Christmas Message to Winnebarians, Ghanaweb Hobos and...

Enthusiasts Globally


By Kwesi Atta Sakyi 20TH December 2011

(UNESCO and other agencies worldwide are actively helping to preserve minority languages from extinction and this write-up in Effutu with English translation is my widow’s mite towards that noble endeavour)

Countrymen and women from Winneba, (read Ghana), Simpa Odebikese, greetings. It is me, Kwesi Atta Sakyi, calling you from Lusaka in the Diaspora. I have landed at Abowiei Beach. Where are those from Penkye? What about folks from Eyipe, Mburabamu, Donkornyiemu, Osiinee, Abasraba, Nkwantanan, Ponkoekyir, Ndaamba, Otwekwaaduase, Ahemfie Aboano, Sofo Aboano, Zion Kokwaado, Ofunyaamu, Ntakofamu, Kormantse, Ogyaye, Adansi, Ankamaadze, Cadbury and Fry, Millers, SCOA, Domeabra, Oguaboano, Fantsefantse, Kwenduromu, Kojobeedu, Junction, Ateitu, Atakyedo, Maame Amampim, Nsuekyir, Anfoteterdo, Munimu,Mangoase, Bewadze, Mankoadze, Kojo Anlo Bakamu, Twiimu, Daaseayaw, Gyahadze, Kweikrom, Pomadze, Okyereko, New Winneba, Waterworks, Zongo, Pepe Tsiefidanho, Shell, One Way, Sankor, Gyangyanadze and Osubonpanyin? Hmmm! I have been very busy lately with pressure of school work in my way. We have a lot of chat to catch up on but I will make it snappy. I have had sleepless nights over hefty and herculean issues concerning the lack of unity and development in Winneba (read Ghana). These issues weigh heavily on my mind and they rankle in my mind all the time. How can we lift up Winneba (read Ghana), our dear and sweet hometown and birthplace? Let us bury the hatchet and smoke the peace pipe in order to unite for the sake of almighty Winneba (read Ghana). It is shameful how we have lowered our guard on an old and important municipality such as Winneba (read Ghana). How could that be? Are we ingrates to let down our elders who toiled very hard to build us a place to stay and left us a heritage? God forbid. Let us go to the bush, hallelujah. Let us go home, hallelujah, hallelujah. This is Opesaw Kaakaiku (kakai Kweku) Sakyi Akumbia, who is dialoguing with you at Christmas time on Ghanaweb forum. Let us unite and forget the past wrangles so that together, we build Winneba (read Ghana) for it to become a showpiece. Come to our aid, our ancestors. Tow Mpa, Osiimpam, Bondzi Ebi Gyateh Sisi. Awere eei, esusow yi a awow dze me o). Awere ee i, this rainy season, I am feeling cold). Listen to the rattle and the pealing and clanging of bells. Listen to the loudspeaker/megaphone, all symbols of Tuafo No 1 and Dentsefo No 2 Asafo Companies, our traditional militia and warriors. The drums are also throbbing, with the bugle sounding. Oh, Tuafo have caught a deer, is that a poser? (Tuafo akyer abowa, amo nee nee).

Kow Tsifa wo kuku bo anyen? Bo po to. (Kow Tsifa where is the half of your body? Answer: Iit is stuck in the thicket or copse).

Song – Alaba Ntakoma
(Alaba is native name for a girl born on Tuesday. Ntakoma is Effutu which translates as finisher of female genitalia).
Alaba Ntakoma eei, you don’t sleep at night,
(D.C)
When your dad calls you, you don’t answer the call,
When you mum calls you, you don’t answer the call,
(Always out of coverage area)
Alaba Ntakoma, you don’t sleep at night.
Note: (Typical of sexy teenagers, Alaba Ntakoma was a grinder and a paddler/peddler. She was a scarecrow to many a he-man. She was extremely prosmiscuous. No wonder, sooner rather than later she was in the family way, heavy with child).

Translation – Effutu Version

Oma Simpa Odebikese, ane so omangya a!

