Tuesday, August 16, 2016

TATALE

 Palm wine drinking and the herb scents in the
air, intoxicating the soul. The constant beating of African drums.
The women could be heard singing.
Ebei, ebei Tatale,
Ebei, ebei, Tatale,
Ebei, ebei, Tatale
{Namo ba he}, Tatale, {Namo ba he}, Tatale
Ebei, ebei, Tatale.
Meaning: It is cooked it is cooked, the Tatale is cooked {Namo ba he}, who will buy? Tatale.  Tatale is mashed up ripe plantain mixed with Corn flower, made into a ball then deep-fried. Served as a desert, very delicious.        This Ghanaian folk song is sang in the Ga, dialect.
           The pace of the dancing was now at frenzy the dancers stamped their feet on the ground, earth shaking, and Juju man in a trance.
Feeling it my bones now vibrating to the rhythm, sound of African drums and singing.
By dawn, the dancers had gone also the musicians the crowds dispersed. Exhausted and fast asleep yet muscles twitching body shaking drums beating Ebie, ebie, Tatale Namo ba he Tatale.  
Tales of an Emancipated Colonist.