By Isaac Ato Mensah
\nAccra \u2013 13 March, 2020<\/p>\n
The University of Ghana, Legon, has a proud history, but there is a widespread and persistent basic misunderstanding of its name.<\/p>\n
Legon, is a Ga village \u2013 it belongs to the people of La, Accra \u2013 where L\u025b\u025b, \u201ca small kind of antelope\u201d according to an old Ga dictionary, roamed its hills with its litter ahead of it.<\/p>\n
On account of this common sight, the indigenes called the environs between Okponglo and Achimota, L\u025b\u025bgon, meaning antelope hill.<\/p>\n
The University of Ghana registry, Great Hall and Vice Chancellor\u2019s residence are located on top of the hill called L\u025b\u025bgon.<\/p>\n
There is a recent reference to \u201chill of knowledge\u201d in an article published online on 3 March 2020 by Alhaji Abubakar Siddick Ahmed, station manager of Radio Univers together with Felix Odartey-Wellington and Amin Alhassan in tandfonline.com titled \u201cRadio Univers: The Story of Ghana\u2019s Pioneer Campus-Community Radio Station\u201d.<\/p>\n
The twisting of the tongue from \u201cL\u025b\u025b\u201d to \u201cLe\u201d might have occurred because back in the day, the Ga character \u201c\u025b\u201d was not common and \u201ce\u201d with an accent was used for convenience.<\/p>\n
Such convenience must have been the reason for writing the double \u201c\u025b\u201d or one \u201c\u025b\u201d in L\u025bg\u0254\u014b, which has now been corrupted to Legon.<\/p>\n
Indeed among the La people, the name La is sounded Laa by stretching the vowel \u201ca\u201d, but not necessarily doubling the vowel.<\/p>\n
Today the said antelope species L\u025b\u025b, at the site is lost.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, there is a suburb in Accra called L\u025b\u014bshi or Lenshi in present day Accra which should mean the valley of the small antelope or the abode of the \u201csmall kind antelope\u201d.<\/p>\n
This should serve as further corroboration of the origin of the name Legon.<\/p>\n
In addition, there is a proverb that references L\u025b\u025b.<\/p>\n
To wit, “L\u025b\u025b f\u0254\u0254\u0254 ni edu ts\u0254ne”, meaning that this antelope prefers that its litter go in front of it as a self defence strategy against the hunter’s traps.<\/p>\n
This is quoted by Rev E.A.W Engmann in Kpawo Kpawo, Toi Kpawo, vol 2: Kusumi (Folklore of the Ga People).<\/p>\n
Going forward, the name Legon can still be pronounced with the \u201c\u025b\u201d sound.<\/p>\n
One day we should not be surprised if a less than thorough phenomenologist conjures LEG-HORN out of LEGON!<\/p>\n
Interestingly whilst Odartey-Wellington et al. worked for the campus-community radio station and have told their story in tandfonline.com with pride, I also worked as station manager for a Ga community radio station.<\/p>\n
There, I personally moderated\/hosted the programme \u201cLATENU Indigenous Mysterious Cultural Series of Gbemi Oshe\u201d with phenomenologist Awula Naa Nii Amon (aka Dr. Gloria Amon-Vanderpuye) during which names such as Akatamanso came up for serious scrutiny.<\/p>\n
These are no trivial matters, for they have implications for who won the battle of Katamanso or Akatamanso, a name derived from Twi \u2013 and whether the \u201cA\u201d that precedes the name Akatamanso was mischievously conjured to hide the facts of the battle of (A)Katamanso.<\/p>\n
In academia, we build upon knowledge by referencing more authentic and respected authorities.<\/p>\n
This ethos should be applied to the investigation and resolution of life’s daily challenges and issues; that is how progress is made.<\/p>\n
Odartey-Wellington et al. must have taken assurances from the wide acceptance of the references to \u201chill of knowledge\u201d and \u201cgreat tower of learning\u201d in the University anthem as the meaning of Legon.<\/p>\n
Clearly, Professor Emeritus JH Kwabena Nketsia, who composed the University of Ghana anthem – in that specific instance, has shown \u201can implicit misunderstanding of the indigenous language\u201d observed my mentor.<\/p>\n
This is not an attempt to detract one iota from the excellent and colossal work done by the late professor!<\/p>\n
The references to hill of knowledge in the anthem or anywhere else for that matter, are inaccurate because the L\u025b\u025b or \u201csmall kind of antelope\u201d is a historical fact.<\/p>\n
As my mentor will say, “It is what it is”.
\nLike Odartey-Wellington et al, as a student at University of Ghana, Legon, I also heard \u201chill of knowledge\u201d, and passed it on…..until I met my mentor, who asked for \u201ca chapter and a verse\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Writers and Shakespeares Ghana Limited exist to be a moral and intellectual guide to the best practice of PR and integrated communications around the world, beginning with Ghana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"