Kumasi Chronicles: Heartbreak, Highways, and High Tempo

I am going to Kumasi from Apam. When I got to the Mankessim station this dawn, I was shown Kumasi station. Getting there, I saw a gentleman just about my height standing behind a sprinter and I asked where the tickets for Mankessim to Kumasi were sold. He looked surprised and I reiterated my question in my acquired Fante:

"Brɛda, mepa wo kyɛw, merekɔ Kumasi. Mɛ nya tikiti wɔ hen?" (Bro, please, I'm going to Kumasi. Where do I get a ticket?).

He looked at me again and then processed my question like a first generation computer before pointing me to another man sitting in an obscure shed. Ah, well. I ignored him and bought my ticket.

I was given the back seat and then I dropped my bag on the seat while surveying the environment. A few minutes later, I saw a guy whose appearance and voice sounded like the first guy but this one was neatly dressed now. Turns out he was going to my car so I greeted and we started vibing - man-to-man about PSG and Chelsea being whipped in the WCW.

Every two minutes into the conversation, he'd sigh deep until he remained silent and burped out loudly:

"Hɛrrrr, brɛda, mmbaa, neva???" (Bro, women? Never again).

Abusuafo, saa na the guy was going through a fresh hardcore broken heart. He says one Alhaji used money to collect his girlfriend, Asana, during the Sala (Eid) but he was hoping he can still get his lady back until last night when she finally told him to move on.

He's say he feels like giving up in life and other things you people say when you get broken hearts.  💔 He has invested in the lady so the pain makes sense. What would a fellow brother do? I tried to convince him about the beauty of life and how he'd meet another good lady but the guy ignored.

He'd say things like: I'll collect all my things from her, I'll show her and everyone that supports her. I, also, out of sympathy and support for the brotherhood kept supporting him. I even told him to do whatever he likes.

Soon, the ticket man announced the car was full and readying for take off. I went to pee. When I got back, a song was playing in the car. I don't know the title but it's sang by Black Sherif and a portion of the lyrics says:

"Tear them down into pieces, what you figa this be? Follow me talk your gibberish. Kwaku I never listen"

That's the only portion that has been playing since we took off from Mankessim. We're now at Foso.

Guess what, the broken heart 💔  guy is the same dumb guy I met earlier (he changed clothes) and also doubled as the driver and the only part of the song he's repeating is the "tear them down into pieces".

His demeanor and speed tells it all. He's going to tears us down into pieces because of Asana's broken heart.  💔  

Who even asked me to give unsolicited advice?😂🙈  What if he does whatever he likes?😂

( Shared by Don Francis on Trotro Diaries Group )