Favourite Poems of 2012

Readers' Picks


When the War Came to Ghana by Andy Aryeetey (November 24th, 2012)
Comments on When the War Came to Ghana:

"With comical images of horror, "When the War Came to Ghana” cleverly drills at the agitation and wranglings which lurk behind Ghana’s peaceful facade. The essence of the message is everything except the endorsement of violence." - Darko Antwi

"Aryeetey is a good poet who is unafraid of telling his society what he sees in the mirror. " - Prince Mensah

"Great piece. I laughed and sighed at the realities of Ghanaian politics and life." - Bernadette Poku





The Still Small Voice by Dela Bobobee (January 21st, 2012)
Comments on A Still Small Voice:

"Dela's poem is a somber call for introspection - as individuals and as a society. It was the first poem to be featured in 2012 and made a world of impact for me by its thematic choices. We might seek the high and lofty or knock on the doors of fate and destiny but weaving through our dreams and actions is the still small voice. The voice of our conscience. The sound of our ideals. The noise of our souls. The aural essence of our spirits. 'The Still Small Voice' is a poem to be read over and over again. It is layered with meanings and laden with reminders to listen to the nudging of our higher angels. In 'The Still Small Voice', Dela Bobobee seeks to preempt a repeat of generational mistakes that have been the bane of many countries in the struggle for social progress. The poet becomes prophet, priest and propagandist for 'the still small voice'. To balance idealism with realism, Mr. Bobobee challenges his readers with another weapon: the past-
if we have done it before
then we can still do it again
Such poetry is hard to find and I definitely consider it as one of the best I have ever read on One Ghana, One Voice." - Prince Mensah

"The Still Small Voice comes from God. This is the voice that speaks to every human heart, whether sinful or righteous. "The Still Small Voice" is a prophetic poem." - Dominic Arituo

"Didactic and very African. I really enjoy not only reading [Dela's] poems but also studying them thoroughly..." - Martin Elorm Dogbo





Our President Died: A Poem for Mills by Nana Yaw Sarpong (August 9th, 2012)
Comments on Our President Died: A Poem for Mills:

"Each poem by Nana Yaw Sarpong inspires respect. "Our President Died: A Poem for Mills" is particularly sovereign, per figurative language. It threads on a plot which the average poet would consider as tightrope. When solidarity is expressed unreservedly, as this poem has, then the author’s objectivity should be praised. "
- Darko Antwi

"The tributes we received following President Mills' death were overflowing, both in their praise and their quantity. Nana Yaw Sarpong's was one of the best, most challenging, and most interesting." - Rob Taylor





Staff Picks


O! Jebu! Stared At The Beginning As Ananse Tickled Himself In The End by Novisi Dzitrie
(January 28th, 2012)
Comments on O! Jebu! Stared At The Beginning As Ananse Tickled Himself In The End:

"This poem employs mythology and legend to explain the mundane. By doing this, Novisi Dzitrie continues the ageless tradition in African cultures that teaches wisdom and knowledge through folklore. Nowadays, African poets try to sound like Western poets in their themes and techniques but a poet like Novisi is to be praised. He takes the old and makes it new. He moves ahead by connecting with the past. "O! Jebu!..." is allegory through poetic devices, a superb example of a distinctive essence in African literature - the commingling of tangibles and intangibles as a device to understand existence. " - Prince Mensah

"Novisi Dzitrie is a writer whose literature has the flair to attract obsessive public admiration. His wits are so sharp, and his imagery so refined." - Darko Antwi

"A wonderful, playful poem. It got my vote based on the title alone!" - Rob Taylor





Memories of the Electricity Company of Ghana by Kofi A. Amoako (February 4th, 2012)
Comments on Memories of the Electricity Company of Ghana:

"Kofi A. Amoako, a Toronto-based Ghanaian poet, was a wonderful new arrival here at OGOV in 2012. We featured four of his poems over the course of the year, and any one of them could have been selected here. "Memories" was his first, most playful, and perhaps most filled with love for his home country." - Rob Taylor

"I love this poem! What an insight into life in Ghana. I will be visiting soon and I hope the power is on and off when needed!" - Moira





Tapestry by Darko Antwi (November 3rd, 2012)
Comments on Tapestry:

"It was a pleasure to watch "Tapestry" develop on our site. Originally written in response to Jabulani Mzinyathi's sharp-edged poem "french conference in the drc" and posted in the comment section, we were able to watch Darko Antwi work through a number of iterations before arriving at the final poem. And what a final poem it is: simple in language and yet weaving a complicated and beautiful tapestry of languages and ideas." - Rob Taylor

""Tapestry" is a trapeze between one's native tongue and another tongue - essential for wordsmiths, important to seekers of wisdom. We really do not know this wide world until we understand it in another person's language." - Prince Mensah



2 comments:

Unknown said...

GREAT EZINE THIS. MAY WE HAVE MORE THOUGHT PROVOKING STUFF IN 2013 AND BEYOND. GOOD TO KNOW THAT I INSPIRED A BROTHER TO COME UP WITH A POEM THAT GOT SOME ACCLAIM.

Dela Bobobee said...

Let me start by giving my ‘Compliments of the Season’ to you all, my fellow OGOV members and all all frequent visitors to the site. Happy New Year! I also wish to express my special appreciation to the editorial crew of OGOV for publishing the current Favourite Poems of 2012. The compilation and comment sections are quite new struck and very rich. The commentators did great jobs in their various levels of analysis and criticism which actually give the poems under review new interpretations that deserve commendation. My special thanks go to Rob Taylor, and other frequent reviewers like Prince Mensah, Snr. Poet Darko Ankwi, Dominic Arituo, and the rest. I must admit that, although I feel a little home-sick with the temporary absence of my favourite, LS Mensah from OGOV, I take delight in the fact that I was aware of it beforehand, and also accept that just like me, everyone needs a break once in a while.

Indeed I must agree that 2012 had been quite exciting and very sombre in its own special way; such as President Mills' shocking death, its aftermath, and the successful conduction of Ghana’s 2012 General Election in December. I also thank God that, the still small voice in each and every one of us has whispered the right words into our hearts. Well, this is a new year and so we must leave all the bitter experiences behind but must also not fail to learn from the challenges of our individuals defeats and failures, even if the new year started n a sour note when our beloved Black Stars of Ghana somehow failed to give us yet another cause of jubilation during the just concluded African Cup of Nations AFCON Games. However, I am very sure that we all are indeed looking forward to new exciting developments on OGOV within this New Year 2013. Thanks.