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The battle over alcohol
My bosom friend Joseph Kwame Korkoti has become overly concerned about the current war going on between two groups of pastors as to whether it is right or wrong for Christians to imbibe alcohol.
As a matter of fact, Korkorti’s expert opinion on the matter should have been sought.
On recent radio programme, two opposing groups of clergymen argued vehemently either in support or against alcohol. Korkorti was bewildered. He did not see their point. He did not even see their quarrel. What were they really driving at?
An article in the Mirror by my good friend and Apostle Kwamena Arhinful on the subject offered a brilliant analysis but tragically enough, he concluded poorly. But I understand him. It was the only way he could conclude without saying the Bible contradicts itself on the issue. As an apostle of Christ, he is not supposed to give conclusions that would inflame doctrinal sentiments.
My former bodyguard Napoleon Kwadzo alias Bonarparte summed up his conviction on the matter and refers to the Bible to make his point clear. “The Bible is against drinking not drunkenness. Furthermore, God chooses those he specifically wants to steer clear of alcohol like John the Baptist, Samson and the like. The others are free to quaff!”
I didn’t know the man who once protected my life was so biblical. When he drinks he quotes the Bible to support the dose and his conscience is clear. When he smokes, he quotes history and cites that Christopher Columbus could not have made it round the world without smoking tobacco.
Well alcohol is one controversial issue that has defied all forms of debate aimed at placing it in its proper place. Those who do not drink argue against it, quoting scripture over and over again. Those who drink also quote the Bible to support the number of ‘quarters’ they down. It is an interesting controversy.
I once spoke to a born-again Hungarian clergyman and asked him whether in his home country beer-drinking among Christians is regarded as a sin. He said Christians can drink some beer for refreshment but not as a habit or to satisfy an addictive urge; in effect you could drink so long as it was not habitual.
Well, other clergymen who are firmer friends with the Holy Spirit won’t agree to the imbibition of alcohol in any form. Korkorti was once arguing with a pastor and reminded him that the banku and okro soup he loves so much contains more alcohol than he could ever find in a glass of wine. The pastor told him to stop blaspheming.
When Korkorti started explaining the biochemical intricacies of the fermentation processes with respect to his reference to banku, the pastor stopped him at once because he thought Korkorti Asamoah was possessed by the evil one. He commanded him to come for deliverance.
Well some Christians permit alcohol during their wedding ceremonies, outdoorings and parties.
In fact, some pastors are properly charged even before they mount the pulpit. They are the believers in the age-old tradition that alcohol loosens the tongue.
And so long as the tongue is stiff, it must be forcibly loosened with supplementary doses. The word is then preached with vim till the pastor runs out of gas.
Alcohol is part and parcel of the lives of most people. They say it is their only source of happiness. One guy I have always known explains freely why alcohol is a faithful comrade.
“I don’t trust anybody in this world any longer .As for women I’ve finished with them, he says. “I have even been betrayed by my friends. They are treacherous. But I am assured that alcohol can never betray me. When I take my quarter my appetite is guaranteed, my happiness is complete.”
Others drink to enable them to cause trouble. If you want your in-law to stop interferring in your marriage, you only have to take quarter and the problem is solved. But in cases where the in-laws also take bitters, it can become a civil war. And hoes and cutlasses would feature prominently.
People drink alcohol for many other reason. Some say it is good for their waist and excites their libido in such a way that they are able to satisfy their sweet-hearts in ways unimaginable.
Others say it gives them free bowels, thereby removing phlegms and generally boosting their health. For others, they claim it helps them to think faster, and others say it gives them sound sleep complete with snoring and nightly contentment.
I remember sometime in 1989 when alcohol retailers were banned from selling bitters because some of them were not concocting the stuff properly and were thereby making it a health hazard. Well, some die-hards got angry and demonstrated in their homes and akpeteshie bars in protest. Before the demonstrations ended, most of them were in coma. They were dead drunk.
Today if alcohol is banned in Sikaman, there would be a social upheaval. It would be a mass insurrection against the government of the day. Thousands of believers with red and brown eyes blowing ‘fuse’ and wielding matchets and shovels will charge headlong towards the seat of government to demand that the ban be countermanded.
You are likely to see among them my uncle Kofi Jogolo, Kwapey, Adams, Blue Blue of Kintampo, Reverend Kofi Kokotako, Wisdom and Korkorti as the flagbearer.
