Oseikrom, the land of my birth!!!

I was born and bred in a famous town in an unforgettable city, one that is hailed by all and affectionately referred to as Oseikrom. The city pivotal to so many great war successes in the pre-colonial era and even during the period of colonialism….The homeland of the brave hearts, Obaahemaa Yaa Asantewaa, Otumfour Osei Tutu I, Nana Sir Osei Agyemang Prempeh to mention but a few. The only land that gave the British a run for their money… .not forgetting the famous Sagrenti War. The city which Nana Osei Tutu founded in 1700 as a hub of superior tactics, reorganization and strategy to date remains powerful just like our fore fathers envisioned. I was probably born in Bantama, Ash town, Krofrom, Suame, Old Tafo, Amakom, Asokwa, Asafo, Oforikrom, Adum, Dichemso, North and South Suntreso, Patasi, Santasi, Ahodwo, Daaban or Kwadaso. Kumasi is everything to me so why travel just in the name of travelling….I’m proud of my roots and no one can take that away from me….the rich culture, loyalty and the great sense of belongingness is enough to keep me rooted in the soils of Kumasi forever. And after passing my Basic Education Certificate Examination, I bet you know where I most likely, would be heading…..the prestigious Prempeh College, Opoku Ware School, St. Louis SHS, Yaa Asantewaa SHS, Kumasi Anglican SHS, Osei Kyeretwie SHS, Osei Tutu SHS, Kumasi High School, Kumasi Girls SHS, Kumasi Academy, Konongo Odumase SHS and not forgetting the many other options at my disposable of which many have very interesting adjectives for example, Mighty, Super, Great and the likes prefacing their school names…..irrespective of what you think, that’s what we love…yes we’re proud of all we have and I mean even the least we can lay claim to. If it’s in our land, then it’s the most important thing out there. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is certainly the preferred choice….whether one wants to be medical practitioner, lawyer, engineer, economist, sociologist or master the business world, the opportunity for studies is offered here in our own backyard….so what really would we be looking for in a foreign land, ah well, I guess nothing. I enjoy my Fufu, 3t), Ampesi (po t) hwie gu so), Abete3 (aka face the wall or chris brown), Aprapransa, )g)), Ateg) baasuo and don’t even for a second forget our irreplaceable ingredients M)m)ne, Kako and Supaku. I shop at railways, foos line (eighteen mu to be specific) and sometimes beneath the Agyekum building but for Paul Sagoe lane I can’t really tell you the stuff I buy there, I’m sure Abena Achiaa is watching keenly….I make sure that my purchasing transactions are done at the lowest price there is (the trait of every KumaSiano) and when it comes to how I wear them, actually I think you should see me (yi no low, na hy3 no high) and of course we’re smart, everyone knows that. My Twi may not necessarily be as concentrated and rich as that of the rural folks but I try my best, our cultural heritage is everything to us. I revere the Asantehene than the most popular world leader not to talk of “as3m3si”…..truth be told when others are busy with “chaley what’s up?” I on the other foot…. eeeei sorry, on the other hand would be more than content with my “jack na wo se s3n?” …….a lovely woman with a nice face, hips, bottoms, natural (no too much condensed milk or anointed cocoa butter for skin Pollination, Michael Jackson isn’t her target) and walking in beauty is definitely one of our own. Abrante3 Amakye Dede, Dr. Paa Bobo, Nana Acheampong, Kojo Antwi, Charles K. Fosu (DL) and the others who are credited with serenading hi life and adadamu tunes are our heroes. I’m not tribalistic, not when our land harbours people across Ghana in designated areas but I feel safe with one who speaks "me se" “line b3n”…..I am from Oseikrom, it’s in my DNA , geographical location matters not, be it Kibi, Navrongo, Akatsi, Winneba, Takoradi, Bolgatanga, Bechem, Nalerigu, Tema….even Croydon, Atlanta or Hamburg .

Did I hear someone say “you didn’t mention Lake Bosomtwe”??? well, forgive me, I got carried away thinking you knew all about that already since its one of the major feats history of Republic acknowledges especially for the fact that it’s the largest and only natural lake in our part of the world stretching several kilometers in length and breadth…..and what they told you is true, Kumasi is the garden city of West Africa.

GEORGE SARPONG