The Ink 13th Edition (Spring 2017)
Yours. Sincerely.
The Ink 13th Edition (Spring 2017)
The Ink
13th Edition (Spring 2016)
EDITORIAL Hi! The Ink Team heaved a collective sigh of relief. We're stoked to put out the thirteenth edition of the Ink. It's been quite the year and semester. The good, the bad, the downright mind
Yours. Sincerely.
blowing, you name it, we've had it. Now all that's left is the finals (freshmen), final grades anticipation for continuing students, and graduation! Kudos to each of you and
COVER Model: Ariel Woode
THE EDITORS Mawuli Adjei, Kingsley Agyekum, Adwoa Adobea Armah, Eugene Akorli, Jessica Annor, Naa Adukwei Quarcoopome, Victor Eghan, Daniel Bempah, Vanessa Sam, Winston Ayisi, Keziah Whyte.
congratulations to all final years on finishing. We all know all too well what a feat that is. To everyone else, good on you for getting through this year and to this well deserved break. So here's a reminder to rest, have a long conversation, go to a party, or read a book, if that's more your
GRAPHIC DESIGN Alex Adu.
PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Adu, Charles-Martin Buckle, Micaiah Wiafe, Rodney Assan, Michael Fiifi Quansah.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Alfred Achiampong, Michael Fiifi Quansah, Daniel Bonsu.
thing. As everyone goes through the magazine, don't forget to send in submissions for the next edition! Happy Summer-ing!
Adobea Armah All rights reserved. Copyright Š The Ink 2017
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Editor-In-Chief
CONTENT
ADVICE Dear Aunty Dee
ASC Message from the ASC
CAMPUS ASC Cookout Introducing Dear Aunty Dee The Food Bazaar Global Cafe Chorale Festival Ashesi Business Club
SPOTLIGHT Benedict Quartey
POETRY As you sleep Dance My Brothers F$ck Your Consumption I AM Lukewarm
PIECE What was the point of it all? Planting the Orchids I loved natural hair... Gold or Silver Falling in Love with Ghana
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ASC
Message from the ASC The decision to become leaders of the Ashesi Students Council(ASC) and the responsibilities that come with it, is daunting. However, JustMike is grateful to you all for coming out in your numbers to vote us in as your new leaders. We congratulate the other teams for making the voting period as intense and exciting as it was for the entire school. We want to reiterate that, this ASC is for all of us. We have to hold a United front to enjoy the happy moments and tackle the challenges we shall face. We believe that, Leadership is essential because we all have expectations. There'll absolutely be no need for leadership, as well as followership, without the craving for a desired future reality. 2017 is going to be a year with new challenges and opportunities alike, and students of Ashesi are more expectant than ever, of a better experience. The ASC is keen on creating the vibrant campus we crave for. We hope to make all students feel belonged to the ASC - we will be architects of our future. At the end of 2017, this ASC will be one that is financially independent, responsive and result oriented. Together, we will paint a desirably colourful picture of our experiences with a new Ink. In one accord, we must look forward to 2017 with much enthusiasm and believe of becoming better versions of ourselves to promulgate the desired changes we want to see in our social environment and the world at large. We wish all students the best in the coming year. Have a happy and fruitful New year. Cheers to an exciting academic year and a happy ending.
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PIECE
I loved natural hair, till it became a ‘thing' Before reading this piece, I urge you to consider your view on the natural hair trend. If you think my disdain for natural hair, through ranting might anger you, then I beseech you to stop right here. If you’re still reading this, then I’m assuming you’re curious and open-minded about this topic and in turn, I’ll keep it short. I hate the natural hair trend and it’s as simple as that. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t exactly hate natural hair but the trend!! Considering the fact that this is coming from someone who has lived their whole life in a family of “natural sisters”; the assumption that natural hair makes me jealous should be ruled out. This piece consists of mostly questions - to my natural ones out there. Remember when the quiff was trending? What about lining lips with black pencils and then greasing them with lip-gloss? These trends have had their share of the limelight and the mantle has fallen on natural hair. So some of you may disagree and argue from the point of view that God gave us natural hair and so we should appreciate. Well, I wonder: “are you now appreciating your hair? Are you really doing it for your god or are you trying to impress?” Lamentably, I’m not impressed. Talk of reaching a certain length. Read on. So you want to hit a certain hair length. It could be 6, 8, 10 or maybe even 16 inches. It’s a great thing to set goals and work hard to reach them but then when you get there, what next? Keep brushing your hair? Protective hairstyling? Excessively splurge on “natural products”? Maybe even jump unto the next train. What’s the next trend going to be? Texturized hair? Colourful hair? No hair? My point is you don’t have to follow trends to love your natural hair. If a trend makes you feel confident about your hair or even inspires you, then you should check that because your bubble is going to get burst pretty soon and I could bet my last cedi on it. Be-you-tiful, Love your hair, and don’t let trends make you love your hair. Again, this is just my opinion and you’re free to disagree, but it’s still my opinion.
