fight, and I readily got the issues at stake. A lot of issues have taken place behind closed-door, if my memories are not failing, with several matters discussed in-camera; some, seemingly being referred to by grand –Maa.

Do a quick background check on me: I’ve long since time, being a preacher of peace: understandably, we are being part of human race are fallible to be enraged, engaged in conflicts out of confusions: but for Heaves sake, let’s hit on the negotiations table, look at conflict resolutions than to be on warring path. 

Why close-door meetings?   

Certainly, I’ve grown to realize that, out of wisdom and as the saying goes silence is golden, not all critical matters could be paste on white board for public scrutiny or consumption; that at times it serves better to be belted, insulted than letting the mouth loose to shout & scream:  spilling all the beans out especially in a fit of anger….

In that glorious evening I received a call on my cell phone, with words spoken on a different platform, under soothing cooling voice. 

It said: It’s being a long, long time, and followed by giggling. I was expecting deadly blows, now this. Her new attitude confused me, got me baffled and took me off guard. I dropped my defences, moving cautiously on the same wavelength. 

Flew home for important family reunion, I replied, giving her an indication that, I’ve but some few days to spend. Nice friendly chat. I could just imagine the lady was just piss -off over my silence concerning my niece whose, baby photo appeared pasted on her DP. 

Let’s gossip: 

{Q 1}    Why is grannie sounding angry and piss off? 

{An} I’ve simply stepped aside from conflict and confusing situations... 

{Q 2} You think grannie couldn’t figure out why? {An} That probability might exist, since I detest washing dirty linen in public... 

{Q 3} What might’ve happened that escaped her scrutiny? {An} We had to search for conflict resolutions behind curtains to avoid public embarrassment and importantly to preserve family dignity... 

{Q 4} Why should grannie sound angry with you, and spoke on behalf of her daughter? 

{Q5} Million-dollar question; answer to that question might soon surface. 

Apparently, little or nothing was known to me about Mansa. Never saw her growing up since I’ve been away for scores of years. I had flown home to escape cold winds in Europe, fixing the timing to coincide with the noted Easter celebration in Ghana. Can’t explain where this particular celebration originated from, perhaps from Israel, and why the indigenes have embraced and fixed their soul and spirit into it.  A quick micrographic understanding might lead one to search wardrobes of Presbyterian, Anglican or Catholic missionary’s dominance in the area. This particular Easter festival time holds worldwide attraction to people of all walks, and the rush to the top of Kwahu Mountain range, connecting to that of Akwapim, is simply beyond description, which holds quite captivating appealing to any gaping eyes, as one American tourist defined it, like a rush to the west in search of gold.

The meaning of Easter, as I scramble to search and understand, says: Apostle John 6 / 4: Now the festival of Jews, is near. Exodus gives definition of Passover as God instructions to Moses and Jews, then in the land of Egypt to pass them over to execute judgement of destruction on Egyptian gods: 

Exodus 12 / 12: "And I must pass through the land of Egypt on this night and strike every first born from man to beast: and all the gods I shall execute judgements...13: and the blood must serve as a sign upon the houses where you are: and I must see the blood and pass over you and the plague will not come on you as ruination …14: and this day must serve as a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to Jehovah…

Other definition I have on Easter says: is as Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus

Christ…

I needed help to understand the meaning of Easter:  a quick web search at conversation.com says:

"The naming of the celebration of Easter goes back, it seems to the name of pre-Christian goddess in England; Eostre, who was celebrated at the beginning of spring. The only reference to this goddess could be traced from writing of the venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the 7th/8 century. 

Enigmatic, simply unbelievable. All these long years I’ve blindly walked into, not only actively participated but gleefully in a seemingly goddess festival? One-time put up the question to my uncle: - 

"Why do we celebrate Easter in Kwahu {small ethnic group in the eastern part of Ghana}, adopting it as one of their core festivals? 

Uncle: You see, most parts of our land is on the mountainous range, which makes life investment in agriculture difficult. Our fathers or forefathers re-engineered mechanism of trading and wisely planned /plotted and infused that trading spirit in that generation and those generations yet unborn.

Me: And how do we connect trading or business to a festival celebration?

Uncle: I was just scaling down to that issue. We work hard to survive, some of us starting off from 6 am – 6 pm to open for example, our shops: we have 6 day working period, from Monday - Saturday.  Saturdays are exceptional, at times we close up@ 14: 00.

Me: Uncle, I was groomed up in the field, I know this sort of stuff ...

Uncle: "Sure, I know, just trying to stress some point. Some of us are in the import / export market: this sector is tightly connecting to banking / shipping, taking a whole lot of time: the only long period holidays we have is in Easter. 

