Bentsifi’s Tattle - A guy about town -Jollof weekend
A weekend for jollof, all cravings did lead to Serallio at Osu last Saturday, for the birth of an innovative mouthwatering event dubbed, "Jollof Market", organised by ThinkMahogany and partners. It has been definitely placed on the must-attend Accra events calendar in the coming years, if the organisers have the tenacity to keep up its momemtum.
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I met a group of ladies yesterday, who, having attended the event, were most exasperated that there were so few vendors. They were, however, excited that the event was a delightful one to get to taste a great variety of Jollof. But again, sad that the chow got finished rather too early!
It had such a good vibe, they say. Too much! So much so, I've heard, and have seen in video evidences that show punters just milling around with anticipated faces, hoping more jollof will cook and materialise as late as 10.30pm!
EatGhana
I do so love such organic events that grow out of sheer grit and great buzz. These are the events that need incubation, nursing and nurturing. But, alas, in Ghana, potential is never noticed.
On the same day, on the other side of town within the Legon Botanical Gardens, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) also launched a new event dubbed "Jollof Festival" as part of their "EatGhana" initiative which seeks to encourage more people to patronise Ghanaian cuisine.
The event saw music and dance queen, Akosua Agyapong, belt out delicious tunes, accompanied by the Ghana Immigration Band. As an attraction, a competition held at the festival featuring the cooking of varieties of the dish from across the West African region saw the Gambia winning!
And now, one is not so sure whether we are to promote Ghanaian, or the winning, Gambian jollof! That notwithstanding, there, yet another event was birthed. Let's see how well this one too is sustained.
Buzz in Cape Coast
I was caught up in Cape Coast last weekend. It happened to be the same period during which participants to the NPP congress descended on the town. What a buzz Cape Coast had during the weekend. At the University where the conference proper was meant to take place, the trees and light poles along the avenues were all covered with buntings in the party's colours and made the whole environment look and feel really energised. A far cry from the buzz I got when I was in the same town during the week when Panafest took place there.
All, or let me put it more accurately, most of the hotels in Cape Coast that weekend were fully booked as a result of who had come to town to meet. Eventually, after searching and searching and not finding a room, I drove to Fairhill Guest House.
Oguaa Afahye
I had seen their offering: Clean, luxurious rooms, hot water, DSTV and on and on. I had stayed at one of the annexes of this facility years ago, and loved it so, I didn’t mind trying it again.
Indeed, it was a clean room that met me, but nothing luxurious. The hot water didn’t work, nor did the promised DSTV show up on the television whose remote control even wouldn't change a channel. But, I still liked the Fairhill. It was clean, at least, and Kojo, the guy-Friday as well as Louis, who both attended to me at varying times, were extremely polite and apologetic when I complained.
Their honest response endeared and I tell you, I shall be lodging there again soon when I next visit Cape. Though not this Afahye weekend.
All roads lead to Oguaa for the mighty Afahye festivities. Do get out there and celebrate with the Fantis who will be thanking nature for a good year!