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CAMPUS
ASC Cookout Page 06
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SPOTLIGHT
Benedict
Philosophical musings about surpassing the speed of light, dancing, and the possibility of time travel are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a conversation with Benedict Quartey. The Ink decided to catch up the recently voted Civic Engagement Personality of the month to allow us – and the Ashesi community – to learn a bit more about him.
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SPOTLIGHT TI: We don’t know who Benedict is. Tell us something about yourself – something anyone who knows you would know. BQ: I think I’m funny. That’s what everybody who knows me knows – I’m funny. And I’m a fun person to be around – I’m sociable. TI: So you were Civic Engagement Personality of the month, and you talked a bit about your project – Project Tontro? BQ: Project Tontro – no one can ever mention it – a Tontro car is the name of those tin can cars that children make with chalewote as tires and pull around, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen one. The whole focus of the project is technology. So I work with the kids who make those cars, and we give them a brain – tiny computers that are programmable, so that they can move around with them. TI: Is there anything you’ve taken from the experience? Anything you’ve learned from the children, or any insights teaching them has given you? BQ: I would say that the most important thing I’ve learned, or one thing that has stood out to me is the creativity of kids. They don’t necessarily have any excessive knowledge about the way things work, so they dream. Nothing hinders that dream. For instance, if you tell a Physicist that you can teleport, he would give you so many reasons why it’s not possible. Maybe a Quantum Physicist might think you can do it, but in general, you would hear so many reasons why it’s not possible. But to a child, that barrier of what they can and cannot do doesn’t exist. They are able to see things that we adults can’t. With all our knowledge, if adults could be like that, the things we could do would be amazing. That’s why I see myself as a child at heart, because despite the knowledge I’ve acquired, I still have a vivid imagination. Anyone who knows me would know how I always talk about flying. Without wings, or machinery, just floating in the sky. I talk about teleportation, and how I’m building a time machine. All these weird crazy ideas, because the children inspire me to think. TI: So what plans do you have for the Project? Could it become a sort of charity program? BQ: I don’t believe in charity, first of all. I mean, it’s good to give someone something, There’s a saying “teach someone to fish and they won’t go hungry”. That saying is nonsense, because if I’m hungry, why would I want to learn how to fish? In that case, giving is good. What I want it to become is a self-sustaining project, in which the kids create their own content, and learn their own things. At the moment, we’re beta testing things how children learn, so that we can make a kind of project kit to send around schools, which would allow them to teach themselves robotics and computer engineering at their own pace.
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SPOTLIGHT TI: That sounds quite amazing. Now, we move away from the project. Do you like music? BQ: I love music. TI: Alright... Give us a playlist of 7 songs you wouldn’t mind listening to for the rest of your life. BQ: em... first of all, Aniron, by Anya – I’ll explain the background of that when I finish. There’s also a song called Euphoric Chillstep. And maybe Ngengen. You know Ngengen right? TI: Nope. BQ: (proceeds to play Ngengen and is amazed by the fact that we don’t know it). It’s a cool song. The fourth song would be, Celine Dion’s “My heart will go on”. Then My Immortal, by Evanescence. There’s also a song called Gold, guns and girls, by a band called Metric. And the Theme song of Shrek. You know it right? Everything apart from Ngengen is chill. Ngengen is for some spice and some hyperactivity, but apart from that, I’m into slow songs. (proceeds to explain the background of Aniron – an LOTR* themed love song inspired by an epic love between two major characters) TI: So you’re a sci-fi kind of guy. What are your favorite TV shows? BQ: Sherlock Holmes – the one with Benedict Cumberbatch. And Kyle XY. TI: Let’s backtrack for a minute. One thing that stood out to us from your brief Civic Engagement interview a few weeks ago was the mention of Quantum Entanglement. We attempted to read about it, but it didn’t take. What exactly is Quantum Entanglement? Could you explain the essence of it in a sentence? BQ: Hm. In a sentence? I would say, that if two particles are quantum entangled, something that happens to one is mirrored in the other. Yeah. So with human beings, we could say that when two hearts are quantum entangled, if one thing happens to a guy here, the girl over there will feel it. That’s the definition of love or? I think I’ve cracked it – Love is quantum entanglement. TI: That’s kind of cool… I think we’ve gotten through enough. But before we go, would you like to shout out future Benedict, reading the interview in a few weeks? BQ: Do I have anything to say? I don’t know... It’s like that time in first year where they ask you to write a letter to your future self. I wrote things, and forgot about them right, but almost everything I wrote came true, so that was kind of cool. When is this coming out though? A month? That’s not very long. But okay. Future Benedict. I hope you’ve done all your assignments. You like procrastinating too much. And I hope you’ve actually finished all the things on the sticky notes by your bed. Do them, or they’ll fall off. Oh - and try and achieve all the goals you’ve set for yourself. Yeah. I think that’s it Page 10
