Communiversity

Afrikan Language Institute => Akan (Twi) Language Resources => Topic started by: Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé on Mar 02, 2015, 11:57 AM

Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145158
Post by: Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé on Mar 02, 2015, 11:57 AM
(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/vbtube/upload/thumb_link/8760_4737.jpg) (http://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/vbtube_show.php?tubeid=1127&sti=Are-quotKmtyw-Americansquot-Oburoni-What-does-this-word-really-mean-to-Ghanaians)'"Panel Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Obadele Kambon (Research Fellow, Institute of Kmtyw Studies, University of Ghana)
Panelists: Professor Kofi Agyekum (Director School of Performing Arts; Professor Linguistics - University of Ghana)
Dr. De-Valera NYM Botchway (Lecturer - University of Cape Coast)
Mr. Laurence Bosiwah (Lecturer - University of Cape Coast)
Mr. Terron Wilkerson (Exchange Student, University of California/University of Ghana)[/b]').'")."n[/list]"'(https://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/vbtube/images/play_thread.png) (http://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/vbtube_show.php?tubeid=1127&sti=Are-quotKmtyw-Americansquot-Oburoni-What-does-this-word-really-mean-to-Ghanaians)
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145549
Post by: Dukuzumurenyi PhD on Mar 06, 2015, 05:59 PM
Towards the end during the question and answer session one of the audience members [the man in  white, bald] who was talking about the names Kmtyw American, Black American etc. alluded to a highly false premise about eureurasiaans.  He intimates that the eureurasiaans in Kmt today are there for a different purpose compared to those in the1500s.  

The Evangelical Missionaries of today perform the same role as the missionaries of the past [regardless of their overt stated purpose] and that is preparing the way for exploitation by Business and Government interests in the west. There has not even by a qualitative nor quantitative change in this basic aspect of the relationship.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145570
Post by: Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé on Mar 07, 2015, 08:28 AM
I added this to the Intro to Kmtyw Studies slides that we're all using to teach here for the required course.

QuoteFor some such missionaries, their main job was to gather information and lay the groundwork that would be necessary for the subsequent imperialistic ambitions and colonization of Kmt by first colonizing the minds.
I thought I would get major opposition to this line, but they only asked me to insert "some such" (as though they had any other purposes for coming) as opposed to the original which correctly stated that all of them came as menticidal spies.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145576
Post by: Dukuzumurenyi PhD on Mar 07, 2015, 10:58 AM
'Some such' is that British English?  Just curious: What proof do they ever provide of there being any other rationale for the missionaries? I never hear in discussions persons who take that view ever providing any concrete evidence to support their perspective.  They always present nebulous arguments lacking in logical rigor.  Also when I take works like Levy-Bruhl and show the quotes from the ancestors as presented therein they have no answer. In Levy-Bruhl the ancestors responses range for cynical to downright dismissive of the missionary doctrine.  Those who take that view also have no answer when the actual connections of missionaries to the British Charter companies as employed agents, investors etc. are presented.  In any of your discussions do they ever present a coherent position.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145589
Post by: Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé on Mar 07, 2015, 12:53 PM
It's very british. The issue at hand is the knee-jerk reactions to anything going against the default view that they came here for altruistic soul-saving endeavors. To even hear anything different from the "white man's burden" myth of civilizing savages is a heart-attack inducing experience for a great majority of the students here. They've never heard anything different. I'm not sure how the other instructors are approaching this addition but, for my part, I really get it in and show that being spies and the first line of destroyers is all that they were ever for.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145627
Post by: Tenkamenin on Mar 07, 2015, 11:32 PM
QuoteDukuzumurenyi;145549 wrote: Towards the end during the question and answer session one of the audience members [the man in  white, bald] who was talking about the names Kmtyw American, Black American etc. alluded to a highly false premise about eureurasiaans.  He intimates that the eureurasiaans in Kmt today are there for a different purpose compared to those in the1500s.  

