Features
Polished Article: “Palava of the Tall Men”
The ban on the sale of bitters in akpeteshie bars in the Central Region is bound to spark controversy. This follows reports that three women cheerfully drank bitters during a funeral and decided to die, prompting authorities to impose the ban on the popular drink. News from the Palava shrine indicates that aggrieved drinkers are forming a Bitters Drinkers Union to protest what they consider an infringement on their consumer rights, even threatening to go on strike.
These drinkers consider bitters medicinal and an anti-ulcer agent, claiming it stimulates appetite, courage, and even marital performance—particularly when consuming stronger variants like AK 47. Since the ban, they argue, their lives have become miserable, as raw akpeteshie fails to titillate the human throat, putting some at risk of marital dissatisfaction. A previous nationwide ban on bitters failed because law enforcers were loyal patrons themselves, and both sellers and drinkers defied the law. To them, bitters is the “poor man’s whisky,” a necessity rather than a luxury.
Beyond the bitters controversy, many unusual groups and associations are emerging. Examples include the Soft Banku Eaters Union in Lartebiokorshie, Accra, and the Omo Tuo Lovers International in Kokomlemle. There is also anticipation of other eccentric clubs, like the Cat Eaters Association, Nighttime Thieves Union, Wee Smokers Club, Professional Armed Robbers Fraternity, and Pito Boozers Unity Club.
Among these, the recently formed Tall Men’s Club stands out. The club invites all men over six feet tall, aged 18 and above, to a meeting at the YMCA Hall in Accra. While initially it seemed like a basketball initiative, the club’s executive stated that its purpose is to acknowledge tall men officially and to contribute to society, not to mock short people. The author, himself tall, emphasizes respect for both tall and short individuals, noting that nature balances human attributes, often endowing shorter people with intelligence and compensating for height with other qualities.
Historically, height has influenced perceptions and abilities. While tall individuals may excel in tasks like painting or sports due to their reach, research suggests that those over 5 feet 9 inches may struggle with certain dances, like kpanlogo or agbadza, due to a higher center of gravity. Regardless, the Tall Men’s Club aims to foster community among tall men, and in line with Ghana’s constitutional freedom of association, their formation is entirely legal.
Ultimately, while some of these associations may seem bizarre, they reflect society’s diversity and the human tendency to form communities around shared traits, preferences, or quirks—be it bitters, height, or culinary passions. The Tall Men’s Club may be unconventional, but it is a legally sanctioned expression of identity and camaraderie.
By Merari Alomele