CAMPUS
INTRODUCING “DEAR AUNTIE DEE” The Ink is excited to introduce a collaboration with the Office of Student and Community Affairs: “Dear Auntie Dee”. The new counsellor, Mrs. Diana Davis, would be responding to letters from the student body. Here's how this will work. Write your note, clearly labeled [Dear Auntie Dee Submissions] ,and slip said note underneath her door or in a specially allocated box in the library. P.s. Not all submissions and their answers will be published
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ADVICE
Dear Auntie Dee Dear Auntie D, It's comforting to finally have a counselor. Now I have an outlet for my troubles. There's this boy I genuinely have a crush on and I just can't concentrate or study; especially when he's around. I haven't spoken to him yet because: 1. I'm the girl 2. I'm scared to death It's way more nerve-racking when I see him in any of my classes. Auntie D, this boy is my boyfriend's friend. What should I do? -Anonymous
Dear precious young lady, Thank you for asking for advise on a situation that many people experience from time to time. Each phase of life has a name and a set of experiences that accompany that phase. Between the ages of 18-26, we call this the “young adult” phase and is noted for the time when you are attracted to someone, form relationships and fall in love. This is as natural as flowers blooming in spring or fruit ripening on the vine. You state that currently you have a boyfriend. When you label a relationship as you have done by referring to your current situation as “I have a boyfriend”, you have labelled this relationship and with that label comes certain expectations of commitment, respect and love. Once you say that you have a “boyfriend”, then you have also labelled yourself a “girlfriend” and both of you have certain expectations of each other. Some expectations that couples have who carry the label are: •Respect and honesty •Communication •Commitment •Fidelity •Love Page 10
e, I have a crush
Since you are writing to me from a university campus, I am addressing you as a student whose primary focus at this time should be your studies and developing yourself as a young woman. I said primary which means among your priories, education and personal development must be at the top of your list with relationships taking an auxiliary position. So if you label yourself a “girlfriend” than you must bear the responsible that comes with the title. All of life has the law of reciprocity, which means that the law of cause and effect is always at work. If you create a good cause, then you can expect a good result and when you create a bad cause you will receive a bad effect based on the law. Now, let’s talk about what a “crush” is all about. According to wiki How to do anything, defines a crush as “a burning desire to be with someone who you find very attractive and extremely special.”[1] Crushes make you feel crazy emotions--like feeling shy and uncontrollably giddy at the same time. You can’t always choose who you have a crush on, but you can choose how you react once you figure out that you have a crush on someone. (http://www.wikihow.com/Recognize-That-You-Have-a-Crush-on-Someone). The important lesson I want you to understand is that you DO NOT have to react to every feeling you have. As you grow older and wiser you will realize that your future is determined by the actions you take TODAY and based on the law of reciprocity all actions come full circle so beware of your causes and actions. Treat others as you wish to be treated. If your “boyfriend” developed a crush on one of your girlfriends and acted upon his feelings while you thought that he only cared for you, how would you feel about his actions? If your feelings become so strong for your “crush”, then END your relationship with your boyfriend before you take any actions towards your crush. Be aware that your crush could be very one sided with your crush NOT having similar feelings for you. I hope this gives you something to think about. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to book an appointment with me -Aunty Dee Page 11
CAMPUS
GLOBAL CAFE ISA WEEK 2017
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POETRY
As you sleep...
by Ahomka Mills-Robertson
I wrote a poem as I watched you sleep. Even if your love for me has eroded, watching you sleep that afternoon brought me peace. The beauty in that dreamlike stillness could bring God to his knees. I watched you slumber and thought of your dreams. If they were a book, what would be written on those leaves? I witnessed your eyelids shudder and tried to decipher what it means. Caught myself, as the strands of your hair blew in the breeze. Never thought that perfection existed, but I swear most days you made me believe. Your shallow breathing reminded me of the languid sea. My heart - the red carpet for your petite feet. Alima, there were nights when, in your crippling pain, you’d hold on to me. I remember, and so I wrote a poem for you this afternoon as I watched you sleep. Alima, I wrote poem that you’ll never see.
