It seems a million years have gone by
Since a people treasured a good name
And measured it above silver and gold
Much more above the most prized of diamonds
Few were those whose names
Embellished indelible deeds
But many were who responded to appellations
Just to spell out a feat so fruitless
So Kawambire rose to his feet at the trumpet sound of Osagyefo
For he was a warrior of valour
He fought to conquer a foe of no mean stature
His victory dealt a death blow to a state of dependence
Against servitude he poured out his hateful abhorrence
Freedom! Freedom!!…was his avowed preference
Then they booted him out
While he still put his hands to it
With none to hold his fort…to this day
His intelligent mind
Earned him, The Intellectual Giant of no kind
Just when he set out to read out his economic thesis
The Best University Scholar In Africa
Came to Be Under Serious Internal Attack
He was booted out
With one in the city to hold his fort…sooner than later
Li was a Gentleman of the gentleman
He manned but only for a short span
His main man was Kawambire
His main aim was to reclaim
Then he was booted out
Just like his main man
One there was to hold his fort…soon after
Arombire was known for his Kasapreko
Who dared speak otherwise?
Who dared refuse his orders?
Who dared raise a voice for the voiceless?
Arombire must roar…and roar
Arombire must be heard…even when his boom spelt doom
He revved and revved his revolution
But he took a reverse…ultimately
Then he bowed out
With one in the city to hold his fort
Katakumbe was a calm Okatakyie
He stood tall
When all around him were very short, very small
His eyes did the tricks for his talks
His height left him as the last man standing tall
He had responded to a call to bring about a fall
As they cheered on
He bowed out when all were still cheering on
One in the city there was to hold his fort
Anane was as sharp as Busumburu
As he blossomed to tip the global scales
They all agreed he was Shark, the Zulu
No table would sit without his head
No head could fill up to his diplomatricks
No tricks could fell Anane’s Oak tree of success
He was still Busumburu when he headed for his six feet
None in the city there was to hold his fort
Ataala would rather be a Peacemaker
Would rather gather all his chicks under his wings
Would rather sing to all to whom his name stinks
Would rather think about home…than leave home to think about some in their home
They were still in search of a pacemaker when Peacemaker reached his Maker
One there was in the city to hold his fort
Sarkodie was not at all like Kodie, the Eagle
…when he rudely appeared
But he had eyes to look and see far
His works walked far ahead…into the future
His words were few…fewer than the days he worked
But his words were worth his works
So they named him Oseadeeyo
He was booted out
While he still put his hands to it
With one in the city to hold his fort
The Honourable
His Excellency
Nearly His Majesty
He was initiated onto the pitch as Kantamanto
With a flurry of budding and budded rolls of roses
He was in a hurry to pay all his vows
But men of much faith saw vows turn into lows
…into epic lows
Kantamanto attempted to trumpet his lows
In the eyes of faithful fellows
To colour his lows in loads of low lying lies
For the eyes and ears of swelling scoffing foes
But many now agreed that Kantamanto needed a brand new name
To match his broken image
Kantamanto thought not so differently
He needed a brand new army
To search a new name
Dovlo stood out as the only true General
Commanding all to leave their books open
Some did
Some did not…daring to see what will happen
Some knew him so well
Some did not…swapping him for a refugee
Some liked him so well
Some did not..saying he did not deserve
He must be a deportee
But he liked himself
He laughed all by himself
Laughing all the way out…way out of their way
ii
Many many years after
Many many names after
Many names famed away
Many appellations paled off
As there lay many layers of disaster
A people knew names never served a people
A people no longer treasured appellations of hollow intentions
A people measured appellations by treasured abilities
