Long ago the animals were called to Nyame to receive their portions and their duties.
Every wall in Ghana, all day long.
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Listening to Why the Lizard Nods
Why the Lizard Nods
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Why the Lizard Nods
Long ago the animals were called to Nyame to receive their portions and their duties. Lizard came late — he had been sunning himself — and everything had been given out.
He begged. He said he would take anything, any small task, only do not send him away with nothing.
Nyame, amused, gave him the smallest office in creation: agree. Whatever is said in your hearing, agree with it. Nod.
The lizard has been nodding ever since. Watch him on the wall — a person passes, and he nods. A dog barks, and he nods. The sun is hot and he nods. He does not know what he is agreeing to and he has never once disagreed, and this is why, when a man in a meeting says yes to everything and means none of it, his elders will say: ɔyɛ sɛ ɔkɔtɔ — look at him, he is nodding like a lizard.
If you visit Ghana. Every wall in Ghana, all day long.
Long ago the animals were called to Nyame to receive their portions and their duties. Lizard came late — he had been sunning himself — and everything had been given out.
He begged. He said he would take anything, any small task, only do not send him away with nothing.
Nyame, amused, gave him the smallest office in creation: agree. Whatever is said in your hearing, agree with it. Nod.
The lizard has been nodding ever since. Watch him on the wall — a person passes, and he nods. A dog barks, and he nods. The sun is hot and he nods. He does not know what he is agreeing to and he has never once disagreed, and this is why, when a man in a meeting says yes to everything and means none of it, his elders will say: ɔyɛ sɛ ɔkɔtɔ — look at him, he is nodding like a lizard.