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PIECE
What was the point of it all? Where do I even begin discussing my life at Ashesi? Do I start with the fact that it has been about 1225 days since I first stepped here; clueless, wide-eyed and hopeful. Do I even remember what my dreams were then or what I wanted from a college experience? Do I look back and regret what my college experience wasn’t or silently step out into the outside world? About 150 days till graduation and I am asking myself, “what was the point of it all?” The fact of the matter is: I never knew myself or at least I thought I did till now. Most of the things I did over my four years, I now feel like I didn’t have to but still; I did it all. As my experiences widened, I felt like finally I was understanding the grand scheme of my experience and then suddenly, it was all gone. The internal struggle was real, somehow I kept myself going that illusion of the light at the end of the tunnel seemed so surreal till now that I am this close. The truth of it all was that, we all had expectations. Some of them met, others well… still yet to be met. I sit in my dark corner and recount all of them, thinking did I expect too much or simply undervalued some of my experiences here? What could have been different? What if I had been at another college, would I be feeling the same? Or maybe I should wait till I am 30 years old, then it will make sense? The what coulds, what ifs and whys still weigh down on me. Some times I have resigned it is okay not to get it. Not knowing is all fine, I comfort myself. Maybe it is just a defense mechanism or maybe the answer to the one question: what was the point of it all, scares me. Maybe in the face of being lost, in deep fear and confusion, I will figure it out but still the reality of never doing so haunts me. I speak for some of us in Ashesi when I say we have asked ourselves what really is the point? The assignment load which forced us to do some half-shady work just so as to submit something, the college party I attended and still felt like it was some high school social, the class which I got out with an ‘A’ but still had no clue what it was about, the honors I might get whilst unsure I can apply the knowledge… In my 1225 days, I have done this over and over again. Maybe I haven’t fully cherished my four year experience here, maybe I will appreciate it sometime in the future. But for now, I ask myself again: “what was the point of it all?” Believe me, I wish I knew.
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CAMPUS
The Food Bazaar
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PIECE
Planting the Orchids
by Raymond Munyaradzi Chivere
The soul of a university, is not as esoteric a concept as it may first appear. An organization where a body or group of people reside, work, and learn can be said to have a soul, only perhaps in a larger proportion than you or I could fathom. For the individual souls of the persons we unconsciously encounter per diem are somehow consolidated into a single whole. Like a rolling snowball, growing larger, with each attempt of the impossible. This notion of a university or institution’s soul is by no way nascent or novel, first popularized by John Henry Newman in his book “The Idea of a University”. He suggested that a university’s soul lies in the mark that it leaves on its students. For those who have the benefit of believing in such a manifestation, there is no question…that we must endeavor to cultivate an enabling environment and culture that will allow Ashesi’s soul or the soul of any other pertinent organization we find ourselves involved in - to flourish. For many pragmatists this is a difficult concept to grapple with, but I will assume if you are still reading, there is a certain understanding or interest. Like a beautiful garden, as with the soul, we must prune and weed, we must plant and cultivate our orchids. Watering the garden with the positive influences that teach us to think creatively and critically, to reason, to ask questions. If the soul of this youthful university is to flourish we must plant our humanities, we must have our orchids! A notable humanist - Allan Bloom, once compared the humanities to the great old Paris Flea Market. Where he said; amidst masses of junk, people with a good eye found cast away treasures...It is like a refugee camp where all the geniuses driven out of their jobs and countries by unfriendly regimes are idling. This description sounds very pretty much like Ghana’s own Madina or Makola Market, and I will have you know, from experience, that on occasion, on a very rare occasion at least, you may find this to be true - but I’m sure having the humanities here on our hill would be a more fulfilling visitation. A Good Charioteer leads the way, and I am sure those in the position to do so are working tirelessly towards this end. I must however in my limited capacity as a writer resound the trumpet of humanities once again. If only to inject its urgency, if at all it had begun to wane. A wise man would have us know that a good old age starts in youth, and we are a youthful institution bent on absorbing the right influences that would allow us to make the necessary positive contributions toward our societies as we grow older. In this regard, humanities play an important role. Humanities are our orchids, let us plant them!