Omangye sua ase. Maafa Kwesi Atta Sakyi
bo ndoto bo anaanyense bo Lusaka laakyere ane. Me mba aparekye Abowiei Poase. Ana ane di Ewutu atar krompi moafaafa. Penkye ebi bo anyen? Eyipe ebi ee? Nkaawo no eh? Mburabato, Donkornyieto, Osiinee, Abasraba, Nkwantanan, Ponkonsi, Ndaamba, Otwe kwaayibianyeese, Odefe Guano, Osow Guano, Zion Kyenkyeso, Ofunyaato, Ntakofato, Kormankye, Ogyaye, Adansi, Abrembianyeese, Cadbury and Fry, Millers, SCOA, Fisher, Domeabra, Oguaboano, Sakagyato, Alata Kyenkyeso, Seeleh, Saakooso, Obentsiwah, Fantsefantse, Kwendurto, Kojobeedu, Junction, Ateitu, Atakyeso, Maame Amampim, Nsunsi, Anfoteterso, Munito, Mangoanyeese, Bewanyeese, Mankoanyeese, Kojo Anlo Bakato, Twiito, Daaseayaw, Gyahato, Kweimanto, Pomanyeese, Okyereko, New Winneba, Ansaful, Waterworks, Zongo, Road Close, Shell, Pepe Okyefigowo, Oneway, Sankor , Gyangyananyeese Osobonpanyin, Aburansi Nkakyianyeese wo e? Hmmm! Ani kyere berete so. Mennya me wer to anikaase koraaa nkyensa mo. Bo kye ane edi odewu berete. Nyew, atar berete bo, bo kye anayikye, ka ane bekuku so mporokomporoko. Me de a, maa de bo Simpa mansomanso wo. Ane beejo me pikya Simpa (Ghana) oma so bo onwonso a?
Ana anefee aso foo to na esina na anoworo so bo komebo ba oma laapah Simpa (Ghana) mo firebi mboyee. Ebo asotonkyease berete kye oma odada Simpa, (Ghana) animfee ane wo so. Ane enyimpa mbo ko na ane. Amoko akonkye na ane firebi mboyee. Aka mo me na mimbire a? Simpa (Ghana) oma bo ada berete so. Ate Nyimpo perekye. Ana anewo ape to, ehurmenje ee Omenje Saa, ana anewo ewiso, ehurmenje ee, Omenje saa. Opesaw Kaakaiku (Kakai Kweku), Sakyi Akumbia mo afaafa na mo na ane ntare buronya ibe mo to bo ghanaweb efirto mo. Nyingya. Ane woroso bo laaba. Onuto ase nyen degyaa. Ana ane bo komebo na ane bête aba firebi ba ewiso ba akyerekyere Simpa(Ghana) na ebo f33f33f3w. Two Mpa, Osimpam, Bondzi Ebi Gyateh, Kow Gyan Kobina, Awere ee, esusow yi a, awow dze mo oo (Fante Song). Twerebo regura. Kekered33 na akasamu wo regura. Adomba regura. Nkon na bugle wo regura. Tuawo and Denkyewo amo ns3nkyer3di na ahy3nsew. Tuafo akyer abowa, amo nee nee. Tuafo akyer abowa, amo nee nee. Tuafo akyer abowa, amo nee nee. Kow Tsifa wo kuku bo anyen? Bo po to.

