Film Review/Alert: Bronx Princess

Posted by Jemila On Sunday, September 27, 2009 3 comments


Want a Ghanaian film to watch? Skip the perfect pictures and hearts of men and go straight to "Bronx Princess". Even though this film isn't produced in Ghana or by a Ghanaian, I found more elements of Ghanaian culture and society in it than in other so-called Ghanaian movies. The film maker, Yoni Brook, and his team have certainly done a great job!!!! And it makes me wonder, how come foreigners seem to appreciate and highlight our own culture better than we do? The film's website is http://www.bronxprincess.com/, and I believe it's showing in a number of select independent theaters, at least in NY. I also happened upon it on Pbs.org where you can watch it for free until October 23rd! Here's the direct link for watching the film: http://video.pbs.org/video/1248747353/program/1154485580 . So spread the news!! "Bronx Princess" is definitely a breath of fresh air! Here's a trailer for the film:




Some of the things in the movie I found interesting (you'll probably understand me better after you watch the film):

- Generational gap: Especially since the lead character Rocky is just about 18 years old and longs for her "freedom". It also looks at the different points of view between she and her parents, and I must say, probably every young girl (regardless of culture, I daresay) should be able to identify to some degree. Talk about rebellious teens lol. Haha, her dad thinking she was 20 years is also classic. My dad mixes up my age too from time to time. Hmm, wonder if its intentional lol.

- Extended family: There's a scene where Rocky visits Ghana and her father "the chief" is introducing her to people. I can so identify with her. lol. Her dad says "this is so so and so's daughter, she's your sister," and Rocky has a blank look on her face. But at the end of the day, family's the best; whether far or near!

- Religion: I was very impressed that the movie showed different elements of religion in Ghana. They showed Rocky's mum and family praying, and then they showed some members also singing Christian hymns and songs. It's really interesting to see the interconnection between religion and culture.

-Ghanaian sounds, accents and language: Finally, finally!!!!! No attempts at circumventing the Ghanaian accent. Love love love it! And the Twi and Ga featured. Lol, the part where Rocky complained that she didn't understand Ga was definitely funny, with her dad telling her "you look like a rat...and I've been told you look like me." And of course, the cock and sheep made their own appearance.

-The Market: The local Ghanaian market is another thing on its own!! So unique and diverse and...man, I miss it. lol

New York (USA): I think it's great that the film showed an actual neighborhood in the U.S. and not just Times Square or any of the other glamorized places. At the end of the day, people go through similar struggles, whether it's in Ghana or in the U.S. It's important we get rid of our far-fledged notions of what the U.S. is.

College/University: Found it interesting that Rocky wanted to study international relations. Lol, is it me, or do most international students wanna study Economics and I.R.? The goodbye scene is also very universal I think. Probably every mother, father and guardian finds it hard to see their ward go. Lol, Freshman-15 is unavoidable!!! And home-cooked food...no comment lol. Her haircut...total flashback to SSS!

I dunno if this film is being shown in Ghana, but these are the kinda films we need. All you can ever offer to the world, is yourself. We need to showcase our culture and lifestyle, not our poor-attempts at western culture. There's already enough of that, it's time we build our own niches. Can you imagine the kinda films we can make based off of simple things like senior secondary school (sss) in Ghana? That alone could run for at least five years! It's time to flip the script people!!! Cudos again to the "Bronx Princess" team!!!

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Photo source: http://www.bronxprincess.com


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Time & Space

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Time and space
Whoever thought him/herself so wise
So as to determine the value of these two
Hast surely thrown mankind, into insurmountable vice
For no matter how absolute they seem on papyrus
They’re always relative in the mind’s sight


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Photo Source


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In Honor of Reading: The 2009 National Book Festival

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Yesterday, the Library of Congress hosted the annual National Book Festival at the National Mall here in D.C. After finding out about it in the weekend newspaper, I knew I definitely had to be there. So even though it was pouring outside, I grabbed my trusty umbrella, plugged myself in (to my ipod lol) and trekked over to the National Mall. It was spectacular! It had been quite a while since I felt extremely giddy with excitement, and that's exactly how I felt once I stepped onto the program grounds. There were pavilions/ tents set up everywhere, with notices indicating what genre of books were housed there: Poetry and Prose, Teens & Children, History & Biography, Mystery & Thrillers etc etc. There were authors who gave speeches and had book signing periods, and even though I didn't get to see John Grisham (his talk was scheduled for 10am), I got to listen to some spectacular authors! Unfortunately (and quite mysteriously), some of the pictures and videos I took disappeared from my camera. And those were the interesting ones too!!

