That day was a day of joy for Kwesi Kuma
As the first from the Yalley family
To excel in the general examinations
As the first from the village of Nsempoa
To gain admission into a university
Not his joy only
All Nsempoa and Yalley basked in the glory
Joy would soon give way to reality
Joy would soon choke on the reality…of that admission opportunity
For an offer to attend a university
Would come with an order to pay before an entry
This reality dawned on all as the days approached…hastily
Nsempoa and Yalley would soon live up to that reality
A village and a family would soon respond to a call to duty
If the young Yalley would rise to bring glory
Ought not all be part of the story…in a hurry?
With gracious generosity
The family of Yalley responded to the clarion call
Straining every sinew to help one of their own…to answer to a higher call
Kojo Yalley was ready to open his palms
With a promise of yields from a quarter of his palm plantation
Next was Kobina Yalley
He charged his farm hands to harvest all ripened fruits in his orchard
With all its cedi proceeds planted in Kwesi Kuma’s account
Then it was the turn of Kweku Yalley
His entire yield from his cocoa field he pledged
Ekow Yalley donated some fat cows
So did Kofi Yalley with some poultry, some fowls
Even Kwamina Yalley, the palm wine tapper…planned to give some fresh wine
So Kwesi Yalley, Kuma’s own father…had no reason to keep his barn of yams till the next famine
The chief of Nsempoa had the town-crier
Cry for a village to supplicate for divine hand of support
Thus Kwesi Kuma commenced and completed
Completed and earned high academic laurels
On his way to the highest of pinnacles
Kwesi Kuma knew the hands that were lifted for support
By village and family was the miracle
The miracle that pushed him up the social ladder
He knew a position up the executive ladder
Was a few stepping stones away
He knew he would be flying higher and higher
Now that Nsempoa and Yalley had their heart’s wish
It was time to reap from hands that sowed seeds to clinch a wish
It was time to leap from hands that sow seeds
To heads that learn to use a head to push a wish
It was time to retrieve seeds sown in a son so cherished
A son so established in the big city
A son so destined to be wealthy
Kojo Yalley was ready to reap the first fruits
His youngest son in basic school must attend a better school
That son must be somebody in future
Just like Kwesi Kuma
“Your uncle, Kwesi Kuma is somebody today
If you don’t know, I made him what he is today
My palm plantation was bearing fruits of my labour
Then he had to go to a big school in the big city”
Kwesi Kuma was woken up in the morning…to welcome two visitors from Nsempoa
Kojo Yalley’s mission was straight and simple
“My son has a big head to learn all the big things
But his teachers at Nsempoa are lazy
His mates at school are crazily devilish
Send him to a big school
He can learn big things”
That is when Kobina Yalley also delivered his nephew to Kwesi Kuma
And Kweku Yalley ordered his niece to pack to the big city
Ekow Yalley hauled his cousin onto the next watonkyene
Kofi Yalley shipped his daughter to land safe and sound
Kwamina Yalley, the palm wine tapper sent his stepson
The chief of Nsempoa decided Kwesi Kuma must help the most brilliant pupil in the village
In jealous anger
Kwesi Yalley, Kuma’s own father
Dispatched the rest of his children
Now that Nsempoa and Yalley had their heart’s wish
To reap where they collectively sowed seeds
It was time for Kwesi Kuma to sow seeds of daily anguish
Now in the midst of Starlets ’91
He was saddled with serious money matters
His only option was to play it rough…hard in muddy money waters
In the midst of huge daily expenses
Kwesi Kuma dipped his fingers deep
Deep into the consolidated pot of the Land
