Tribal discrimination: If I’ve to choose my identity; I’ll want to be an African and Ewe – Korsi Senyo writes

I never chose to be an Ewe man, I was created an Ewe man. But if I will have a choice to come back to this earth again and to choose my identity, I will choose an African and an Ewe.

My dear Sister Dela Sikadzi

This issue of discrimination based on a tribal line is a very serious one but the reality is that this is not only against Ewes but even within ewe speaking people.

Let me share my experience with you which I never feel comfortable sharing.
I was born and bred in Somanya in the Eastern Region of Ghana where Krobo is the main language spoken. Somanya has many Ewe communities and we the Ewes speak Krobo just as the Krobos themselves. The only thing that differentiates an Ewe from a Krobo is our names.

1. Discrimination against me at Somanya.
In 2017, I divided to open a branch of my business in Somanya so I went around looking for an existing or an abandoned restaurant to lease. Fortunately, I found one which was not in an operation for over a year. I was led to the owner by a female Krobo friend who had earlier played an intermediary role and the owner had agreed to lease the property for me for a minimum of five years and I actually had two times the price she wanted. I then requested to meet the owner so we could sign the lease agreement and payment. I prepared and went to Somanya. Upon meeting the woman though I was speaking Krobo with her very well, she later got to know I am an Ewe when she saw my full name on the agreement. The name she only knew for me was Emmanuel. The woman asked “Senyo, why, are you an Ewe?” I answered yes – 100%.

The woman then said she had resolved never to do business with any Ewe. I ask what was the reason – that if she leases the property for me for the 5years, I will go and use Juju to make her forget about the property for life. I was so mad but controlled my feelings. No amount of explanation was enough to convince her to change her mind. I left but go another land nearby that I leased and started my project.

2. Discrimination against me at Ho (an Ewe land).
In 2010 after my National Service, I got an appointment to teach at St. Prosper’s College in Ho. A month into my work, i decided to rent a room close to the school. Also, a woman – An Ewe woman but an Evedome woman! The landlady refused to rent me the room because I am an Anlo man (Anlo people are from the southern part of Volta Region). Her reason was we the Anlo people like juju too much. She refused and refused.

3. In 2009, A lady at KNUST decline my love proposal because I am an Ewe man.
This lady told me to the face that I like you, you are a nice person but I will not like to date an Ewe man. In case I break up with you, You might kill me with your juju. “I was told Ewes like juju and they kill.”
And it goes on and on….. But I am not moved by the wrong perceptions people may have about my identity and what so ever the religion of my people or myself practice. My father was an African traditional spiritualist but he never killed people. He healed people.

My maternal grandparents are all African traditional spiritualists (Afa) but never thought me how to kill but how to heal people with herbs.

I am a strong believer of an African traditional region and I am a traditionalist – people can call it juju or what so ever I don’t care. What I care about is the positive impact I will make on this earth before I am called by my marker.

I never chose to be an Ewe man, I was created an Ewe man. But if I will have a choice to come back to this earth again and to choose my identity, I will choose an African and an Ewe.