Anyways, I had a pretty swell time, and it took me a trip down memory lane. Book fairs have always been great events for me. In Alsyd (primary school and junior high) we'd have mini-book fairs from companies like "Books for Less" and they were always spectacular. The culture of reading is one which I greatly believe in, and even though we're in a technologically-advanced era with e-books, podcasts, audio-books etc, there's something so intimate about curling up in bed with a book. Total escape. And with initiatives like the National Book Festival, how can one not get drawn back into reading? I wonder if Ghana and other African countries have similar initiatives, if not, this is one definitely worth 'borrowing' - especially with the new crop of young African writers springing up across the continent. Another initiative in Alsyd was to award students who'd borrowed the most books from the library that year. I had the pleasure of being one of the first students to win that award, and if anything, it encouraged my classmates and I to read more.

Aside the various tents, they also had a couple of  "America Reads" sections where kids could play word games, meet human-sized book characters etc. Not surprising, I had the most fun in the "Teens & Children" section. The author -- don't remember his name -- was really engaging and told a story about how he and his childhood friend were determined to ruin a toy they had bought specifically for that purpose: destroying it. I'd filmed it, and would have put it up, but unfortunately I lost it :(. At the end of the anecdote, he talked about why he utilizes multi-media - videos, internet, CDs etc - in his work. As a (clearly) distracted child, he would rarely sit still for a few minutes, much more pick up an entire book and read, so he figured incorporating multi-media - collector cards, internet games and so on - he could get more kids interested in reading. Which I think is pretty smart. When I was 11 years old, my parents got my siblings and I, a couple of education-based CDs - Carmen Sandiego Math and Geography -  and they were so interesting and engaging that we forgot we were actually "learning".  I liked the Geography edition the most, cos I got to solve crimes and travel the world over in search of the villain, and boy, did I learn a lot about countries and their capitals, monuments, culture etc. [Mayhap, that has something to do with my aptitude for picking up languages and my interest in traveling and international affairs?]

Okay, so instead of going on and on about the event, I'm just gonna put up the pictures that I do have so you guys can share in what was a great event. Enjoy!!


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Uncommon Women with Common Histories: The MHC Connection

Posted by Jemila On Tuesday, September 22, 2009 4 comments


It's interesting now that I think about it, but I have never wanted for housing. There has always been someone out there who has been willing to open up their home (and heart) to me when I was in dire need. And with each person I encounter, I get the sense that indeed, our paths are to some degree, already chartered, and that the 'meeting' had in fact been on the drawing board a gazillion years before we even happened upon this life.

Once again, I have come upon a unique living situation. And just as was the case in summer 08 when I  stayed with a wonderful MHC alumna and her family, I am realizing that the MHC network and connection is a very special one. I won't mention any names, but this lady is indeed a phenomenal woman. It's been exactly a week since I joined her in her beautiful house, and I've already learned a lot about Mount Holyoke, U.S. History, African History etc. And although we are from two entirely different eras, there have been a number of instances where I could have sworn she was talking about my era.

Like most MHC women, she was one of the first to chart her own course in life - hers being African Studies at MHC. She then went on to work with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, and given the time period (the 60s), it was definitely a brave feat. So we were talking tonight, and she mentioned how she and her fellow peace corps colleagues had some time to themselves one weekend and being girls, they were trying to pretty themselves up. While the 'white' girls were busy trying to curl their hair and get tanned, the 'black' girls were trying to bleach/ lighten their skin tone and straighten their hair. And then...then, they had an 'aha' moment where they realized that it was really unnecessary for them to try to change who they are. Here were the black girls, who were trying to be like the white girls, who were trying to be like the black girls...and vice-versa.

After my hostess finished her story, I just stared at her and said "It's funny to think that the same situation is still true today." Guess it brings another dimension to "history repeats itself," huh? And then you wonder, how long are we going to deny who we are and miss out on ourselves while we're busy ourselves trying to be something we're not?

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Photo Source: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/mexicomarti/DiverseWomen.jpg


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Circum-Flash

Posted by Jemila On Monday, September 21, 2009 1 comments


Eid
So it's Eid in Ghana today, and it's also Kwame Nkrumah's birthday!! Talk about celebration and holidays!!! Eid was yesterday here in the US and in most parts of the world, and I had a pretty memorable Eid. Spent it with family in Virginia, and boy, what an interesting time it was. Showing on the T.V. was a Nigerian Cable Channel, and it was really interesting to see all the news segments commemorating Eid in the various Nigerian states. I even got a glimpse of my birth town Kaduna, which I definitely need to visit soon. I also got a chance to see my "husband" and other cousins. Gosh, the last time I saw him, he was shorter than me, and now, he's towering over me! It was quite the surreal moment lol.