We close shops, travel home for family reunions; finding solutions to improve family life and our environment. One important Issue before I knock off:  we can’t survive as a people            without guidance and support of the. Holy Spirit: and we are most grateful to God first, 2nd to churches for the important role they continuously play in our lives.

Me: Uncle, you mentioned role of churches, and what about the pagan celebrations to gods, like fetish ‘Tigare and that of Bruku’, connected to the Easter festivities, I enquired. 

Uncle: Funny, is this a type of FBI or Mossad interrogation: I think you have answers to the questions you have raised: if not, it’s as simple as it has been redefined by our constitutional experts, granting freedom of worship.

Me: Then why do those gods connect their celebration to Easter, at this juncture, my uncle just rolled his eyes over me, smiled:  he signalled me to follow him to the hall for a snack... 

To continue where I left off on Mansa, there she was looking extremely young, beautiful and elegant, at my gate in Accra, ringing principal doorbell: enlarging my CCTV screen, some thoughts and doubts raced through my brains. 

Tapping on the speaker connected to the gate, I queried.

Hello, what can I do for you?

Mum says, you have arrived and I’m dropping by, since you might need some help , she replied.

Out of curiosity, I went further with my enquiries: 

Me: Mum, what’s the name you mentioned?

Mansa: Uncle, Ante Adole, she restated her points and entered, and welcomed my niece warningly. 

Me: So you’re Mansa, life goes very fast. Saw you when you were a baby, jokingly opined, followed by giggling and ending with a laughter. 

Mansa: Uncle, I’m no more a baby oo , she reminded me, giggling. 

Me: Okay, this is your home, have a feeling for it, enjoy yourself , I said. I slipped into my bedroom and phoned my sister. 

Mansa and I, got on nicely.  She was quite crafty in the kitchen, a real good cook. I became a little bit suspicious, from food choices she selected that my sister might’ve spilt the beans to her about my taste and eating habits. 

to be continued... 

Let’s Gossip: question time:

Moderator: You, playing shy to tell us about her looks, her beauty …   

Answer: My difficulty is to describe a niece to someone: I’ll just give you a whole package of a bi envelope, I mean, a nice block summary that she’s beautiful".

Questioner from the audience: And, what prevents you from going far, out of the fear that your friends might show some interest?

Answer: Aa-ba: can I look into the eyes of my niece, to tell her Wow your eyeballs are shining like diamonds?". 

Moderator: And what prevents you from doing that?

Answer: Might be simply a moral sort of a question. Our highly conservative society forbids telling your Mum You’ve ‘beautiful legs’, while your father might amazingly be looking on".

Questioner! In your society, you’ve any written down codes which protects your culture, I mean your way of life and living?

Answer: It’s an in-plant in our brains from childhood about ‘do and don’ts’, at times enforced by rod applications. I was belted on several occasions to pump sense into my brains. Questioner 2: That’s primitive, complete torture: isn’t it that we live in 21st century? 

Answer: 21st century indeed: spare the rod, and spoil the child, quite biblical…and if I hadn’t gone through that tough ‘military’ type of training, because I was, as defined ‘problem child’, I might’ve passed on the electric chair; perhaps the rod soften / straighten me up; surely that type of discipline help me to become, of course, not like an angle or saint, but a normal human being.

Mansa continued to play shy; we had but little to talk about than school, books and study, probing further to ask about her future plans. With her 36-26-38 statistic looks, I wasn’t surprised when she revealed her inner lining: - 

Mansa: I’ve great leaning for fashion, and will like to be a designer, she replied, giggling at the end. 

Me: And how do you intend to get there, being a designer , I queried her. She slugged to her normal style of keeping silence, and when she realized, I wasn’t in a hurry for a reply, raised her head up; shifted and turned in her seat, fixing her eyes straight into mine, wittingly smiling. 

Mansa: Hmm Uncle, this is a kind of subject I’ve been thinking about to discuss with you, she said flatly, without a wink of an eye"

Me: That’s a good mining field which require, perhaps a lot of investment , stressing further a point and most important right now is to concentrate, finish your master’s program.

Mansa: Sure, for that I will. On long holidays, if heavens will permit and with your support, I would like to visit big fashion design houses in Paris, Milan and London, she declared, spelling out her dreams. 

Me: Hate giving empty promises, I said, adding I’ll think about your request for some holidays. 

Hysterically happy, she drew in a deep breath, and nearly jumped off her seat, laughing for joy. I quickly reminded her that I would’ve to look into her request, doesn’t mean I’m giving her promise to visit Paris and rest of cities. She just continued to laugh with joy of tears rolling off her eyes, then held my right arm, saying I discussed this with Mum, who asked me to talk it over with you.

to be continued…

Let’s Gossip…

Question time --

Moderator: In your previous statement you revealed an interesting issue of being a problem child, what’s the definition? 

