The Art of Dangme
- Sitting in a class room at Bediku Primary school to learn the local language; Dangme -
Now it's highly recomended that you attempt to learn the local language when traveling, for it seems language barriers can lead to some misunderstandings, let alone lingo and terms used. Such as "I nge kungwo ku agbo hlae." Translation: "I am looking for a big cock."
One may be offended by this openess or refreshed by the bluntness or even perheps start to see a sence of "pride" in this country. For one may assume the other is quite promiscuous of simply craving a rather large fix. Desperately attempting to make yourself useful you point towards a delivery man who seems to be carrying a fairly large package. You feel satisfied as the one looking for the falic fancy starts toward the direction you pointed. Your satisfaction turns to confusion as he walks on past the delivery man to a farm where moments later he returns with a smile on his face and a chicken in his hand.
Now if you'd like to keep your ego in tact you should be aware that "Im coming" or "I will go and come" may not acually mean they will infact be back. It's best you don't stand in the rain till the sun retires awaiting there return. If you don't get the hint the first time this becomes like a really bad drama where the girl can't get a break. If you listen real close you may even hear that terrablely corrny music in the background. Don't take it personally, they just don't like to commit, which is ironic as they ask for your hand in marriage when ever they have the chance. And this DOES mean marriage it is not a misunderstanding through language barrier. A proposal is a serious thing. Don't say yes unless your ready. Mmmk girls?
It's important to note some words mean two completey different things. For instance "A hi" means "thats fine/enough" and can also mean "thats no good". The slight being in the tone. So to avoid any major incodents its sugested you exagerate tone effectivly. If somthing is ok or enough use a booming voice as low as the depths benieth the deepest sea "A HI". When it's not alright screetching is often an effective method. You may start to sound like your a boy going through puberty but it's worth not getting things mixed up to find yourself with a dept to pay and enough food to feed the whole of Ghana or enough hot pepper to burn a hole through your stomach.
"Come carry me." You look over to see a boy who looks terrabley exausted from carrying a bucket of water on his head and now is going back for more. You kindley ablidge to his request, as you have done it a million times in rugby practice and with your sister. But as soon as you walk forth he tries to avoid you, soon going into a trot and then a run as you see him foolishly make himself more tiered and assuming just because your a girl means you don't have the strength. You run after him. Now you are chasing around a little boy who you've never seen in your life. Take a secound... you are a nut case. No matter how tierd the boy, man or woman may look or ambitious you may feel. Don't attempt to carry them upon request. This is creepy.
"Come carry me" is simply a request to help lift the bucket from off their head.
Notes:
.When they call out "Bafoono", they are not calling you a bafoon. Not saying they're not implying it but to keep the peace, it's "Whiteman"
."Come and eat" is a gesture not a command. They secretly probabley really rather you didn't eat their food.
. When someone says "Give me your shirt". It's not expected of you to take off your shirt right then and there. (Although this would be a womans right of passage, so if your entering adult hood, 'you go girl'.) This is simply to say "I like your shirt"
.When they say "Lets chop" don't go grab a knife and wait expectanatly. This is creepy. Chop means eat, if you forget, sit still. Looking oblivious is better then looking threatning.
**You may often feel intarragated as they ask; "Where are you going?", "What are you going to do there?", "What will you buy me?", "What will you eat?", "Where do you come from?". This is not stalking info they simply wish to hear you attempt to speak thier language so they can laugh at your expence. So cheer up and tell them what they want to hear.
"I'm going to the bucket to dance. I'm from the palm tree. I will buy you a big mango tree. A I will eat a fishhead." --> "I yaa goga, I yaa do. I je ta. I he no mo tso mango agbo. I yaa yee lo yi."
And that is the art of Dangme.
Now it's highly recomended that you attempt to learn the local language when traveling, for it seems language barriers can lead to some misunderstandings, let alone lingo and terms used. Such as "I nge kungwo ku agbo hlae." Translation: "I am looking for a big cock."