My Ramadan Experience
On one of my posts on Ramadan, someone asked what I hoped to achieve throughout the Holy month. Basically, my goal was to reflect on my life, on the Qu'ran and on the teachings of Islam. I got a new Qu'ran before Ramadan started in order to literally study the Qu'ran. Sure, I've been studying it since I was younger, but it was generally in Arabic. This time around, I wanted to understand the words (in English) and determine what significance the words have to my life. I must say, it went pretty well, and the moments of peace I felt throughout Ramadan are ones I wouldn't exchange for anything. Ramadan is over, but I still intend to continue with studying the Qu'ran and inshallah, I will learn a whole lot more! :)

Al-Jazeerah: Trafigura's toxic waste in Ivory Coast
So aside the munchies, what else was interesting about Eid? Al-Jazeerah. Some inhabitants of Abidjan have filed a suit against an oil company Trafigura which apparently dumped its toxic waste in their environment, and this has led to a whole bunch of health-related problems for about 3100 inhabitants. The UN estimates that the toxic waste could also be responsible for the death of about 15 people in the area. Of course, the company denies any responsibility for this - nothing new there- but has agreed to compensate the people (guilty conscience obviously). The compensation of about 1000 pounds per complainant is however deemed meagre by many. Anyways, I'm not gonna go into a detailed analysis on this, lol, this is supposed to be a personal post. You can read on the Trafigura case on the BBC website. Now back to Al-Jazeerah. While most of the western media just touches on issues related to Africa and the developing world, Al-Jazeerah apparently does a more detailed analysis on issues. Yesterday was the  first time I actually watched more than 10 minutes of the channel, and it was a breath of fresh air from the usual stuff. Will definitely recommend watching or following the channel, especially if you want different sides to one story. Here's the Al-Jazeerah English website.

Intellectual Talk on Development
A couple of days ago I went to a friend's birthday get-together, and I must say, sometimes you're just bound to meet certain people in your lifetime. Turns out if we hadn't met at this particular gathering, we probably would have met elsewhere. I met a bunch of interesting and amazing individuals and we had a really stimulating conversation about...take a wild guess...development!! I am definitely looking forward to interacting with more interesting and open-minded people, and I believe DC is the place to be when it comes to global issues.

New Blog Alert: La Romanessence
Now to another thing that's global. Relationships. I got a notification that another person was "following" my blog, and as I always do, I perused this 'newcomer'. Turns out the blogger actually is a newcomer, since he/she just has a couple of posts, but what stood out to me the most was how extremely personal the posts are. The blog, "La Romanessence", seems to be focused primarily on relationships, and in the author's own words "We're all romantics, and the essence of life is love." I definitely concur on that one, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the posts on La Romanessence. So, if you're a self-proclaimed 'romantic' or are just curious, check out La Romanessence.


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Taking a Page From Nkrumah's Book on Leadership: Vision

Posted by Jemila On Thursday, September 17, 2009 4 comments

Monday, September 21 2009. That date is important for two main reasons: Eid ul-Fitr and Kwame Nkrumah's 100th anniversary. Going along with the GhanaBlogging.com "Nkrumah" theme, I'm gonna focus on what I think Nkrumah's most important legacy to Ghanaians and Africans is. I don't idolize him, but I definitely do admire and applaud him. I strongly believe that the true mark of an individual's success is in how (much) he or she is able to positively impact others. Nkrumah definitely did that. Heck, he is STILL doing it. With Ghana's population quickly approaching 24million, it is a wonder that we're not bursting at the seams.


The fact that our economy is being sustained by infrastructure and systems put into place by this man who, mind you, was an ordinary human being like ourselves, is even mind-blowing! Sure, he had his issues, but that's the beauty of it all! Despite all the criticisms against him, this man achieved what no Ghanaian man or woman has been able to parallel. Critics say he let the power get to his head (what do you think today's politicians are doing?), and that he wanted to rule Africa, and this and that, but at the end of the day, he certainly had one thing that set him apart from all the others (past and present): Vision.

Let's look at the European Union. This vessel of power, integration, and a definite symbol of what we humans can achieve if we're willing to work together. Sure, there might still be some cracks here and there, but all in all, it's an amazing thing. It's pretty ironic to think that Nkrumah's very own country (and continent) men swept his suggestion of a "United Africa" under the rug, while the Europeans paid heed to what could only have been the immense vision of this man. The man was simply phenomenal. He possessed the vision and foresight that is sorely lacking among our so-called leaders today.

