Latest posts
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There are chiefs, and then there is the Asantehene
There are chiefs, and then there is the Asantehene. Before anyone accuses me of disrespecting the rest of the chieftaincy institution, allow me to explain. This is not an insult to anybody. It is simply an observation. Because there is something about the entrance of the Asantehene that makes you reconsider your own behaviour. You…
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One thing about X: somebody will be angry
One thing about X is that somebody will be angry. You can open the app at 7:00 in the morning, minding your own business, and before you have finished scrolling past three posts, somebody is already fighting. You do not even have to understand what the argument is about. There is just an argument. Someone…
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You have the degree. But who do you know?
There is a particular kind of confidence that comes with being a fresh graduate. You have your certificate. You have completed your internship. You have attended seminars, acquired a few extra skills, polished your CV and, if you are particularly ambitious, created a LinkedIn account and started posting inspirational quotes about career growth. You are…
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Why our mothers keep plastic bags inside other plastic bags
There are some mysteries in every African household that science may never fully explain. One of them is the plastic bag collection. You come home with groceries, and before you can even throw the bag away, your mother has already rescued it. “Don’t throw that one away.” You think she needs it for something important.…
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“We are just friends” and nobody believes you
There is a particular kind of statement that immediately makes people suspicious. “We are just friends.” The moment you say it, the room changes. Nobody may challenge you directly, but you can see it in their faces. That little smile. The raised eyebrow. The knowing look between two people who have already discussed your relationship…
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Have we confused confidence with arrogance?
Somewhere along the way, confidence got a rebrand. You can now dismiss people, refuse to accept correction, speak to everyone as though they are beneath you and still call it “knowing your worth.” You can be rude and call it being straightforward. You can be unnecessarily loud and call it being bold. You can refuse…
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Why being single is treated like a medical condition
There is a strange thing that happens when you reach a certain age and remain single. People start to worry about you. Not because you are unhappy. Not because you are struggling. Not because you have asked for help. They simply notice that you do not have a partner and suddenly behave as though something…
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When “let’s keep in touch” is actually goodbye
There are some goodbyes that never sound like goodbyes. Nobody says, “This is the last time we will speak.” Nobody announces that the friendship is ending. Nobody closes the chapter. Instead, there is a smile, a handshake, a hug and the familiar words: “Let’s keep in touch.” And everyone nods. “Yes, definitely.” “We’ll talk.” “Of…
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Why every Ghanaian gathering starts late
If a Ghanaian invites you to a gathering at 6 p.m., there is a good chance that 6 p.m. is not actually the time the gathering will start. It is more of a suggestion. A hopeful estimate. A time placed on the invitation to give everyone something to aim for, knowing very well that most…
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“I’ll call you back”, Ghana’s most unreliable promise
There are promises we make in Ghana that nobody expects to be broken. “I’ll call you back” is not one of them. It is one of those phrases that sounds reassuring when you hear it, but rarely comes with any guarantee that the promised call will actually happen. You call someone. They answer. You explain…