Dodging Aboboyas, Chasing Peace: A Morning in Accra

I jump to the side, startled by the loud honking of the taxi’s horn behind me. For the tenth time, I wonder why I decided to go for a walk on the main road instead of looking for a corner to walk up and down and burn some calories. I just want some peace and quiet…but that doesn’t look likely, especially on a hot Saturday morning.

It’s only 7am, but it looked like the whole city was already awake. I’ve attracted a few curious glances but also some friendly ones as I timidly say “good morning” with a smile. One or two people I meet along the way grunt their response, but I can’t even fault them…there’s so much to be frustrated about and maybe they aren’t having a great morning.

Anyway, we always hear about the need to pause, take a deep breath and have some quiet time. But I could kiss that dream goodbye if I thought I could achieve that on this walk. How can I do that when this aboboya is zooming straight towards me, zigzagging to dodge the next pothole and honking his horn to ensure I get out of his path as his machine is very volatile and can suspend in the air in a matter of seconds? Or how can I do that when the man across the street is speaking at the highest decibel, catching up with his friend on the latest news. Or the woman yelling at her little one, for obviously the umpteenth time, to stop that thing he is doing before she ‘beats him’…something I can relate with because do these children even understand the word ‘stop’? Or it’s a green light for them to keep going in their latest adventure? Well, before I lose my train of thought…

Maybe I should find the time to go outside Accra and embrace the peace and quiet. But can I really leave the setting I’ve grown so used to behind? What if in all the noise, there’s something to appreciate? Something to remind us of how precious life is and how we need to make each day count? What if in all the noise, we can still find a way to just be still, even for a few seconds, before the next loud noise breaks us out from our reverie.

Oh, how I love the quietness, but then again, the noise feels like home. But for now, let me try and get back safely to my house and successfully conclude my quest to burn these calories in a bid to ‘snap back’. Hopefully I won’t regain all those calories back with a cos 90 breakfast of fully loaded waakye.