Circumspecte

Chale, how! Chale freeeesh! Depending on intonation, pronunciation, context, time of day, people involved, energy, mood, the Ghaniaan word " Chale " - apparently a localised version of "Charlie" - can mean very different things! In this case, it's the newest "street-talk" web series produced by the Fashionista GH and Excelsis crew which - according to the official CHALE! Facebook page - seeks to "c apture our very essence and the word on the street across an interesting mix of issues - some of which we easily gloss over." I mean, how can you knock that hustle? E be cool waaa. When Fashionista GH team lead Ob Absenser first sent me the link to preview, I was immediately captivated by the name and branding - ingenuous, I'm willing to bet that every konkonsa (gossip) session in Ghana begins with "Chale". Then came the sound bytes for M.anifest' s Blue (Charlie What Dey Happen) and it's street cred was sealed...

Yesterday the Black Stars kicked expectations and skepticism to the curb in what was perceived by many football pundits as being "an uphill challenge" against Egypt's multiple-time WC qualifier The Pharaohs. The words being used to describe what Ghana did to Egypt include "thrashed" , "crushed" and "run a riot" . But to me, this game was one of the most beautiful shows of leg action the Ghanaian National team has exhibited in a long time. It's so beautiful, I had to share. Congrats again to the Black Stars and Coach Kwasi Appiah - who also showed some of his detractors, ha! - and all the best as we chart our course to Brazil 2014 (and avenge the WC finale we were Suarezed out of :P)! You make Ghana proud! After all is said and done, even the Pharaohs looked up to the Stars ;)

Dear United States of Africa, It's been a good 50 years since the day you were born from that mustard seed of hope. You've come a long way since then. Today (July 2, 2060) historians are trying to pinpoint exactly the moment you were birthed. Was it the day ECOWAS, COMESA and all the other economic unions finally became one - the African Economic Union (AEU) - and adopted the Afco (African currency) as the nation's currency? Or rather, the day Afrikaans was accepted as the standard language linking all across the motherland? No, it must have been the hour when Africans - both home and abroad - cast their votes in that historic and highly contested presidential election. One that led to ascension of one visionary and exemplary leader to the position of President of the U.S. of Africa. They have it all backward. If you ask anyone from my generation - I'll be 74 in a fortnight or so - they will tell you that mustard seed of hope was planted the day South Africa won the b...