But the problem is, is alcohol good for the body? The answer is no! A little bit of alcohol is said to be good for the heart. Anything beyond that is harmful to body tissues, brain cells, the nervous system, the stomach lining, the liver and even your manhood. If you drink too much, you can’t function.
Spiritually, it is not good for those who seek personal development and want to aspire towards a better relationship with God. The Holy Spirit indeed cannot work in our environment charged with the scent of “molasses” and the “fuse” of kpekpe.
But the fact we must also accept is that not all aspire to commune with the Holy Spirit. And if they don’t, what should they do? One man asked a catechist, “If I stop drinking akpeteshie, what would I drink. Palm oil?”
I have often been saddened by the condition of Sikaman musicians. Of course, some are not musicians. They are jokers who think anybody who can sing a hymn is a musician. And why wouldn’t they think so when people think that every man wearing a rasta hair is a reggae musician?
Well, these days, almost everybody is dreaming of becoming a musician, even some ministers and parliamentarians. And it is never too late for them to begin learning the solfas and composing songs like “If You Do Good You Do For Yourself,” after all, life begins at 60 these days. If you die three years later, that’s your luck.
For the jobless, becoming a musical star is an everyday dream. They think when you are a music maker, you automatically break alliance with poverty. They are often mistaken.
I know people who claim they are musicians but are always fasting not because they are devout moslems or are on a hunger strike, but because even one square meal a day is a perpetual wahala. And the only drink they can afford is the poor man’s holy whisky which has a thousand names including ‘Nyame Bekyere’.
Even most of the popular musicians we see in town claiming they are foreign-based stars are more of hustlers than musicians. When they tell you they are going on tour abroad, it is a careful way of saying they are going overseas to scrub the whiteman’s toilet or pick tomato or apples to save their neck from musical poverty.
When they are back to Sikaman, they appear quite flamboyant with chains hanging all over them. They change the few dollars they have scraped, spread it around and promptly get broke. Then they can organise another ‘tour’. In between tours, they struggle to release an album and that levels them up a bit on the financial balance.
It all points to the fact that the life of the average musician isn’t quite organised. He has no calendar, no programme and no concentration on the job. He has to wash plates, become a waiter, janitor and toilet scrubber while finding time to make music. No musician succeeds in life that way.
One musician I’ll always respect, who thinks deeper than the ordinary Sikaman musicians is Carlos Sakyi. He is not like the Kokoase guitar musicians who see the world just in terms of bitters, a willing girlfriend, constant supply of kokonte and jot.
Carlos, often loved for his percussive overtones in gospel music, and once a gospel-rock star, has studied the life of Sikaman musicians and has evolved a blue-print for a great improvement in their lives work, finances and comfort.
In short, he has simulated a Motown-style environment for musicians and his formula is working with accuracy with the five musicians he has started with. The blue-print is what has brought MEGASTAR into being. It was launched on September 15, 1995 at the National Theatre.
When it got launched, many probably thought Carlos was “too know or was dreaming more than he should and won’t think about himself. Anyhow, the MEGASTAR is now an institution musicians can look up to, a big phenomenon with lots of promise for struggling musicians.
Music business in the developed world is not the way we regard it cheaply here. A musician is never distracted by how his finances go; his contracts are entered, his engagements made, his interviews arranged, his personal security guaranteed.
Music is his business and that is where his mind is and his attention focuses. Other aspects of his life are programmed for him by his managers. They hire who has to light his cigarettes, massage him, drive his car and the one who will say “Good Luck” when he sneezes.
A bodyguard whose face is exactly like that of the devil is hired to scare off muggers, psychopaths and criminals in general. Sometimes his girls are organised for him.
So the only thing the musician does apart from sleeping and snoring is to concentrate on making music, and true to it, no one can succeed in any venture when he is distracted.
This is how the Michael Jacksons, Lionel Richies, Dolly Patons and Whitney Houstons have made it with dollars packed and over-flowing. They aren’t any better than Sikaman musicians. The only difference is that they know how to organise their lives.
I managed to corner Carlos Sakyi and asked him to tell me how MEGASTAR was doing. He is the Managing Director of Megastar Limited, a music company that has a board of directors and a chairman. Carlos Sakyi shares the proprietorship with a partner. Carlos himself was one great musician who played for a band that beat Eddy Grant on the charts.
“Megastar is in fact a concept born out of the idea that the future security of the Ghanaian musician which has always been in jeopardy can now be guaranteed. Artistes spend too much of their time doing things on their own, chasing money and not concentrating on music. So their full potential is never realised. Some are in fact producing at quarter-rate. That is why they aren’t making much headway,” he told me.