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POETRY
Dance My Brothers
by Ahomka Mills-Robertson
You place plasters on them wounds but they are mortal. The tragedy of life is that we are all mortal. Stare into my eyes as if these hazelnuts are the portal, to my heart. See my shortcomings and my demons but remain cordial. Dance with me, like the dancefloor was the canvas and let’s tap till we create a tapestry that is immortal. Forget you inhibitions, no need to seem formal. If your mortality, and your failures cause you unrest, and you bear sadness that you have no way to address, Then dance into my arms, my heart will be your mattress. I will keep it warm for you even in your absence. That is the natural course of events when two heart blend. If you need advice, I’ll give you my 2 … 4 … 6 … 8 … 10 cents. Shimy to the left. Let every dance move stress your very essence. Let your sweat drench your vestments. This is the ballroom halo. Dance my brothers! We are tainted but we are aiming for heaven.
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PIECE
Falling in Love with Ghana
by Reshma Mawji
Some places are irresistibly striking and easy to fall in love with. Ghana wasn’t one of them and it was harder to digest. Three years — that’s how long it took for me to fall in love with Ghana; the land where I have found my soul (literally). If you asked me how I felt about my move to Ghana two years ago, I’d have had nothing nice to say, as a matter of fact, I even tried leaving a couple of times. But now, I absolutely love this country, and I am highly considering permanently moving here. I wish I had reflected on my time in Ghana more frequently, and written about it as the years have passed, because I am certain this one post cannot do justice to it all. It took me being away from Ghana for four months to realize just how much I missed it. Everything about it. I missed the kind people, I missed the jollof (and yes I prefer Ghanaian jollof to Nigerian jollof), I missed how much everyone around me cared, I missed going to church, I missed the hills of Berekuso, I missed the pepper, I missed the banku, I missed the music, I missed hearing people speak pidgin, I even missed the terrible congested traffic — Yup! So, after days of wistful nostalgia, I messaged a friend back in Ghana and expressed my uneasiness with these ‘strange’ feelings. His response was, “I can’t wait for you to come back ‘home’ to Ghana”. And this made all the difference. He was right. Ghana had become home, the people of Ghana had become family, and I had fallen in love with Ghana for everything that it was, including its many imperfections. I feel alive in Ghana’s unique allure; I feel more connected to the distinct culture and the people here than I have felt in my own country, Kenya; I feel restless in the search to find myself in this place, that has started defining every part of me; I feel a sense of satisfaction, but also a desire for more, to see more, to explore more; I feel a kind of warm content in my heart for all that I have learnt and continue to learn here, through the good times and the challenging ones; and weirdly, I feel a sense of betrayal, like I am cheating on Kenya, on my real ‘home’, that no longer feels like home. I can’t help it, I really have fallen in love with Ghana, and I cannot wait to see what this newly found relationship has in store for me.
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CAMPUS
Ashesi Business Club Members Bryan Achiampong- President We wouldn't exist without the creation of the concept of business, the understanding of ever perpetuating needs, and the solutions stemmed from the bowls of our innovative entrepreneurial minds that manifest as products and services to make us feel whole. The last part of this sentence is what illuminates my passion as Bryan Achiampong and as the President of the Ashesi Business Club, the innovation. I have noticed and respect this level of creativity in two businesses, one distant and the other in our backyard, Apple and Pattate. Apple as many of us know embrace defying the status quo. Since Steve Jobs launched the first smartphone 9 years ago, the company has embraced the future as the status quo of the present and operated by the principle on unwavering creativity. Although we may all not know Pattate, they happen to be the business on campus I am most fond of. Their embodiment of diversity and spontaneity in each talent show they host where they sell their fast food products, allow the consumer to comfortably enjoy the experience of the show while being wholesomely unaware that they are engaged in a business transaction. That to me is not just business but the unintentional creation of a lifestyle. Our ability to think beyond our current circumstances is our only assured stairway to the future, and I conceptualize this vision in the color blue because it reminds me of the unending skies and hope above.
Ejiro Akpalikoko-Vice President If you know her, you’ll know her love for Ebonylife television.. The fact that the company is creating change in the entertainment industry through new and improved African TV shows. Hence using those shows to end the stereotype about Africans and the continent. Their motto, "Everything you think you know about Africa is about to change forever" is their main driving force. Favorite business in school: Jane's Brownies, just for my love of Brownies. Random: please try to enjoy yourself in this life.