Sure, I've listened to my dad and grandma talk about Nkrumah numerous times. I know the acclaimed "Ghana, your beloved country is free forever" speech all too well. And I've felt pride everytime a foreigner recognises Ghana as a result of Nkrumah. He put our country on the map, and indeed, brought a different light to the continent. However, it wasn't until I was conducting my independent research on Ghana and Malaysia, that I fully appreciated what a visionary Kwame Nkrumah was.

Hidden in the depths of chapter four of Critical Perspectives in Politics and Socio-Economic Development in Ghana by Tettey et al. (2003) was a section on how social and ethnic unrest in Ghana influenced (or rather impeded) its development efforts. The author, Adjibolosoo, explored Kwame Nkrumah's attempts at dealing with these tensions. The Ghana Young Pioneers movement of June 1960 which aimed at character building and citizen development amongst youth was one of the initiatives that led to the ideology of patriotic nationalism or "Nkrumanism." Through the Ghana Young Pioneers initiative, educational programs were implemented to educate children in the concepts of social solidarity, political action, value stabilization, individual integration into changing social structures, the direction and meaning of life, and learning to think in terms of a nation rather than ethnic groups. I think Nkrumah's target group alone (children) is indicative of how forward-thinking this man was.

And, he didn't end there. He implemented similar initiatives at the professional level, where Ghanaians from different ethnic groups were offered civil service jobs in languages other than their own. The current National Service Scheme is remiscent of this initiative; although many Ghanaians today will move heaven and earth to ensure that they remain in Accra or large cities like Kumasi and Tema. Adjibolosoo acknowledges that although Nkrumah's initiatives did not rid Ghana of ethnic rivalries, it did have a significant impact on ethnic dynamics in Ghana. And I concur with that observation.

I cannot imagine what it must have been like living in Ghana a couple of decades ago. Nkrumah knew that in order for Ghana (and Africa) to prosper, we would have to put our differences aside and work together. United we stand, divided we fall. And boy, are we racing each other to the depths of poverty, instability and all the other inefficiencies that plague our country and continent. All nations who have achieved some semblance of democracy and development, have had to let some sleeping dogs lie and work together. In Malaysia, the native Malays and the Chinese and Indian foreigners did this. In the United States, the north and south divides came together. In Ghana...well, let's look on the bright side, things are better.

This example is just a case in point of how visionary Kwame Nkrumah was. We are still living off of his vision. But at some point, the roads, schools, bridges etc that Kwame Nkrumah set up will be in need of serious repair, or will have to be done over entirely. It's time that we quit nit-picking, and go on a full-out campaign to work and make necessary changes. Who cares whether high school in Ghana goes for a term of three or four years? What, pray tell us, are students supposed to be studying over that period of time? That is what we are supposed to be focusing on, the curriculum, the essentialities, the specifics! We need to have a vision and long term goals, and then, we strategize step-by-step and determine how we will achieve these goals. Enough, of the short-term planning already! If we don't commemorate Nkrumah's 100th birthday in any way, I hope we at least take a page from his book on leadership, and strive to be visionaries and work not just in the present, but also for the future. In his own words, "Forward ever, Backward never." RIP Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972).

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Sources: Photo 1, Photo 2


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The Culture of "Respect": Robbing Children of Their Future

Posted by Jemila On Monday, September 14, 2009 2 comments

Over the past week, I've spent time with my cousins and a visiting "sister" from Ghana who recently had a baby girl. The baby is adorably cute, and my would-be "maternal instincts" immediately kicked in. I've always found it amazing how a tiny baby can grow up to be an individual with dreams, hopes, fears, opinions and the whole hammock of complexities that form a human being. One thing that sticks out to me about babies is the fact that they want to be treated as anything but what they are. You lay her down, she squeals, you cradle her in your arms, she throws a fit, you put her in her crib; are you seriously asking for a full-fledged tantrum? The trick is to treat them like adults. And by 'treat them like adults,' I don't mean throw a suit on her, throw a briefcase into her hand, and sit her at a desk for hours on end. No, what I mean is talk to her. Yes, the baby, talk to him/her.