Answer: By mine definition, simply adventurous child who doesn’t take yes for answer and will rather investigate issues to understand their meaning before acting on them; but ours is a highly conservative society, and how dare you, to question authority and quickly: you’re  tagged as arrogant & disrespectful.

Questioner 1: "Seriously, I haven’t given thought about this; what really might happen to this child? 

Answer: "The topic which I’ve raised goes deeper into our politics and undermines freedom of speech concept, we we’re not given the chance to ask questions, like {permit my expression} white child, but accept anything push down our throat, with our hands fixed at our back. 

The situation becomes worse when such child is not direct offspring of the parents; they might’ve accepted guardianship under varied circumstances, like death in the family or in areas bordering on poverty. Such situation exists till today, because Ghana has no dynamic social welfare coverage to shoulder quality child protection care programs.

Questioner 2: Pity, why should we allow such situations to develop; then that problem child must be in real trouble ...  Answer: Bet you, not only trouble, but he might also be swimming in trouble waters; must be ready for hell to open its flood gates to drown him/her; the child body must be steeled to receive surprise kicks and slaps from all corners; must learn to tighten his stomach belt to get use to fasting from deliberate food withdrawal punishment or to eating dud food. 

Questioner 3: And people who engage in child molestation claim to be professed Christians or Moslems?

Answer: "You talk about worship and religion; at times with my own observation, it turns to be a form of association, where people struggle for societal recognition or acceptance. Some characters under-play, you’ll be surprised have special seats, upfront in the chapel and they are hailed and adored by Priests / Pastors.

"Presumably or seemingly, because of weight or volume of their envelope contributions, such people out of sheer ignorance believe, they could be given special seat near Peter, in Heaven when they die.

"I do you remember the story of late President Felix Houphouet Boigny of Ivory Coast; he ended up constructing a whole 2nd Vatican in Yamoussoukro, which he named as the capital; hoping with that gesture using public treasury funds, God would give him a Heaven seat. 

"In Ghana, there’s an ongoing tussle about a construction of a Cathedral: questions have been raised about its usage: a 2nd Yamoussoukro Vatican project?

Questioner 4: - From your provocative outline, it seems we have big societal problems to deal with; how do we redress some of the teething problems?

Answer: - Human beings, being what we are, we all have flaws or faults: child molestation issues have been taken on as a priority concern in some civilized societies, who have gone further to introduce legislations and practical measures, some including Child Protection Units, Safe Care Homes and quality adoption programs to tackle the ‘bull by the horn’ to redress the issues ...

End... 

The Link: Back to story on Mansa:

With spring buttressing up flowers and tulip proudly raising its head high to portray its bouncing beautiful colours of red mixed, we managed to forward invitation letter plus insurance cover to Mansa; the motive being to assist her to realize her cherished dreams. 

Receiving signals on her arrival at Zurich airport, we headed straight to the waiting section where inscriptions on Arrivals on the TV screen read: Amsterdam flight has already landed.  Voila, there she was, still wearing that board smile. We headed home, asking about safety of the flight. Night flights from Accra are a little bit cumbersome and tiring.  Mansa, the best thing to do is to have a hot bath, then a quick breakfast; Then you can jump into bed, I directed.

Mansa: Uncle, I’m okay, it was a long night flight, and I slept a bit , she replied, then hauling her bags into the visitor’s room. We can chat the following day, spelling out already, a planned program".

Me: Since you’ve Schengen Visa, you’ll be able to visit or see several cities in Europe, depending on your wallet, I said.   

Mansa: Uncle, Mum says you’ll take care of everything, she declared and looked a bit surprised about my comment on her wallet".

Me: Mansa, how do you define everything, I asked? It was at this stage that my daughter cut in. 

Adele: Daa, Daa, Mansa haven’t recovered her posture.  She’s tired and please don’t start any fight now. Please take a break, relax and let me take-over she said, signalling Mansa to follow her into her bedroom, they left chattering and laughing. 

I overhead Adele jokingly informing Mansa. Hmm Daa, don’t worry about him. He’s given me instructions to take you around; bet we are going to have good time ... 

Adele: Mansa, in actual fact you see, this program has been planned jointly with Mammie, she explained, then opening up her file to show her cousin, spots to visit, Hotel bookings, air tickets and car-hire services".

Mansa: it looks so great; in fact, I’m not expecting such extensive program; quite impressive.

Adele: What’s your guess on the program? I mean where you will want to start first; that choice is yours …

Mansa: Adele, tell me what; you’re the leader of this team, what do you suggest?

Adele: "Quite difficult to guess, since I don’t know what sort of items, you’re carrying in your bag; 

Certainly, to ensure success of such a tour, you’ll need to build a new wardrobe to match your stature; I discussed the issue with Daa, but he wouldn’t bulge".