Song – Alaba Ntakoma

Alaba Ntakoma eei, efo enyinto a omaa de
Alaba Ntakoma eei, efo enyinto a omaa de,
Wo se kyere wo a , omaawo
We ni kyere wo a,oamaawo
Alaba Ntakoma eei
Efo enyinto a omaa de
(Alaba Ntakoma moko ewu berete so.
Mo kwan tabon mo afaafa. Ominsere mo a, omaa da kye. Obeewu gya.
Owose furfur ntoo bengyaw nda wo?
Alaba mo nyeb33 to bo mo fa akwankye.
Mo fo mo tuano ber3te so. Menky3 na
Mo nyinte! Waafa omo boole?)
N.B. My Nigerian friend at Komenda Teacher Training College taught me this Effutu song in 1968. He was born and bred at Senya Beraku. He is a mathematical genius. He went to do B. Finance at Unilag and went for his masters in New York whilst working for ICON in Lagos. We met during my sojourn in Nigeria but since I left in 1991, we have lost touch. He is called Jonathan Adeyemi Akande. We were rivals in class as I topped in English, Geography and History. He always got 100% in Mathematics. He was indeed a terror in all subjects. Do you remember this patriotic song composed by Ephraim Amu?
GHANAMBA
Ghanamba, Ghanamba, Ghanamba, Ghanamba, Ghanamba
Mo ma y3nsua biako y3 oo D.C.
Biakoy3 y3 ahooden
Biakoy3 y3 nhyira
Biakoy3 y3 ooo
Translated
Ghanaians, Ghanaians, Ghanaians, Ghanaians, Ghanaians
Let’s learn unity (D.C.)
In unity is strength
In unity is blessing
Unity is good oooo
FANTE NAMES OF THE MONTHS
January - Sanda
February - Kwakwar
March - Op3
April - Op3ber
May - Eusuoak3tseaba
June - Esusow
July - Ayawoho
August - Dzifuu
September - Fankwa
October - Ob3se
November - Obraf3w
December - Mumu
(Please, I learnt these in Pry 3 in 1960, so I may have forgotten so please correct me if these are wrong.)
Some Fante names and English Versions
Ninsin - Hinson
Muni - Monney
Amaah - Armah
Sekyi - Sackey
Gyan - Ghunney
Obo - Rockson
Kuntu - Blankson
Eyi - Eyison/Aryee
Ayeh - Aryee
Akootey - Quatery
Lamire - Lamptey
Esoun - Eshun
Ewur - Ewool
Egyir - Aggrey
Daadze - Dadzie
Bondzie - Bonney
Borkyi - Bortsie/Bortey
Afedzi - Afari/Affue
Kwansah - Quansah
Amissah - Eminson
Anamoah - Anaman
Ansah - Hanson
Bassaw - Edmonson
Ewusi - Wilson
Kum - Koomson
Koshie - Quarshie
Damtse - Dampson
Yamoah - Yamson
Gyamah - Ghampson
Kow - Kwaw/Quao/Quartson
Yaw - Yawson
Kweku - Quarcoo
Kweenu - Quainoo
Kwame - Quarm
Kobina - Cobbina
Kojo - Cudjoe
Kofi Cofie, Kwofie
Enu - Ainooson
Atta - Arthur
Kwesi - Quaison
Edu - Aidoo/Addo/Eduful
Otu - Otoo
Takyi - Turkson
Arhinsah - Hinson/Hanson
Akyen - Hutchful, Hutchinson
Akofowah - Arkorful
Edu - Eduful
Badu - Baidoo/Baiden
Annan - Annang
Kwame - Commey
Asam/Osam - Sam
Du - Dougan
Gyaaben - Gharban
Owu - Owoo
Andah - Anderson
Names of our ancestors inWinneba– Male and Female. Perhaps if you are related to any of these, then we are related!
Neenyi (Grandfather)
Awotwe - Akumbia Sekyi
Annan - Ayirebi
Addae - Akromah
Akuragya/Awuragya Abbiw Gyekye (Jackson)
Ampofo - Ananse
Acheampong - Akootey
Abbam - Apetu Birimpong
Adoko - Annobil
Akwasi Nyaa - Amoasi
Akumase - Apeteh
Apraku - Asomanyi
Akwa - Arkorful
Arhinsah - Asomfo
Armah - Afuah
Ackom - Abbam
Atobir - Badu/Baidoo
Amu/Amoo - Bentum
Amoonoo - Bondzi Gyateh
Asabir - Bonney
Afedzi - Bortsie
Agyare - Dadzie
Ayensu - Damptse
Akrama - Dampson
Asam - Enu
Ansah Sasraku - Esoun
Amokwandoh - Ewur
Adaa - Enyinda
Amissah - Ernbir
Awere - Ewusi
Egyir (Aggrey) - Sakyi
Ehun - Takyi
Eguase - Tagoe
Eguan Wansen - Teiko
Eyi Mensah - Yamoah
Essilfie - Yarboi
Esian - Nkrumah
Effirim
Gyampanyin
Gyankumah
Gyateh Sisi
Gyansah/Ghansah
Gyaakye
Gyatowah
Gyantakyi
Gyaaben
Hammah
Kumah
Kum
Kaiko
Karikari
Kweikumah
Johnson Ghartey
Muni
Mensah
Mankata
Nunoo
Nnekyi
Nyan
Nsiah
Ninsin
Ntow
Nketsiah
Otabil
Omaano
Odebi
Oburmankoma
Okormansa
Otu
Osei
Opia
Obo
Prah
Poma
Poin
Naase (Grandmothers)
Akosuadontoba
Akosuapetuwa
Adaaba/Addoba
Akwaaba
Akwandoba
Amoaba
Arkofuwah
Abokoma
Arhinsima
Adende
Awereba
Awo Dede
Akyereh
Adadzewa
Esaaba
Gyambah
Embirba
Densuwa
Edu
Kaiko Adwowa
Kwansima
Onwensin
Ntaaesi
Kwegyirba
Kwesiamoah
Nkokobew
Nsabaa
Sasaw - Yaaba
Mansah - Kosua
Mensimah
Menu - Aberwa
Kankamoah - Kaadze
Okaasowa - Efua Anna
Otuwah - Obofun
Nyahan - Kotonkyema
Nyaniba - Adoko
Takyiwah - Maanu
Okusubentsir - Maanan
Baahwa
Nketsiaba
Ahenmah
Nnekyiwah

Fante Hua Dzin
Kwesi - Bodua
Kojo - Asera
Kow - Operba
Kobena - Ogyam Ebo
Kweku - Babone
Kofi - Ntsiful
Kwame - Atuapem/Ataapem
Esi - Odanyin
Efua - Nkoso

By Kwesi Atta Sakyi
Lusaka, Zambia