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Elizabeth Ohene: Culture clash?

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on August 31st, 2011

In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Ghanaian writer Elizabeth Ohene sees her home country through younger, questioning eyes.

Otherwise, I would be in a lot of trouble with her grandmother who would not be amused that her granddaughter was walking around without earrings.

After waiting for more than five minutes while the girl at the counter was having a conversation with a friend, we were told we had to wait for about 20 minutes for the order.

The six year old led me out of the place and said we should have made a report to the boss that the girl was not taking care of her customers.

"Are all the cousins I have met really my cousins?" she wanted to know next.

"Yes, they are. Indeed, they are your brothers and sisters but we will not get into that," I told her.

"And is everybody else my aunt or uncle?" she asked.

"Yes. And you, young Miss Akua Ametoedzani, are my daughter. There is no word for niece in our language," I replied.

And lastly: "Does everybody have black hair here?"

"Err, yes. Black people usually have black hair and those like me who have gone grey have, like me, dyed their hair to remain black."

If you would like to comment on Elizabeth Ohene's column, please do so below.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here