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Dyllis Esi Ndesua Quansah-General Secretary One of the business brands that I would say excites me when I come across it, is Michael Kors. I love the diversity of the brand, it doesn’t just focus on say women’s clothes or a jewelry line; there are fragrances, watches, bags, clothes for both sexes, footwear, you name it! Their quality products and diversity (one of the qualities ABC encourages and nurtures) is what makes it my business of choice. Favourite business on campus—Munchies. Why? Because I think it is a mighty strategic and necessary business venture. Finally, I would like to state that Bryson Tiller is too good!
Maureen Molly Basemera- PRO I am currently majoring in Business Administration. My favorite company is the Toms Company currently located in Del Rey in California. The story behind this company strikes me and more so describes part of me. Most of you might not know but purchasing one pair of toms is equivalent to buying two pairs of shoes; one for yourself and the other for the under privileged. This story has inspired my desires for charity and creativity when it comes to businesses. Moreover, I play a number of sports quite well including hockey, football, athletics, volleyball and others.
Martha Boakye-Financial Secretary Martha Boakye is a senior at Ashesi University College offering a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. As the newly elected Chief Finance Executive of the Ashesi Business Club, she is responsible for accounting for all revenue accrued, expenditure incurred by the club, and funds given by the Ashesi Student Council among others. The company that best describes Martha is Unique Trust Bank Ghana. It is one of the fastest growing banks in Ghana that is able to withstand challenges as they occur. Just like UT Bank, she is enthusiastic about and committed in her engagements, and seeks to prioritize building strong and healthy rapports with others over everything.
Kelvin Degbotse Hey I’m Kelvin, Im crazy like the innovators in Silicon Valley. I stand for creativity like Apple, Disney and Pixer and I execute like Tesla. Basically I am in charge of all the cool stuff which evolved the whole process from idea to execution. Peace.
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POETRY
F$ck your Consumption
by Ahomka Mills-Robertson
Fuck your Consumption. No, I will not purchase the latest iphone. Fuck your consumption. No, I do not care for 50% off signs wherever I go. Fuck your consumption. No, I will not follow silly trends that you might term retro. Fuck your consumption. I wish these advertising billboards would leave me alone. Fuck your consumption. Don’t tell me there is a sale; I will not go. Fuck your consumption. What the fuck is big horse Ralph Lauren Polo? Fuck your consumption. I do not need a curved tv, and definitely don’t need to see stuff in “super slo-mo. Fuck your consumption. I will not let apple devices control my home. Fuck your consumption. I will not let them take my soul. Fuck your consumption. I do not need these things to inflate my ego. Fuck your consumption. These corporations are evil. Fuck your consumption. Making ends out of people. Fuck your consumption. Fuck twitter, what value is in a follow? Fuck your consumption. The new Samsung just bloody explodes. Fuck your consumption. Yet we you’ll buy very single note. Fuck your consumption. I don’t need 1,000 improved features on my television remote. Fuck your consumption. I don’t need your Balenciaga open-toes. Fuck your consumption. Don’t need the Abercrombie and Fitch, Zara, Aeropostale. Fuck you consumption. What Imma do with new nikes that glow, Diamonds on my fours, And new chains so heavy they drag on the floor? Fuck your consumption. I don’t need to encrust my teeth with diamonds and gold. Fuck your consumption. I will not mortgage soul. Fuck your consumption. Tell MTN to stop calling my phone. Fuck your consumption. I don’t give a shit about your promo. Fuck your consumption. Forget paying 7 times the price for a bloody logo. Fuck your consumption. I’d rather spend that on something local. Fuck your consumption. I’m fighting to defend my soul. Fuck your consumption. But damn, that new Mercedes benz nice though. Fuck. It’s consumption.
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PIECE
Gold or Silver
by Priscilla Vera Okpoti - Paulo
What exactly are you? Do people value you at all? Or are you treated indifferently? You have to make your mark You’ve got to put some value and expense on yourself See, people are indifferent about silver But what about gold? Just think about it! Are you living your best possible way? What you are determines how people would treat you Gold has no life yet it’s treated like a valued and priceless treasure What is your worth? You’re worth more than gold! Did you ever know that? Put in your best efforts. Give life your potentials And become the best priceless gold you can ever be!
