Meet Alimatu (ah LEE mah TOO) and her baby daughter Golden.
It was a 3-hr drive from Accra to Alimatu’s hometown of Akim Oda. There, I would meet her father, siblings and family elders, and ask their approval to court Alimatu. During the drive, I learned and practiced two phrases in the Akan tribe language of Twi (most of the family members do not speak English):
- TWI: Me ani agyesi me ne mo w)ha.
- PRONOUNCE: meh-NIH AH-jeh-seh me ne mo WAH-hah.
- ENGLISH: I am happy to be with you.
- TWI: Me honam firi USA nanso me mojya firi Africa.
- PRONOUNCE: meh HO-nam frih USA NANso me MOH-Jah frih Africa.
- ENGLISH: My body is from the USA, but my blood is from Africa.
When we arrived, it was a jubilant and formal setting. Ten family members were seated in a circle in a large living room. I delivered the requisite gift of 2 bottles of schnapps to the father, which I had to formally ask if he would accept. Alimatu’s two brothers, with whom I had been communicating weeks before my arrival to Ghana, served as translators.
Then came formal introductions to each family member followed by friendly but pointed questions from the family: why did I come to Ghana, what was the purpose of my visit with their family. I spoke slowly to the translators (kinda reminded me of the UN meetings I’d seen on TV).
After carefully clearing up some confusion about whether I was there to ask for marriage (not the case), they accepted my gift, my answers and even gave me permission to return to the capital city of Accra with Alimatu. Clearly, this meeting was unlike any dating situation I’d ever experienced in the US or Costa Rica. Something mystical was happening. And, I can honestly say that it all felt and continues to feel good.