Now, that suggestion might sound incredulous, and I can definitely understand why. About a decade ago, when my mum was pregnant with my youngest sister, she would occasional mutter words of concern to her swelling tummy. I didn't get it. Why would you talk to a baby, who has not even completed her 9-month hibernation period in the womb? As it turns out, talking to a baby in the womb is recommended by doctors and nurses worldwide. So, how is it that once these lil'uns actually have the capacity to talk and ask questions, we do a total 360 and try to silence them? That was the question on board a couple of nights ago. How is it that children in the US and Europe are more outspoken or vocal than their counterparts in African countries? One of my cousins was convinced there had to be something genetic going on; maybe it has to do with their baby formula? I believe it's deeply rooted in our culture of 'respect'.

Myjoyonline.com featured this article and audio excerpt involving some children who went on-air on JoyFM's Super Morning Show to talk about issues of national interest including the recent unrest in Bawku. Coincidence or not, it was a pretty timely piece given the conversation I'd had with my cousins the night before. In our attempt to instill a culture of 'respect' among Ghanaian and African children, do we unknowingly rob them of the very tools they need to be leaders and change makers in society? During the radio show, 13-year old Yehoada said, "Politicians should put aside politics and their parochial interests on air and focus more on education, health, security and other issues that can help Ghana to progress." Whoever said children were clueless? That statement does make me wonder though. Maybe our politicians aren't to blame. After being denied a platform for expressing their views on issues under the guise of instilling respect in them as kids, it's no wonder why many Ghanaian politicians engage in a "he said- she said" dance in lieu of dealing with the real issues.

The notion of 'respect' today is one that, I believe, is highly overrated and misplaced in many African societies. That's not to say that children shouldn't respect their elders. No, I am not advocating an absolute rebellion against elders, because truth be told, elders do have something that children lack to a large extent - experience. At the same time however, I think it is important to differentiate between earning respect and giving respect because it is demanded. While the first is usually borne out of something profound like genuine admiration, the latter is steeped in fear. Many of the rape and child abuse cases in Ghana I have come across seem to have a common thread. The young girl is asked by the older man to go and buy something for him. Once she arrives with his purchase, he directs her to deposit the item in his room. Now, a typical Ghanaian child who is brought up with the ideology of "the adult is always right," won't ask any questions and will do as requested. And there lies the trap to which many child rape victims fall prey. I strongly believe that a child who has been brought up to think critically, to ask questions (in a respectful manner of course), and to evaluate situations, would probably hesitate before entering the suspicious depths of any man's abode.

By asking children to "keep quiet when adults are talking" or "do without asking", we are not only putting them at risk when they're in the midst of unscrupulous individuals, we are also hindering their growth potential. A couple of generations ago, the attempt at fostering respect for elders among children most likely did exactly what it was supposed to do. Why? Because the level of social vice back then was lower, for one. And also because elders actually deserved the respect they asked for. These days however, you really have to wonder about some of the actions portrayed by adults and elders in society. Think I'm exaggerating? You only have to look to your T.V. set to see who the role models of today are. Undeserving adults who demand respect, also sow another deadly seed in the lives of children: that of hypocrisy. Sure, I'll act respectful towards you when you're around, but once you're out of sight, I'll snicker and talk about you behind your back. And trust, it won't be anywhere near 'respectful'.

Now, after conditioning a child to 'do without asking' and to 'respect all elders', we do serious havoc to a child's ability to discern (between right and wrong, what they have been taught and what is new information etc), even worse is the damage done to a child's self-esteem and confidence. The current culture of 'respect' has done more than rob children of the opportunity to dream, to question, and to simply be who they are. When else are you going to be convinced that you can fly and save the world, than when you haven't the inkling of what problems abound in the world? Next in line, we rob them of their creativity. Creativity, I believe, is borne out of a desire to do something new, and something different. And in many cases, going against the norm requires some iota of courage (which, remember, we have already robbed them of). So essentially, we're not only placing the children's present life in jeopardy, but their future as well. And here's the twist. Children are the future. It's no secret. So if we're robbing the children of their future, we're essentially robbing ourselves, our societies and our countries of what the future could be. I don't know about you guys, but I think that's a pretty heavy responsibility to shoulder, don't you?

All in all, I think adults in society (whether you're in your 20s or late 60s), should make sure they're worthy of the respect they demand. Respect should be mutual. I know many amazing children who are extremely respectful and who are also given the opportunity to voice their opinions on issues. This is not a case of either-or. You can inculcate an attitude of respect in a child without silencing them and ruining them for God-knows what prospective future they could have had. I think it would suffice to say that any self-respecting individual would be willing to grant audience to his or her counterparts. Regardless of how coherent, incoherent, young or old.

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Photo Sources: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3


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