Ku dedi (death!, leave her)………A True Story

Ku dedi (death!, leave her)………A True Story

In Ewe culture, names carry significant meaning. They are often prophetic, prayers, warnings, pieces of advice or fulfillments of prophecies. When the Ewes name someone, it reflects either the fulfillment of a prophecy or a prayer for something great and tangible to happen.

This is a true Story. Over 80 years ago, one of my grandparents faced a significant challenge. In those days, a male child was considered a thing of pride so not having one was a cause for concern. He faced a double misfortune: not only was he without male children, but his children were dying shortly after birth. The first child passed away, the second followed, and then the third.

Then it came to pass that Papa Gbadago Kunkpe’s wife became pregnant again. Considering the family’s predicament, something prophetic happened. People gathered in the house and started hooting at death. What were they saying? They hooted in the Ewe Anlo language: “Ku dedi, Ku dedi, Ku dedi” (to wit: Death, put her down. Death, not this one. Death, not again. Death, leave her).

Thanks be to God, she survived. It didn’t stop there; as she grew up, people would see her and start hooting again: “Ku dedi, Ku dedi, Ku dedi.” This became her native name from birth.

Today, as I write, she is still alive after 80 years of this incident. Not only did she survive, but she also grew up to become a trained teacher, headmistress, and mother of four biological children, and she cared for many others, including me.

Ku dedi (death!, leave her)………A True Story

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Growing up in Anlo Afiadenyigba from the age of 10 until I became a young man, I spent a significant part of my life under her care.

I am writing this to emphasize the point that words indeed have power. The words spoken concerning you have the ability to manifest in your life. You will eventually become the words spoken concerning you.

In all your endevours, always associate yourself with healthy and positive words. No wonder the Bible says: set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips Ps 141:3. Pro 18: 21 says life and death lies in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eats its fruit.

Ku dedi (death! leave her) ………A True Story

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This a poem I put together to convey my point and to celebrate my auntie

Ku dedi

Death, you planned,

Death, you snatched,

And you kept snatching.

But hope was alive,

Gbadago and Kunor kept going,

Despite your relentless grasp.

Then another arrived,

And the people said, “No,

Not again, not this one.”

You are good at taking,

But they hooted at you,

“Not this one,

Not again, Ku dedi,

Ku dedi, Ku dedi.”

You have done your worse

Behold the prophecy,

Behold the courage to speak,

And it came to pass.

Eighty years and counting,

She is still alive,

Ku dedi and death, you lost

Seth Kunkpe

I ask for good health and strength for my auntie and a happy Mother’s Day to Auntie Edith Kudedi Kunkpe.

For the love of God, society and nations

Blessings in JESUS’ NAME.

Seth Agbeli Kunkpe

Pen From Afar……writing to make things Right