One may be offended by this openess or refreshed by the bluntness or even perheps start to see a sence of "pride" in this country. For one may assume the other is quite promiscuous of simply craving a rather large fix. Desperately attempting to make yourself useful you point towards a delivery man who seems to be carrying a fairly large package. You feel satisfied as the one looking for the falic fancy starts toward the direction you pointed. Your satisfaction turns to confusion as he walks on past the delivery man to a farm where moments later he returns with a smile on his face and a chicken in his hand.
Now if you'd like to keep your ego in tact you should be aware that "Im coming" or "I will go and come" may not acually mean they will infact be back. It's best you don't stand in the rain till the sun retires awaiting there return. If you don't get the hint the first time this becomes like a really bad drama where the girl can't get a break. If you listen real close you may even hear that terrablely corrny music in the background. Don't take it personally, they just don't like to commit, which is ironic as they ask for your hand in marriage when ever they have the chance. And this DOES mean marriage it is not a misunderstanding through language barrier. A proposal is a serious thing. Don't say yes unless your ready. Mmmk girls?
It's important to note some words mean two completey different things. For instance "A hi" means "thats fine/enough" and can also mean "thats no good". The slight being in the tone. So to avoid any major incodents its sugested you exagerate tone effectivly. If somthing is ok or enough use a booming voice as low as the depths benieth the deepest sea "A HI". When it's not alright screetching is often an effective method. You may start to sound like your a boy going through puberty but it's worth not getting things mixed up to find yourself with a dept to pay and enough food to feed the whole of Ghana or enough hot pepper to burn a hole through your stomach.
"Come carry me." You look over to see a boy who looks terrabley exausted from carrying a bucket of water on his head and now is going back for more. You kindley ablidge to his request, as you have done it a million times in rugby practice and with your sister. But as soon as you walk forth he tries to avoid you, soon going into a trot and then a run as you see him foolishly make himself more tiered and assuming just because your a girl means you don't have the strength. You run after him. Now you are chasing around a little boy who you've never seen in your life. Take a secound... you are a nut case. No matter how tierd the boy, man or woman may look or ambitious you may feel. Don't attempt to carry them upon request. This is creepy.
"Come carry me" is simply a request to help lift the bucket from off their head.
Notes:
.When they call out "Bafoono", they are not calling you a bafoon. Not saying they're not implying it but to keep the peace, it's "Whiteman"
."Come and eat" is a gesture not a command. They secretly probabley really rather you didn't eat their food.
. When someone says "Give me your shirt". It's not expected of you to take off your shirt right then and there. (Although this would be a womans right of passage, so if your entering adult hood, 'you go girl'.) This is simply to say "I like your shirt"
.When they say "Lets chop" don't go grab a knife and wait expectanatly. This is creepy. Chop means eat, if you forget, sit still. Looking oblivious is better then looking threatning.
**You may often feel intarragated as they ask; "Where are you going?", "What are you going to do there?", "What will you buy me?", "What will you eat?", "Where do you come from?". This is not stalking info they simply wish to hear you attempt to speak thier language so they can laugh at your expence. So cheer up and tell them what they want to hear.
"I'm going to the bucket to dance. I'm from the palm tree. I will buy you a big mango tree. A I will eat a fishhead." --> "I yaa goga, I yaa do. I je ta. I he no mo tso mango agbo. I yaa yee lo yi."
And that is the art of Dangme.
posted by One World Ghana Group 2008 at
6:42 AM
2 Comments:
Awwwwwwww. Sounds great! :) I can`t wait to hear more stories about Dangme!! :D And it also sounds like you are a quick learner, my dear :) Keep enjoying yourself! HAVE FUN!
We are all thinking of you!!
Hi Sweetie
your blog made me laugh out loud!I am thrilled that you can find so much humor in your challenges. Reading your blog is like reliving your phone call home on Christmas morning. You have made Christams 2008 more memorable then you could ever have imagined. Keep your wonderful out look on life and embrace each special moment! Our thoughts and hearts are with you!!
Big Hugs!
Mom
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