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STORY
A Visit to the New Counsellor's I remember the first time I saw Aunty D. I was in one of the staff offices, doing nothing productive. Hanging around and thinking of the banku I had just bought. And this lady comes in, and really the only descriptor that comes to mind is, "like a whirlwind". There seemed to be some fuss, about her picture being taken for her ID. All I saw was a woman with a seemingly African-American accent. I quietly slipped out, thinking "Well, here we go again". As a student, it's not unusual to see foreigners, usually American, on campus, being shown around. But I had heard some talk of her being the new counsellor. Again, I wasn't sure what that meant exactly. Weren't the dean and her associates our counsellors? But I didn't think much of this as I made my way downstairs to find more productive ways to use my time. Fast forward a semester later, when my friend announces to me he has to go see the new counsellor. "Why?", I asked, frankly baffled. Apparently, one of our lectures felt he was troubled and needed counselling and had gone ahead to book an appointment for him. It was obvious he didn't appreciate this intrusion on his privacy or his time. A few hours later, I come out of class to see him sitting outside, just staring into space. "How did it go?", I ask, genuinely curious. He's not very forthcoming with information initially, but eventually lets on that he cried a little. I try unsuccessfully not to laugh at this piece of information. I conclude that she must be extremely good at her job to have gotten him to shed tears. But as we talk, the conversation becomes much less amusing and more disturbing. He tells me that she assured him he wasn't alone, that in fact many others had come before him, struggling with depression and anxiety. I think about this, and the myriad of ways all these struggling students must be attempting to hide their struggles with their mental health. Burdened with assignments, frequent group works and living in a rural area that's many miles away from home for a lot of students, they hide their pain behind facades of fortitude. I know this because every semester, I see students that don't come back, because of academic failures. And for many of those students, there's not a single sign of the stress they must have been under, struggling frantically to keep their grades high enough to stay in school. Or even more frightening, there's no sign at all, that they've given up completely on ever trying to save their grades. A day or two later, I'm heading towards my room after class, and I get to the door of Aunty D's office. For some reason, I linger. I'm not sure that I want to go in and set an appointment but I'm also not certain that I'd rather not speak to her. "Speak to her about what?", I ask myself uncertainly, but I'm not sure of the answer. When I finally make the decision to go in and start to inch closer to the door, it suddenly bursts open and out she comes, seemingly in a great hurry. For a few seconds, I just stand there, at a loss as to what to do. Then I begin to follow her, trying to
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draw her attention with a few "Um's" and "Ah's". And then she turns around and asks brightly if I want to see her. I'm still a little bewildered and so I simply nod as she starts heading back to her office. At this point, I go into a slight panic. I want to explain to her that I want to see her, just not now. But exactly like the first time I saw her, she moves like a whirlwind, much faster than I can arrange my thoughts into words to tell her what I want to say. I follow her into her office a little meekly and am relieved to see she's checking her schedule. At least, that's an indication she's not free to see me at that moment. She explains that she was just heading to another meeting and isn't free for the rest of that day and so we set a meeting for the next day. I say goodbye and we leave. On my way to my room, I think deeply about this exchange and what it all means. I realise that part of the reason I was so scared to see her at that moment was fear. Fear that I hadn't prepared myself enough, that others might see me going in and speculate that I wasn't as strong as I let on. I feel that's pretty common among Ashesi students. Even as we complain about stress, there's the unspoken rule, that you must have it all together. You can't be the weak one who cracks under the stress. Everyone else is handling it, why can't you? The next day, my plans to slip quietly into her office unnoticed are dashed. There's a loud and vibrant celebration of international cultures happening right outside her office. I panic as usual as I wonder how it will look to my friends around, me going for counselling when I seem fine. So I chat with them, while I wait for the clock to strike the exact time we set for the appointment. I reason that by chatting and creating a casual air, everyone will know I'm fine and strong even when I walk into the office. But alas, all my efforts go to waste because I find that her office is empty anyway. For a few seconds I wonder if this is a sign, that I don't need to see her after all. And yet I can't seem to shake off the feeling that I should. So we reschedule the appointment for later in the day. I remember distinctly trying to make myself look as normal as possible as I sit in the chair. Trying to appear like a normal student who was just coming in to check out the new counsellor. I don't want her to think there's anything wrong with me and to start probing and making me cry too. So I try to keep my voice and my face steady even as the conversation veers into areas that make me uncomfortable because I've buried them deep and don't like to think about them. Eventually, the conversation ends. She asks nicely if I'd be coming back, to which I give a noncommittal answer. I'm not sure if I will go back. And yet, like my friend, I can tell that even in the short time she's been here, she's had a large number of visitors. I can tell that all is not well with the general populace of the school. That maybe even a single trained counsellor might not be enough. Since then, I haven't gone back. I'm still not sure that I will. I'm also not sure what to make of the alarming realisation that mental health issues are not as uncommon in this small community of ours as we would like to think. Again, I'm not sure what to do about this or even if I want to do anything about it. The only thing I can be sure of is, going to see her isn't half as bad as I thought it would be.
