This coming Friday, the old man goes digital and flashes before you a digital library you don’t need to walk to visit. Watch out for the official launch, which the young ones call ‘virtual.’ No need to come to Ashesi or the British Council Hall or ask for a blue kiosk at Agbobloshie. The ceremony will be in thin air!
And why not digital? The quiet agenda has been to restore the old man to his original status as lord of his own home. For too long, domestic power appears to
have quietly shifted to children and nieces, who at the touch of a button pay your water and electricity bills, send this and that by Momo, giving the false impression that Gen Zs now hold the purse. Mummy and daddy have now turned into dependents at the entire mercy of teenage children, wielding power at the tip of their fingers.
Before long, however, we had discovered the conspiracy and mustered all relevant* powers to restore the old man to his original status, wearing his Ghandi goggles: the Lord of all he surveys.
After years of writing, I now pay heed to a suggestion by a former student: ‘Prof, what you need is your own library stocking all your writings: academic, literary, media, speeches, notes, etc. That was 15 or more years ago! And where were the resources to do a brick-and-mortar thing: masons, carpenters and all; then where do you site it: behind somebody’s window, or your boys’ quarters?
For my avid readers since the late 1970s, the most they could do was to clip my media writings, file them, and pile them up for occasional browsing or even burning in fury. Publishers compiling me in books have done a poor job of not yelling loudly enough. Reading itself being a dull sport, that’s a good enough excuse. Indeed, when asked at interviews, ‘What book you recently read?The most common answer people only whisper is ‘Bible, and TikTok.’
With the help of friends and students, I have been able to retrieve from archives and rodents almost all I have written or coughed! And thanks to the cockroaches for their utmost cooperation. These have been digitally packaged and safely located in thin air within your reach.
Friday, 28th November, at 3 pm, is the prime time for the launch, which features my writings, books, monographs, and keynote speeches from whenever to whenever! Please check the flier and register to join us. Then say Hi to Ashesi University, the gracious host of the launch.
Please, let’s all try to retain the old man in digital space before he wobbles back to the balcony.
You are also invited to join my WhatsApp group for more updates.
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DRT1dFATB6WG3s09bPUIsA?mode=wwt
By Kwesi Yankah