Mansa: Don’t have much in my bag because I guessed, I would be able to shop here, she said.

Adele: No worries, I’ll take up matter with Mammie, all that we will need is credit card; take this pen, you see on the table, and some small notebook; jot down your requirement and don’t  forget your hair style, face and nails lift-up, she warmly directed Adele, and lovingly smiling and squeezing her two hands, in a form of assurance and approval of her program. 

Mansa: My hairstyle, I will keep my African plaits, but will need a retouch of face and nails", she declared.

Adole: Okay, get down to work, if you need help, just scream, she replied and vanished into her bedroom.

Mansa: Wow, I got it, she creamed as she scanned her outlook in the dressing mirror, giggling and happily laughing, in realizing that at least, she’s been able to make the first step to achieving her dream goals. 

The tour list as planned: 

1st on the list is to see Paris, its popular French fashion houses like –Louis Vuitton on Rue Saint Honoré. In the same area, we will see Haute Couture homes like: - 

          Christian Dior 

          Lavin, Lavin 

          Coco Chanel 

          Yves Saint Lauren 

Surely Mansa scanned her thoughts, reaching a conclusion that one can’t bypass Italy in the gossip about top fashions; Italy she admitted, has style / taste and also mastered the tools of Master craftsmanship; she inscribes some notes in her book. 

We intend visiting houses in Milan, like: - 

          {1} Valentino 

          {2} Versace 

{3} Prada… 

Depending on Mansa s interest, she wrote we plan seeing designs on: - 

          {a] Earrings 

          {b} Dresses 

          {c} Sweater 

          {d} Necklace 

And perhaps: on lady shoes, she instinctively wondered whether his uncle, already fuming and complaining about money would be able to raise enough funds for her project. 

The whole tour Paris / Milan has been planned to last a week. Mansa and I took advantage of going on sight-seeing; a golden opportunity which might have dropped from

Heaven; we had a lot of fields to explore in the gossip world: In general, it was full of fun. I found Mansa to be brilliant, as she could hang on with an argument, ending with analyses to prove her points. 

Admittedly, there were still gaps and holes in our effort to construct heavy concreted bridges in our relationship: In the diversity of life mixed with hope, sorrow, ecstasy of love and joy, with related vibrations of laughter, watching my cousin, I observed to my utter surprise that Mansa just freezes like Siberian iceberg on subject of love and romance, when such gossips crop up; she simply closes-up and knocks-off in complete silence. 

One cool Saturday evening, just after dinner I signalled her to follow me to my bedroom, going straight to an incident in the Discotheque Hall. 

Mansa, Mat called me to register his disappointment and regret about the way you brushed him off that night, I declared, watching her reaction from my dressing mirror, a complete look of defiance: bet she has mastered the craft of filtering and choosing her words carefully. 

Mansa: Who Is Mat? Mansa pretentiously put up a query first; then in a minute reflection continued: there were hosts of them hovering around me like bees; can’t recollect their names and faces. 

Mansa is a tactician, knew she was buying time to be able to build her defences; she’s definitely in the know about this particular incident, having heard from distance, her explicit warning to Mat on that faithful day. She screamed: vanish off my sight.

Adele: Oh Max, the guy who sat close to you on that table; he called and ask me to apologize on his behalf; If he might’ve offended you in words or in action, I said. Prepared on a damage resolution, Mansa then installed comfortably in a nearby chair, explored field, to defend her actions on that night. 

Mansa then said flatly that she could not stand those silly boys raps, that you’re beautiful, shining like blue diamond dropping off Saturn raps, then turned her attention to me, and declared: look I’m too old for that stuff designed for 14-year-olds , and concluded in mix of mockery and laughter: If a guy got nothing to say, meeting a girl for the 1st time, he should simply zip-up.

Ha ha ha ha ha, you bet, bursting into hysterical laughter; looking straight into Mansa steaming eyes, I giggled, smiled and continued, Some of these guys completely allow cat to swallow their tongues, especially crash landing on a sweet melting pot like you.

Mansa cut in to declare: I think he’s an idiot, pardon my expression , adding can’t stand that type of language, it just cuts me into pieces and blows me up.

But at least you have a guy in your life , I demanded, confessing I know you’ve been launching long distance calls in the night.

Mechanically, Mansa circumvented firing her eyes straight into mine and declared: Funny, to confirm or deny lesbianism, great Adele, adding: I’m straight and I’m both conscious and careful not to fall into any sort of silly traps, especially these rough periods when love and romance are just treated sort of as an ass sh.t, with many girls falling off like autumn period plug-off leaves, meaning, becoming victims.

You speak like an old lady; your words are mixed with wisdom and intelligence Mansa, I said in an amazement, demanding, where have you picked all these.

"Adele, we’re living in pure rough waters period, where lies are accepted to