{"id":469809,"date":"2011-07-28T12:01:50","date_gmt":"2011-07-28T12:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/07\/28\/kenkey-has-shrunk-in-size-%e2%80%931\/"},"modified":"2011-07-28T12:01:50","modified_gmt":"2011-07-28T12:01:50","slug":"kenkey-has-shrunk-in-size-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/07\/28\/kenkey-has-shrunk-in-size-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenkey Has Shrunk In Size \u2013(1)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\u201cO mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests,<\/em><\/p>\n

glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marcus Antonius,\u201d Julius Caesar (Act III Scene 1).<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kari Dako\u2019s \u2018Ghanaianisms- A Glossary\u2019 is an authoritative book on \u2018Ghanaianisms\u2019. \u201c[The] book brings to the fore some expressions from both local and foreign languages which have been absorbed into the linguistic repertoire to the extent that they are widely accepted as part of the Ghanaian vocabulary in English.\u00a0 [It] tries to trace the sources or history of these words or their meanings\u201d.<\/p>\n

The definition given in this book for \u2018kenkey\u2019 is \u201cstaple of fermented, steamed corn dough\u201d.\u00a0 This definition, however, appears too lean or scrawny, vis-\u00e0-vis the varieties of kenkey, the different methods of cooking it, and its overwhelming popularity in the Ghanaian menu.<\/p>\n

There is the \u2018Ga-kenkey\u2019 common among the Gas and enjoyed nation-wide; there is the \u2018Fanti kenkey\u2019 also enjoyed nation-wide and having its popular production \u2018headquarters\u2019 in Yamoransa in the Central Region; there is the \u2018Asante (Effiduasi) kenkey\u2019 which is refined (no husk) and usually sweetened; there is \u2018ade-bi-a-nkyene-wo-mu\u2019 (reddish- the result of a sprinkling of palm nut soup).<\/p>\n

\u2018Kenkey\u2019 has a tinge of history, tradition, sociology and politics.\u00a0 In the past, when Ashantis were \u2018fasting\u2019 during a funeral celebration, one could eat \u2018kenkey\u2019 and that would not constitute \u2018eating\u2019.\u00a0 It was rather abominable for one to eat corn-on-the cob during this fasting period.<\/p>\n

When we entered the University of Ghana in the mid- 70s, there was an attendant in the dining hall of Commonwealth Hall, popularly called \u2018Akosombo\u2019.\u00a0 Whenever one was late for dining and missed the main menu for the day, he would approach the student and offer the advice: \u201cFood finis, \u2018kenkey\u2019 dey; you lack?\u201d (Food is finished; \u2018kenkey\u2019 is available; do you like it?)\u00a0 The striking paradox was that he talked as if \u2018kenkey\u2019 was not \u2018food\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2018Kenkey\u2019 hit the political arena when in the Third Republic (Limann\u2019s administration 1979-1981), Honourable Kwaku Baah (MP) carried some balls of \u2018kenkey\u2019 to Parliament to complain about the shrinking size of a ball of \u2018kenkey\u2019 for the same price as the previous year.<\/p>\n

On Friday, July 22, 2011, one of the dailies, under the caption: \u2018Jet brouhaha spills over\u2019 published: \u201cIn Parliament House a day earlier, the government had tabled an agreement under which the sovereign state of Ghana would benefit from a loan facility of US$105,370,177.09 from the Brazilian Development Bank for the purchase of one Embraer E 190 jet, together with a hanger (better<\/em>: hangar) at a whooping (better<\/em>: whopping) cost of $ 17m\u201d.<\/p>\n

The paper continued:\u00a0 \u201c[Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu] said he and his colleagues were not against the purchase of the aircraft, because they recognised the need to protect the people, especially the country\u2019s oil.\u00a0 Their main concern was the protection of the national purse which was in danger of losing more than the actual cost of the five airplanes\u201d.<\/p>\n

A \u2018hangar\u2019 is \u2018a shed or a shelter or a building for housing aircraft\u2019 (Plural: aircraft not<\/em>: aircrafts) or spacecraft.\u00a0 This should not be confused with \u2018hanger\u2019 which means (1) a wood on the side of a steep hill.\u00a0 (2) a person who kills or causes another to be killed by hanging (a hang-man) (3) a person who selects and hangs pictures for an exhibition (4) a device on which something is hung. (5) something that overhangs.<\/p>\n

Writers should not confuse \u2018whooping\u2019 with \u2018whopping\u2019.\u00a0 \u2018Whooping\u2019 as an adjective is developed from the nouns \u2018whoop\u2019 or \u2018hoop\u2019 which is a natural exclamation, expressing excitement, exaltation or defiance.\u00a0 It is also the sound of a siren.\u00a0 Again, \u2018whooping\u2019 is usually a large, noisy, uproarious noise.<\/p>\n

\u2018Whooping cough\u2019 is a contagious disease chiefly affecting children, caused by the bacterium bordetella pertusis. The characteristic effects of whooping cough are convulsive coughs followed by long sonorous snorts.<\/p>\n

\u2018Whopping\u2019 is an adjective derived from the verb \u2018whop\u2019 which means to strike with heavy blows; to beat soundly.<\/p>\n

\u2018Whopping\u2019 (which used to be \u2018wapping\u2019 and is still pronounced as such) means \u2018unusually large, big or huge (or to sound a bit showy or erudite: \u2018gargantuan\u2019).\u00a0 A \u2018whopping lie\u2019 is a blatant lie.\u00a0 \u2018Whopping\u2019 can be found in sentences like: \u201cI have a whopping thrombosis in my left arm.\u00a0 \u2018What you have said is a whopping untruth\u201d.\u00a0 \u2018James spent a whopping GH\u00a220,000.00 on his birthday celebration\u201d. \u201cA whopping two-thirds of the world\u2019s oil lies under the sands\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cDespite Zimbabwe\u2019s financial problems, Robert Mugabe, the President spent a whopping US$300.000 to celebrate his 84th<\/sup> birthday in 2008\u201d.<\/p>\n

There were exchanges in Parliament as to whether our poor economy could sustain the purchase of a number of jets for the nation: with parents finding it difficult to finance their wards\u2019 education: with prices of goods escalating (with \u2018kenkey\u2019 shrinking in size for the equivalent price of GH\u00a20.50 last year), with graduate unemployment; with \u2026 with \u2026 with \u2026.<\/p>\n

When \u2018kenkey\u2019 or balls thereof appear in Parliament, they are bound to stir up controversy, and in the heat of the argument in the heat of passion \u2013 not all rules of grammar need be obeyed.\u00a0 The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992, provides in Article 115. \u201cThere shall be freedom of speech, debate and proceedings in Parliament, and that freedom shall not be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament\u201d.\u00a0 Hence, the question whether \u2018kenkey\u2019 has shrunk<\/em><\/strong> in size (correct<\/em>) or<\/em> has shrink<\/em><\/strong> in size (wrong<\/em>) cannot be addressed to any particular Member of Parliament.\u00a0 For, after all, those who prepare the \u2018Hansard\u2019 are veterans in the job, and they are expected to proofread submissions before publishing them.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

P.S. I dedicate this piece to Larry Bimi who was vivacious and affable. May his soul rest in perfect peace.<\/p>\n

By Africanus Owusu-Ansah<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

See more here:
\nKenkey Has Shrunk In Size \u2013(1)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201c O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-469809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nKenkey Has Shrunk In Size \u2013(1) - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/07\/28\/kenkey-has-shrunk-in-size-1\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Kenkey Has Shrunk In Size \u2013(1) - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"\u201c O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? 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