“Megastar is now giving them the chance of the lives. We handle the interviews of Megastar artiste, their press releases, costume, engagements and everything they hitherto used to do themselves. We get them exposed on M-Net and we have contacted BB to get on their programmes. We handle their finances pay them salaries and bonuses, so they only have to concentrate on music
“Most importantly,” he continued, “we do not make all the decisions. Management always meet with the musicians to take the decisions that affect them.”
But who are the Megastar musicians? One is the great Amakye Dede, a star from birth delivered onto the earth with music on his lips; he is the man who feeds hungry ears with musical salad and harmonic sausages. He is the recipient of many national awards.
Next is Naana Frimpong, a latter-day Carlos-groomed songbird with the voice of an angel. She sings to kill. Her beauty has charmed her audience and they stare and stare at her.
The sensational and fantalising Tagoe Sisters are the next. The twin music machine is one that has produced the cream, arguably the very best, of gospel music all these years. I hear they are inseparable; not even their better-halves can keep them apart. Are they Siamese? They dance, and when on stage, they move the crowd.
Then comes Reverend Yawson who is a known songwriter. He is imbued with the Holy Spirit, speaks in tongues and of course sings in tongues. He is God’s representative on the group.
What about my good friend and super-heavyweight, Jewel Ackah? He is a star figure. His appearance is awe-inspiring, his voice golden. A great delight to be-hold when at his best in stage-craftsmanship, he has beaten his contemporaries to it both on land and on sea.
They are the pioneers of the Motown idea. They are all releasing new albums this year. Let’s see how it all goes.
In recent years, the term “female rage” has gained significant traction, symbolising a collective shift in how women’s emotions are perceived and addressed.
This phenomenon is not merely a fleeting trend but a profound movement rooted in centuries of systemic injustices, personal betrayals, and societal expectations.
As women increasingly reclaim their anger, it is imperative to understand the multifaceted nature of female rage, its causes, and its implications for individuals and society at large.
The historical context of female anger
Historically, women’s emotions have been subject to dismissal, ridicule, and pathologisation. The term “hysteria,” originating from the Greek word for uterus, was used to describe women’s emotional states as irrational and uncontrollable.
This legacy of silencing and shaming has contributed to a culture where women’s anger is often suppressed or stigmatised.
However, with the rise of feminist movements, women are challenging these narratives, asserting their right to express anger and demand change.
The anatomy of female rage
Female rage is not a monolith; it is a complex and multifaceted emotion driven by various factors, including:
1. Societal expectations: The pressure to conform to traditional roles of passivity, politeness, and emotional labour.
2. Gender inequality and pay gaps: Frustration stemming from systemic discrimination in the workplace and beyond.
3. Sexual harassment and abuse: Trauma and anger resulting from pervasive violence and objectification.
4. Emotional labour and burnout: The unsustainable burden of managing emotions and responsibilities in personal and professional spheres.
5. Hormonal fluctuations: The impact of hormonal changes on emotional states, often overlooked or dismissed.
The power of anger: Reclaiming female rage
Far from being a destructive force, female rage can be a catalyst for change. When acknowledged and channelled constructively, anger can drive advocacy, policy reform, and resistance against inequality.
The #MeToo movement, women’s marches, and increased representation in politics are testaments to the power of collective female anger.
Addressing the Stigma: Towards a more inclusive dialogue
To fully harness the potential of female rage, society must address the stigma surrounding women’s anger. This involves:
1. Validation and recognition: Acknowledging women’s emotions as legitimate and worthy of attention.
2. Creating safe spaces: Providing platforms for women to express anger without fear of backlash.
3. Education and awareness: Challenging stereotypes and promoting understanding of women’s experiences.
4. Support systems: Offering resources and support for women dealing with trauma and systemic injustices.
Conclusion
The age of female rage is a moment of profound transformation, where women’s anger is no longer silenced but celebrated as a force for justice.
By understanding the roots of female rage and addressing the societal structures that fuel it, we can move towards a more equitable and compassionate world.
The journey is complex, but the destination-a society where women’s emotions are respected and their voices are heard is worth the struggle.
References:
[1] Chemudupati, P. (2022). _The Rage of Women: A Historical Perspective_.
[2] Traister, R. (2018). _Good and Mad:
By Robert Ekow Grimond-Thompson