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CAMPUS FEATURE
Chorale
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Festival
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POETRY
I AM
by EnigmaDX
I am the greatest destruction that has ever emerged from the Netherworld I am the infinite chaos that will consume this deplorable world I am an advocate of war and a nihilist of peace I am the shadow of terror that brings gods and kings to their knees I am the vague entity that evokes enmity, hatred and fear Upon spiteful humans to desecrate the things you hold dear I am the celestial force that revokes your significance like Pluto Neglected and rejected, like Hephaestus, son of Juno I am the horde of locust that desecrate your field of prosperity For which you toiled, bled and killed to preserve your own longevity I am the despotic storm that dissipates all your loved ones from their homes And rains upon them legion of blades and fiery stones that tear through their flesh and break their fragile bones. I am the dormant hellhound that has finally been unleashed upon the earth To ravage, annihilate and consume the little ones your love had birthed In the face of defeat I’ll be that unbearable pain you are forced to embrace As you are compelled to consume the entrails of your beloved in sheer disgrace Page 28
What I will do to you will make you bleed and plead for your pathetic life to cease But I will proceed as your pain rises to new degrees that will make even the Joker cede. I am the vast ocean of nightmares in which you helplessly search for shore while struggling in futility to stay afloat As the sharks of despair surround you and patiently await to rip out your throat I am the bane of your success, I will vehemently pursue and annihilate any modicum of progress in your life Until you are ruined, broken, and become best friends with sorrow, poverty and strife I will treasure-nay, cherish the tears running marathon’s down your face It will bring me great pleasure, yes, I will relish the sight of vultures and hounds dragging your gory body to the bottomless pit at a slow yet memorable pace I am the hand of justice, and the absolute spirit of vengeance Born from the pit of malice, to the lake of burning sulphur my victims, including you, shall be sentenced. I am your Final Fate, the finish line to your pathetic human existence I have the final say in your last days, regardless of your futile persistence. I am neither God nor the devil, but I am a servant of both To perform my duties on the Apocalypse-my birthday. ‘Tis my sacred and only oath.
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Gender
COMING
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The Ink
is Dead
G SOON
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POETRY
Lukewarm
by Haq Inusah
There are members afloat in a body of water There are members at rest in the belly of the body Both ends are at peace with their sureness of choice. We do not give mind for which is right. The undecideds remain in wonder at the wonders of the center Twisted shards of glass in the belly of the medium Stabbing ad libitum at the disoriented undecideds Dropping to bottom, rising to top. Going south,raging, sobbing, Ending north, incognito, frigid Blown off the course by a varied winds of doctrine. In the midst of their depressing confusion An anchor is made known. Their sinking-rising ship shall no longer limbo. A restoration miracle for the truly desperate. Gasping wildly‌ wildly Tormented enough to choose a path An unconscious choice... A choice without intentional permission The temperature changes Lukewarm degrees up till the frogs be cooked. Dancing tongues of holy fire till the demons be booked Arranged in neat order, to be jettisoned away from here. A one way drop, departure - out of this tempest of a feeding frenzy they have enjoyed for so long, ‌downward, into the darkness of the depths they belong. Preserved. Not destroyed. Discontent. Plotting for the next election year. Page 32
A Nazorean hand calling out to a sinking doubter The water walker, the race runner, the tight rope sprinter Savior of Mr. Peter, the stopper for a second to take in the view, the odds. Down down going. Unrefusing, yet refusing to go. Now coming up up A calling hand. A holed calling hand. A resplendent knight in bloody amour. The day king with a crown of thorns. The surface’s tension is broken The saved gasps for breath There is a wonderful view in the sky to behold. There are twisted shards the medium below. Everything is magnified to elephant-like dullness. The moment seems to hang, paused in existence sequence. In the stories, this is where it ends. Final infinite peace. A happily ever after. This is where the audience goes away. We both know though, that this is only where another story begins‌ or repeats. We are uncertain of the things to come. We are afraid of the night beings they sing of in a hum. But we are gently assured of a time to come. For some reason, for some strange, intangible, lingering reason, There is growing attachment to the belief that we’ll be fine. There is increasing sureness and solace in this new spot. Maybe, just maybe, this anchor shall hold in the coming storms of life.
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The Ink