A DIFFICULT AND FRIGHTENING YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE.

By Nii B. Andrews.

This year has been a particularly challenging one on account of the upending of many hitherto presumed certainties; they have been replaced with harrowing and grotesque realities.

These include the ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza; the return of a relentless bully and demagogue to the world stage; the persistent shrill cries of the colonialists as indigenous people of the Sahel begin to assert control over their natural resources and the continued arming of a Defence(!) Force that kills and maims women and children with a ferocious barbarism.

Nearer home – in my own country, the gaggle of the perennial underachievers also persists in a ludicrous game of musical chairs contested by two siblings punctuated by bouts of hubris – a coin with identical sides; heads I win, tails you lose.

They remain largely unconcerned about the wanton destruction of our water bodies, arable lands and forests by their accomplices through illegal mining.

Theirs is a zero sum game fuelled by the greedy acquisition of huge poorly ventilated mansions decorated in dodgy taste and located in neighborhoods with substandard infrastructure, V8s, Brazilian hair and the stacking away of state funds into personal bank accounts either at home or abroad, or under beds.

All the above occurring while basic necessities such as a regular and uninterrupted supply of electricity and pipe borne water elude us even in the capital  city and without so much as a whimper of an Urban Water Policy.

Heck, we are lucky if 20% of us who need emergency surgery get it. 

Is it a surprise that at this time, yet again, cholera is present in Accra?

With such heart wrenching disparities facing us at home, things reached a nadir when the government decided with unprecedented callousness to seize the legitimate savings of retired citizens including widows.

Perhaps one could only contextualize this atrocity by looking at our coastline where previous treachery is evidenced by numerous forts and castles that were warehouses for enslaved people prior to their transportation from our shores.

In such a challenging environment, it may be difficult to understand the relevance of contemporary African Art (CAA).

Why even bother to write about it or draw attention to it; what tangible result can be achieved in the face of serious threats to our well being and existence brought about by plain ignorance and impunity.

On the other hand, the paradox is that because we have very little appreciation of art itself is a significant contributing factor to these problems.

Life is art and should be lived with aesthetic beauty which of course is always underpinned by a moral code – one which leads us to the throne of GOD Himself; Art is also Life.

It is that lack of appreciation of aesthetics that has continuously led us into the quagmire that engulfs us.

Our artists are capable of and have produced excellent pieces that are recognized and appreciated by discerning patrons, top galleries and museums all over the world.

They have done so with very little recognition or support from the state.

Perhaps the high quality of their work is because there is no “protocol list” to stifle the thoughtful, gifted and productive; to replace them with mediocre brown nosers from the Amen Corner – the cognitively challenged, quite often strutting about with meaningless grand titles.

Hence we remain hopeful that visionary emergent artists, with superlative technical skills, will continue to produce great work from our country to interpret our condition and elevate our spirits.

We must and will support them in every way that we legally can. You can too; take a lively interest, ask questions, become a patron – it is uplifting.

Our older established artists we shall always remember for their sacrifices in resolutely pursuing and honing their skills to the highest standards.

Larry Otoo, a celebrated artist, has spoken eloquently about this in a recent interview; he was moved to tears. https://www.facebook.com/myctvgh/videos/1318580809390913/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Moving forward, they will engage us with novel interpretations of their previous works in addition to newer work which we can use to critique, understand and improve our continuously deteriorating condition even in the midst of abundant resources- oil, gas, gold, salt, manganese, diamonds, lithium, bauxite, timber, tuna, cocoa and more.

Each of us should endeavor  in the ensuing years to understand their work, be inspired and as a result keep things ARTSY in the fullest positive sense of the word.

Today, whether the chaos around us is a precarious unstable economy, a rocky marriage or partnership, grief, illness, loneliness, or a sense that our lives are adrift in a rough chaotic sea, our GOD remains master of the tumult.

He has joined the tumult; He is with us – IMMANUEL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS, FOLKS.

11 thoughts on “A DIFFICULT AND FRIGHTENING YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE.”

  1. SPLENDED!!!! and I wish this inspiring and thoughtful piece is made public for people to appreciate and understand the life of pre, during and 1957 so called independence days against the filth of today.

    Where did “we” go wrong and do we see any good thing in the tunnel?

    Let’s continue to pray.

  2. A wonderful piece, Nii Bonney. So true, worth pondering over. Thanks for sharing.
    I will read it again after breakfast.

  3. Truly a beautiful summary of a year in a forlorn country.

    Bob Marley, the legend once said, ”in the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty….”

    Merry Christmas to u & Damali….🎄🌹🍾

  4. Such a powerful piece of writing – thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts which are so powerful.

    Wishing you both a very merry Christmas and happy New Year and look forward to seeing you again soon! All best wishes.

  5. So well-captured, as usual, by your gifted hand:
    “musical chairs” ; the ” lack of appreciation of aesthetics” itself ; “unprecedented callousness” (so shocking, so audacious, so shameless that even a former Chief Justice had to join the protest); and,of course, underlying it all was the greed (on a scale as never seen before) that knew no boundaries.

    BUT “GOD remains master of the tumult.”

    HE also gives us hope that one day,that perpetual game of musical chairs will end.

    The perpetual DISGRACE will end.

    The people led by GOD, will themselves end it.

    The reported “apathy” among 2 million voters that we heard about, will transform itself naturally into a force that demands change; change that is led by a more MATURE populace who not only know what they don’t want (and are therefore apathetic) but how to go about securing what exactly they want.

    For sure, they will eventually replace the musical chairs .
    GOD will see to that.
    AMEN ❤️

  6. A good read and apt description of our ailing condition. I am encouraged that it ends in a positive and hopeful note.

    Our God reigns!!!

    Merry Christmas.

  7. Good afternoon Dr.
    This was a good read.
    I certainly agree with your assertion about the lack of aesthetic appreciation being a cause of our unsustainable environmental practices in Ghana.

    I have come to believe that as an artist, I have the opportunity to shed light on these issues through my artworks. This is a cause I hope to undertake in my career
    Have a great day Sir.

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