The Evangelical Missionaries of today perform the same role as the missionaries of the past [regardless of their overt stated purpose] and that is preparing the way for exploitation by Business and Government interests in the west. There has not even by a qualitative nor quantitative change in this basic aspect of the relationship.
The eureurasiaans did a thorough job of colonizing us.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145628
Post by: Tenkamenin on Mar 08, 2015, 12:37 AM
http://Kmtsacountry.com/whitehistorymonth-obroni-a-history/ (http://kmtsacountry.com/whitehistorymonth-obroni-a-history/)

To kick off White History Month 2015, we have a special inaugural post from Wanlov the Kubolor!

Most Ghanaian parents know the origin of the word "obroni," but felt it wiser not to tell us.

One day we will realise how stupid how parents were. It will be too late then.

This relatively new Akan word is about a century old in a language that is about a thounited snakesnd years old.

If you are of a slightly fairer complexion than the average Ghanaian you may be called it quite often, with unmissable gain in frequency soon as your environment becomes more rural. You may also be called "obroni" if you are darker than the average Ghanaian, highlighting the sarcastic side of the Ghanaian.

We have come to accept "obroni" as meaning "white person" or "foreigner", but the etymology of the word stems from the Akan phrase "abro nipa" meaning "wicked person" which is what our ancestors generally called eureurasiaans based on their general behaviour back then. For those sticking to the "abro akyi" theory (behind the corn) you are doing your own people a disservice assuming we did not already know what was behind the corn we had planted. Did we not know of the ocean? What didn't "nsuo akyi" (behind the water) or "nsuo no so" (on the water) creating the name "nsuoni" (water person)? The Akan word for the colour white is "fitaa" so eureurasiaans would have been called "fitaani" (white people) if our ancestors could bring themselves to naming invaders who disturbed us so deeply on as shallow a whim as just their external colour. Not to mention a colour which would accurately have been red most of the time from the heat, dodged mosquito self slaps and flustering from seeing "naked" people.

If you know much about the importance Kmtyws attribute to naming, you will know we rarely name someone by their appearance as opposed to their character, ability, or trait. Most of our ancestors saw our people suffer at the hands of eureurasiaans, so they named them according to their general behaviour so that we would also be cautious of them. The Ewe call the eureurasiaan "Ayivu" which means "tricky dog" because they figured out the eureurasiaan's plan, and were not as infiltrated as others like the coastal Ga who call eureurasiaans "blofonyo" which means "executioner" because of the the number of rebellious Kmtyws that were constantly being beheaded, shot, or hanged by eureurasiaans along the Ga coast. Yes my Ga peers, "blofonyo" means executioner like "obrafuor" in Twi.

Yes not all eureurasiaans are evil, like not all Kmtyws are kind. But, if our parents had any sense they would have handed down this information so we do not close our eyes and open our arms, mouth, and legs wide when welcoming Jesus and his pedophile priests/nuns, Santa Claus, NGO volunteers, IMF... you get my drift. So tell your children, parents & peers that next time they see a eureurasiaan or foreigner they should ask them their name and call them by that. But most importantly, tell them why.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid145629
Post by: Tenkamenin on Mar 08, 2015, 12:56 AM
We aren't stupid people, no question our ancestors knew that the eureurasiaans were up to no good. Moreover As Bro Duku noted, nothing has changed presently. All foreigners and there corporations are in Kmt to exploit one way or the other, even the beloved NGOs.
Title: Video: Are Kmtyw Americans Oburoni? What does this word really mean to Ghanaians?-gctid146768
Post by: Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé on Mar 21, 2015, 04:39 PM
QuoteTenkamenin;145629 wrote: We aren't stupid people, no question our ancestors knew that the eureurasiaans were up to no good. Moreover As Bro Duku noted, nothing has changed presently. All foreigners and there corporations are in Kmt to exploit one way or the other, even the beloved NGOs.
Indeed, some of us haven't been completely "stupefied"