ONE CHAIR FOR YOU, ONE CHAIR FOR THEM
When taking the snack, zakale or aboda, Dzodze people would say, “An idling mouth only talks about persons,” to justify the time spent chewing any of the above maize snacks accompanied with groundnuts. Zakale is roasted maize, while aboda is boiled whole grains. Since one type of dish can be taken as lunch and dinner, people prefer a snack between breakfast and a heavy meal for dinner.
Call it idle talk, light chat, news mongering, hearsay, whispering campaigns, or gossip; it is a conversation about other people behind their backs. Though part of our social behavior, such talks are generally uncomplimentary, unkind, or untrue. Somehow, the one being talked about becomes aware of what the gossips are saying. Gossip hurts the victim’s feelings, demotivates them, and erodes their self-esteem. In such circumstances, gossip could also cause embarrassment. Rebuking an idle mouth by chewing a snack is akin to rebuking idle hands, which await employment by the devil.
This narrative is an anecdote about an incident Geswani had experienced. Several men gathered, and a strong, locally distilled gin, Akpeteshi, was served. Geswani himself never drank any alcohol but did not want an uncle of his to be drunk. He noticed that his uncle had had a turn of taking a tot of the stuff. When the butler had finished his assignment, the uncle appealed that he was not served with the drink.
Geswani objected so forcefully that his uncle was denied another turn. Of course, uncle and nephew bantered before the gathering dispersed. Each of them carried his share of anger away.
Scarcely had Geswani reached his inner compound when he complained bitterly aloud about the uncle’s behavior. At that moment, his uncle was right behind the house and retorted, “Kporfor, de nebe meno aha la godogodoa?”, meaning, “Kporfor, do you insist that I have taken the liquor?” Geswani became astonished and embarrassed, but not dumbfounded. He again defended his stand fiercely. He pointed out an apparent drunkenness in his uncle’s voice.
This incident happened in the early 1950’s. Geswani used it to counsel his children that whenever they wanted to talk about someone, they should reserve a seat for the person. His children have not departed from that advice.
