Brutalities of traditions
Clashed with civilization
Like two deadly enemies
My grandma said
Her grandma told her of stories
Of Penche Otu and how his family’s thirst
Was curbed by the blood of beings
The people cried and cried when civilization whipped
Then the gods chose the leopard;
A worse blood shedder
Death and struggle bathed men
In their struggle to quench the gods’ thirst
The worst of the worst bloodshed
Painted Winneba red
The gods were called in brood day light
They replaced the leopard with a deer.
From slaves to leopards
Tears on the gods birthed the Aboakyere festival
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © 2014
Mum Cee 