Culture a la Bianca - Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey writes

My mobile phone rang – it is Nana at the other end.

“Captain, breaking news in Berekum have it that La Bianca is dead. You are in Accra. Is it true?”

I missed a heartbeat.

La Bianca, aka Honourable Mrs. Eunice Jacqueline Boah Asomah Hinneh Member of the Council of State and a chief in one of the Ahanta communities in Western Region was the wife of my younger brother, retired Commissioner of Police Nana Asomah Hinneh.

Only two Sundays ago I was in the couple’s home at Sakumono, Tema, eating lunch together, talking about my role as a lawyer for the Royal Family of Ahanta Traditional Area.

I dialed a number in Tema to enquire from my friend, the ubiquitous Ben who knows everybody and everything in Tema.

He asked me to wait a few minutes. Five minutes later, Ben called back: “Captain, it is true. La Bianca is dead.”

Next morning the daily newspapers carried the story: La Bianca passes on. About a month later news flashed that ONE WEEK rites will be performed at Sakumono Tema on Saturday 13th July 2024.

Poor me. My classmate at Achimota School, Charles Ofori, has lost his father and the funeral was for same day at Epiphany Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at La, Kaajano – I had to be there, but of course I cannot miss the ONE WEEK at Tema, in my capacity as Head of Family of the Nana Yaw Woro Royal Family, owners of the Biadan Stool of Berekum.

Fortunately, unlike Berekum where ONE WEEK by law must not exceed 1pm at the latest, here in Accra, it is a whole day business, so I can go to the Burial Service at Kaajano and then from there motor down to Tema.

So, came Saturday 13th July I was at Kaajano, La by 8am to see a full house, service in progress, a mixture of Ga, Akan and English.

From there, circa 11am, I used the Teshie-Nungua road and reached Sakumono just before noon to see a large gathering of mourners assembled very neatly at Sakumono Pentecost School grounds. Reader, it was a funeral fit for the gods.

I sat next to my brother, Commissioner Hinneh, who, by custom, as a widow, is not supposed to shake hands with anybody.

I took a good look at the environment – I counted not less than 20 giant size royal canopies, with velvet green carpet covering the entire field. In the eastern end of the panel was a massive giant size high canopy reserved for the crème de la crème. Mourners were welcomed to the grounds with colored life size posture of Her Excellency the Council of State Member adorning the perimeter. 

The MC kept running a commentary on who is who, arriving, how much donations, and extolling the virtues of the NPP Administration.

The chiefs were there in their numbers, adding color and majesty to the occasion. Osagyefo Dr. Agyeman Badu, 25 years on the stool as Dormaahene was present, in a very simple costume of black cloth, almost shedding tears as he greeted the widower, my brother the retired Police Officer.

Three paramount chiefs from lower Dixcove, Upper Dixcove and lower Axim all arrived together, in grand style, with three state umbrellas, escorted by a bounteous retinue of young maidens – reader, it was most impressive.

As for the politicians, who should I miss out – former wife of my classmate Dr. Bempong Yeboah, now MCE for Tema West was there, MP for Tema West Carlos Ahenkora, several members of the Council of State – I saw good old senior lawyer Sam Okudzeto who was MP for North Tangu in the second Republic at the age of 20 or so, the famous chief of Staff Frema Osei Opare.

All the way from Berekum came a charted VIP bus carrying 80 members of my Royal Family to come and support our family member who is the potential chief in waiting for Biadan.

And as you can imagine, big names mean big donations – Frema Osei from Jubilee House representing the President came with 200 million old cedis, the Council of State gave 50 million old cedis, Stephen Ayesu Ntim and his NPP brought 50 million cedis and Nana Dormaahene who has lately discovered gold in Dormaa splashed cash 150 million old cedis.

So many things were happening at the same time that it was very difficult concentrating on one issue at a time – endless stream of mourners coming to greet my brother, cultural drumming and dancing by the cultural group representing the paramount chiefs from Western Region, and Nana Dormaahene’s cultural group, continually singing appellations in his glory, the MC in a clear commanding voice praising NPP – reader, was it a funeral or a celebration?

At one point the firing of musketry went wrong and some queen mother fell, in public and immediately she was attended to.

I looked at my wrist watch – it was 4:30pm!!!!!

At about 5pm the Dormaahene got up, followed by the Council of state and chief of staff and then my brother the widower… reader, if this was merely ONE WEEK then what would the funeral itself be slated for third week in September – venue to be communicated later.