OKYEAME - Dedicated to all Akyeame and Akyeamehene in the Kingdom
I am okyeame
Ohene's spokesman.
Ohene's eminence depends upon my wisdom and eloquence.
All contacts with ohene are made through me.
Sitting in council,
Ohene speaks to elders and citizens through me.
Sitting in council,
Elders and citizens speak to ohene through me.
Sitting in council,
Ohene speaks to visitors through me.
Sitting in council,
Visitors speak to ohene through me.
Okyeame poma I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public gatherings
To debate amansem.
Okyeame poma, the symbol of sovereignty,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of authority,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of command,
Okyeame poma, I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public.
I am the living memory of the people.
I am the walking treasure house of proverbs.
I am an ambulant golden chest of wise sayings.
I am okyeame,
I repeat clearly and remark proceedings,
During trials at ohene's court.
I am okyeame,
I rephrase and interpret proceedings,
During trials at ohene's court.
I am okyeame,
I stress the importance of proceedings,
During trials at ohene's court.
I am okyeame,
I reconstruct to avoid offence in proceedings,
During trials at ohene's court.
I am okyeame,
I have recourse to witty, diplomatic language
Whose mysteries are known to me alone,
During trials at ohene's court.
Okyeame poma I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public gatherings
To debate amansem.
Okyeame poma, the symbol of sovereignty,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of authority,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of command,
Okyeame poma, I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public.
I am the living memory of the people.
I am the walking treasure house of proverbs.
I am an ambulant golden chest of wise sayings.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to embellish the verb.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to act as witness to major undertakings.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to recall major decisions accurately.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to conduct diplomacy and protocol.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to guide ohene on law and custom.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to reconstrue and construe whatever ohene says.
I am okyeame,
I am trained to transform ohene's whispers
Into poetic and eloquent language.
I am okyeame,
'Without the gift of gab, I redeem:
Nana, you have ears to hear', says the proverb.
Okyeame poma I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public gatherings
To debate amansem.
Okyeame poma, the symbol of sovereignty,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of authority,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of command,
Okyeame poma, I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public.
I am the living memory of the people.
I am the walking treasure house of proverbs.
I am an ambulant golden chest of wise sayings.
I am okyeame,
I exhort the newly-installed ohene,
The newly-enstooled Nana I admonish:
We wish that you disclose not the origin of any person.
We wish that you curse not the people.
We wish that you succumb not to the temptation of greediness.
We wish that you gamble not with state property.
We wish that you refuse not to listen to advice.
We wish that you call not the people 'nkwasampafoo'.
We wish that you take no decision without advice.
We wish that you act not without counsel.
We wish that you show no personal violence.
We wish that you show no personal abuse.
We wish that you always lend your ears to advisors.
We wish that you never say: 'I have no time, I have no time'.
I am okyeame.
Okyeame poma I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public gatherings
To debate amansem.
Okyeame poma, the symbol of sovereignty,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of authority,
Okyeame poma, the symbol of command,
Okyeame poma, I hold for all to see,
Whenever I appear in public.
I am the living memory of the people.
I am the walking treasure house of proverbs.
I am an ambulant golden chest of wise sayings.
I am okyeame
Ohene's spokesman.
Ohene's eminence depends upon my wisdom and eloquence.
All contacts with ohene are made through me.
Ohene speaks to elders and citizens through me
Sitting in council,
Elders and citizens speak to ohene through me.
I am okyeame
The data bank of aphorisms and apothegms.
I am okyeame
The treasure house of witty remarks and proverbs.
I am okyeame.
I am ohemaa.
Daughter of the moon.
Silver, the soft light of the moon my colour is.
Silver, the tender light of the moon my stool is.
Silver, the silky light of the moon my accoutrements are.
Silver, the soft light of the moon my court regalia are.
Dansinkran, the soft shape of the moon I wear.
I am ohemaa.
I am ohemaa.
Call me ohene's mother,
I am ohene's mother's sister.
Call me ohene's sister,
I am ohene's sister's daughter.
Call me ohene's mother's sister's daughter,
I am ohene's mother's daughter's sister.
Call me the mother of all royals,
I am ohemaa.
Call me obaahemaa.
Central personage of my universe.
Ohene's left side I forever occupy my stool.
I alone can nominate ohene's successor.
I alone can have a final say in determining an authentic successor.
I alone can have a large say in picking a new ohene.
I alone can rebuke ohene.
I alone can reprimand okyeame.
I alone can reproof mpanimfoo, members of the council.
I alone can rebuke nananom, the sages of the state.
I alone can address the audience directly
During trials at ohene's court.
I alone can address parties directly
During trials at ohene's court.
Call me obaahemaa.
I am ohemaa.
Call me ohene's mother,
I am ohene's mother's sister.
Call me ohene's sister,
I am ohene's sister's daughter.
Call me ohene's mother's sister's daughter,
I am ohene's mother's daughter's sister.
Call me the mother of all royals,
I am ohemaa.
Call me obaahemaa.
Foremost personage of my universe,
Foremost proclaimer of a successor after destoolment,
Foremost informed whenever a Mighty Tree falls.
Call me obaahemaa.
Expert in family genealogies,
Expert in female rite de passage,
Expert in counselling.
Call me obaahemaa.
Member of the central government,
Member of the council,
Member of the court,
Call me obaahemaa.
I am ohemaa.
Call me ohene's mother,
I am ohene's mother's sister.
Call me ohene's sister,
I am ohene's sister's daughter.
Call me ohene's mother's sister's daughter,
I am ohene's mother's daughter's sister.
Call me the mother of all royals,
I am ohemaa.
Ohene I instruct on religious matters.
Ohene I advise on social matters.
Ohene I instruct on cultural matters.
Ohene I advise on his general conduct.
I am ohemaa.
Daughter of the moon.
Silver, the soft light of the moon my colour is.
I am ohemaa.
