When Elvis Kwashie, CEO of Joy Brands and my former editor at JoyFm passed away, Sabukie Osabutey posted an image of him on his Twitter page with the following caption: Rest in Power Elvis! Thank you for everything #TheRealBoss.
Elvis gave me the platform to get my message out to the world, she said, as she settled into the couch. Her then beaming smile dissolved into a thoughtful mood. There was a loud pause for a few seconds before we both said, May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Then, as a 19-year-old aspiring poet, Sabukie rose to national prominence when she was featured on JoyNews television.
She had appeared on some shows before, but this one report was all she needed for the rest of the world to hear about her ability to bring ordinary words to life that sting the emotions of those who hear them, all while reflecting. to the weight behind every message that passed through his vocal cords.
Sabukie came across poetry as a way to cope with the pain of losing a high school debate contest. At the time, she hated the smell of words around her, even though she had come into contact with them before; everything was completely off.
Not that she was bad, but the feeling of what she then thought was a defeat, almost made her close the door on a future that promises so much, and continues to establish her as one of the best poets. from Ghana. Already at 25, she has published two books of poetry, the latest, HEALESS WOUND, which chronicles different layers of love, including hurt, healing and the appetite to fall in love again, despite the possibility of being hurt, but also to be loved. in a way that erases the scars of a failed relationship.
Thought-provoking material, Sabukie’s use of imagery makes each poem an engaging read. In Strangers on the road to recovery, she writes:
The waves will crush you
In different smiling shades
They’ll make you dance through the midnight fire
Break your fears in freedom
they will hold you in their manly arms
make you twirl on a bed of sweet-scented roses
like the rock in the middle of the ocean
they are not shaken
you never see them coming
you fall unknowingly into their arms
their hugs relax your soul
they will guide you through healing
but they can be broken themselves.
Beyond the subject of love, hurt and healing, Sabukie’s poetry also deals with the larger theme of feminism, slavery/colonialism and events in the lives of ordinary people.
In Girl from Jamestown, she thought back to her teenage years in the fishing community that bears the remnants of the scars of colonialism, while recounting the prowess of her lineage.
From the lighthouse to Fort Ussher,
We roam the street with the single panti mami bought
We never meant to make it a thought
All we wanted was the kenkey in the pot
We were looking for nothing but free will we were screaming
The cane strokes still leave our hearts
as stubborn as pandora
Steal Adukwei’s Tapioca
we weren’t given names like Monica
I grew up knowing Atta Ayi, Oko, Akweley and Lobisaa
Oh fun it was being a Jamestown girl
Banku k3 shitoloo, the daily meal we fed
Akpanga mefuen kedzi enyewulor
The horrible smell of a vulture comes from its mother’s egg
Proverbs you have heard and spoken
As young as we were
We put our ideas into play and had fun all day long
Today modernization has filled our calabashes
With sophisticated ideas
I’m proud to be your kaklayoo
and I’ll make you a perfect shitloo.
Sabukie doesn’t seek the limelight for fun; she wants to use the power of poetry to shed light on social issues. She walked into our meeting in a bright yellow outfit. Her hair was tied in a ponytail. She settled into a soft green sofa, looked at the menu card and placed her order. Glasses, she adjusted her black purse on a round table between us, to make room for the fruit drink and the tuna sandwich.
A few minutes into our conversation, she pulled her cell phone out of her bag and unlocked it. She showed me a photo of a young Russian woman also called Osabutey. She spoke of herself with so much admiration. She is into ballet and very good at her craft.
Sabukie hopes the two can one day meet and share a stage, where a ballet dancer’s body movements can be scripted into poetry and delivered with the appropriate rhythm and enthusiasm.
About the Author; Anny Osabutey (PrampramFisherman) is an avid country traveler, broadcast journalist, writer, documentary filmmaker, amateur filmmaker/photographer and co-founder of the Prampram Tourism Centre.