for those who want to know more
I made a conscious decision while writing Tail of the Blue Bird that I wasn’t going to make an extra effort to find equivalent English words for things I only knew in Ghanaian languages e.g. prekese, which is used for flavouring food. But I also chose to use native words where I felt they served the situation better – AND not to add a glossary because after all, when I was growing up in Ghana, no one placed a glossary at the end of any of the books I read to explain what finches (for example) were. Regardless, there were places where I could find out what these things were if I wanted to, and that’s what this post is. A minimal glossary of sorts. If you have read Tail of the Blue Bird and find yourself struggling to understand something that is not listed here, just put a comment on this post and I will try to respond.
Nii Ayikwei
Glossary
Abomu – Belt
Adowa – a traditional dance of the Akan
Agoo – a word shouted instead of knocking on someone’s door (most homes had no doors to knock)
Akwaaba – welcome (the response depends on who you’re addressing Yεn nua for a friend, Yεn Na for an older woman etc.)
Amεε – response to ‘Agoo’ meaning, ‘we’re here’ or ‘come in’
Anyεn – witch
Awurade – Lord
Bassa bassa – wild, disorderly
Been-to – someone who has returned from living/studying outside the country
Benada – Tuesday
Bidie – Charcoal
Bosomtwe – a natural crater lake, formed by meteor impact centuries ago
Chale – a term used to address friends, similar to ‘my friend,’ but warmer
Dwowda – Monday
Fida – Friday
Kama – perfect
Kεtε – a woven mat with many uses
Kwaku Ananse – mythical trickster who inhabits most Akan moral tales
Kwasia – fool, buffoon
Kwasida – Sunday
Menada – Saturday
Nawotwe – an Akan week (normally eight days)
Onyame – God
Opanyin – elder (used to address the older people in any community), a similar word is Egya.
Paa – word used for emphasis, equivalent of ‘very’ or ‘really’
Sanyaa – Enamel
Sεbi – an expression used when one speaks of things that make them uncomfortable, or things they usually wouldn’t speak of
Trotro – an adapted minivan bus
Wukuda – Wednesday
Yawda – Thursday
Lydia Allotey, 
Lydia Allotey 8:45 am on June 21, 2009 Permalink |
Hi Nii Ayikwei,
This is Lydia Allotey from your FB contact. I have just checked Amazon US, Borders Book, and Barnes & Noble bookstore in the US and none have your book. I do see it on the Amazon.com UK website. Do you know if the book will ever be sold in the US, I have to have to pay the international Shipping, exchange rate etc. if I can avoid it. If the book is being sold by any retailer her in thew US that you know of kindly let me know. I am rather surprised about Amazon as they usually carry their books across the board.
Cheers,
Lydia
niiayikwei 7:16 pm on June 21, 2009 Permalink |
Yeah, the US rights to Tail of the Blue Bird are still in negotiations and so Jonathan Cape are not allowed to sell directly to the US – only export sales are allowed. So, perhaps if you buy from one of the private sellers on Amazon UK [ http://tr.im/pfDv ], some of whom have US offices and who sell at a lower price anyway, you’ll end up getting it at a decent price – even with the higher postage costs. Thanks for being so persistent!!
Yao B Nunoo 7:13 pm on June 30, 2009 Permalink |
I just finished reading the book and I am reading it for the second time. I live in Philadelphia and I had to order it on amazon UK. (Shipping was free). NIi, its so funny that your name came up in many conversations while I was living in Accra hanging out with my Augusco and film buddies this year. Has anyone approached you about their intention to obtain rights for a film yet? If not, have you considered it at all? You deserve all the credit.
Yao
Brightnoon.com
(brightnoon pictures, LLC)
niiayikwei 7:57 pm on June 30, 2009 Permalink |
Hi Yao,
You got free shipping to the US? You must be on one of those Amazon Prime accounts! Anyway, speaking of film rights? I haven’t sold any, but the BBC had expressed interest in another project I am working on and I had to write a treatment for them, so (to improve my knowledge of the art form – cos writing treatments is a whole new discipline!) I’ve drafted one for ‘Tail of the Blue Bird’ as well and hope to complete it and give it to my agent soon.
Thanks for reading the book, and extra thanks for stopping by to share your experience!
yao b nunoo 3:50 am on July 2, 2009 Permalink
Man,
I no get any special deal from amazon . that be the thing. Or maybe I for check make sure say they no charge me. If so, I go bore paaa!
Anyway, I am glad to hear that you are writing cinematic treatments for your story. I read ‘Tail of the Bluebird’ and thought how great the story was as a piece of literature, but also how effective it would be as a film piece. I have to admit, I am a film maker (screen writer/ producer) very interested in involving myself in any effort to see the story as a film. After finishing the story, I thought to myself, essentially that this is a story that starts off trying to give its reader the answer they so want, and ends up giving them the answer they really need. Many books have tried that and it is difficult (quite frankly) to do. The story itself is very self aware of this deliberate manipulation, because it knows the reader/ audience will be grateful for it in the end, and I was. It reminded me of Akutagawa’s short story ‘In the Grove’ which was adapted by Kurosawa’s for ‘Rashomon’ (1950). I would like the chance to talk to you more about it, if that’s ok with you. If not, that’s very cool and respected. In any case- all the very best to you.
HSFS!
(Hand Shake and a Finger Snap!)
Yao
Lydia Allotey 4:03 pm on August 2, 2009 Permalink |
I finally caved in and purchased “Tail of the Blue Bird” from one of the vendors on Amazon.com/UK at a price that was within reason considering international shipping and the foreign exchange rates. It all came to about 22. +USD.
I am glad I did not wait for this book to make the New York Times best sellers book list in the US before buying and reading it. It is well worth the extra trouble I had to acquire it. Although there are areas that I might have hoped for a different effect, the story is well written and engaging.
For me, it was delightful to have African customs, mythology and folklore presented to the reader in such a natural and positive light. For a reader who has never been to Africa, this book will serve as a fantastic introduction, and for those of us who are familiar with the environment this story will make us smile.