In the Streets of Accra

Summary

This is the road!

This is the main highway!

Shouters, we are in the street!

Shooters, restrain your guns!

This is Accra.

This is the road!

This is the main highway!

Shouters, we are in the street!

Shooters, restrain your guns!

This is Accra.

This is the town.

The street of the municipality.

Strangers, we are in the streets.

Townsmen, stretch out your sleeping mats

This is Accra.

This is the beach,

This is the pilgrim's haven—

A vast town, but where is the sleeping place?

A great crowd but where is an acquaintance?

This is Accra.

Why this tumult in the street?

Where are the pursuers

That harry every one so?

Let me join the throng.

This is Accra.

Why this head turning

Or is something approaching

That makes you turn jerkily

To look round about you?

This is Accra.

What is this buzzing noise?

What means this paa! paa!

Is this where you walk daily?

And you have lived so long!

This is Accra.

Stay let me have a look.

If such a collection of merchandise

Crowd even the streets so,

What of the market?

This is Accra.

What does this ringing of the bell signify?

This shouting and tinkling noise

This running in the blazing sun 165

This sweat that is skimmed off with the hands?

This is Accra.

Could women monopolise a street so?

In vain you try to elbow your way through

If you stop they will roll over you

If you turn away a vehicle is knocking you down.

This is Accra.

Step out, son of the valiant,

When you look about you too much

ͻkete's children will mark you for a rustic

No one shuns the simple fellow for a bargain.

This is Accra.

Bestir yourself always

When someone pushes, hit him back

When someone bullies, scare him in return

Stranger and citizen are both alike.

This is Accra.