Page 28 of Choosing the Chief

“OK,” Senya says with a nod. “How do we know she has not left his compound and told someone else? If even the butler knows, the village knows.”

Kofi places his elbow on the arm rest and leans his head against his closed fist. He gives Senya an annoyed look. “Do you think me a fool, Senya? I have been king for almost 11 years, and contrary to what you believe, I do not need your plans to rule.”

“Aane,” Senya replies in Twi with a dismissive hand wave. “That is all fine. But what protocol did you put in place for this? Instead of me babysitting in Paris, I could have been of greater service here!”

At that I sit up and interject. “Baby sitting? Besides the fact that I needed no security and certainly not a babysitter, you did nothing but eat and fuck Parisian women. It was a vacation for you.”

Senya raises his hand. “I meant no harm. I agree with you. Kofi insisted I accompany you.”

Kofi looks at me from the corner of his eyes. “I did. Mostly because I did not know if you would hop on your jet with Maya and head back to Atlanta. The Paris trip was sudden.”

I pause and think about what he said. “That makes sense. You had no reason to believe I would return to Accra. Continue your squabble.”

Kofi smirks and sits up, placing his elbow on his knees.

“Senya, I gave the concubine a phone two months ago. I told her when the old man meets the ancestors, she is to call me immediately and do nothing else until I, the king, tell her to. My number is the only number programmed in the device.”

Senya nods his approval and turns around. He pulls out his phone and starts making calls, commanding various people in Twi. He seems satisfied. The two of them act like brothers more than king and servant. Their relationship is an enigma. He is the only man I know who can question Kofi’s moves without consequence.

I turn to Kofi. “Am I really the chief, just like that?” I snap my fingers for effect.

“Yes, you are next of kin and the question of succession has been settled. We will have a formal installation ceremony of course where the other ten chiefs will bless you. But as of this moment, you lead Tafo, our largest Ashanti village. The people will look to you for leadership immediately after I make the announcement today.”

“How will you announce?”

“In the traditional method. I will call all the elders and each man of every household that will come to the chieftain compound and sing his soul over to the ancestors. I will then announce you as his successor, blessing your head with oil. Then you and I will prepare the body for burial. This will take all day and night; that is the only reason I sent Maya away.” He places his hand on my shoulder and gently shakes. “I can tell you want her with you.”

“I do. I feel like she is the missing piece that brings all of this into focus. She helped bridge the gap between grandfather and me. She believes I’m worthy and capable of love. She also believes I could lasso the moon for her if I so desired. A woman like Maya comes once in a chief’s lifetime; I need her.”

“I understand, brother. Until Ella came, I just went through the motions of life. Now, everything I do, even my reign, has deeper purpose.” He smiles and shakes my shoulder again. Well, I am afraid I am a poor substitute for Maya. But I will not leave your side. You are prepared for this. Trust me.”

Senya turns back around and looks at Kofi’s hand on my shoulder and then at me before he speaks.Do I detect some jealousy in his eyes?Maybe he’s afraid I will take his spot at Kofi’s side. He shouldn’t worry; I’m no one’s sidekick. “If you two are finished with your family reunion, please notice we are arriving. We must hurry to his compound and begin all rites and communications right away. We do not want any jackal thinking he can appoint himself chief. If Adom’s position is not established quickly, some are sure to try.”

I turn to Kofi. “Someone can do that?”

He nods. “Yes. If you do not move to consolidate power, they may claim you are illegitimate. We must cement your status quickly.”

When we arrive, everything happens very swiftly. I go inside my grandfather’s home and see him still lying in bed. The concubine did not even close his eyes. I do that for him. I am grateful that at least I had the chance to do something for him at the end. He is an ancestor now. I know he feels my spirit and knows my heart as I stand there with his body. It is about an hour before anyone interrupts me.

Kofi joins me first. “Are you ready? The council is here, and I am about to announce you.” He removes the chief’s signet ring from my grandfather’s right hand and places it on mine. We clutch hands and look each other in the eye.

I clasp my free hand over his, cementing our bond in Ashanti leadership and blood before speaking my mind,“When a chief has good counselors, his reign is peaceful.”

Chapter Seventeen

Tension

Maya

Chief Adom Annan is a busy man. In the past week, I have slept in the same bed with my new boyfriend one out of seven nights. I try not to complain; however, it’s starting to bother me. Every day, there is a new problem for him to solve or a conflict that needs resolution. Today’s problem involves two cellphone salesmen fighting over the exclusive use of the word “flash” in their advertisements. The tactics of this “flash war” come in the form of pranks. The latest one was the use of shoe polish to black out a rearview mirror. For that stunt, my man left our warm bed at 10 p.m. last night and I have not seen him since.

I cannot imagine Adom’s late grandfather, Chief Yao Asante, intervened on matters so trivial. He did not strike me as a man that spent his precious time on such low stakes. But Adom is driven by his desire to be better than his grandfather. Between wanting to prove himself an acceptable chief and the Tafo villagers testing his boundaries, he is being worn very thin. It’s time for an intervention. Lucky for Adom, I learned from the best on how to conduct one.

I’m eating lunch in the dining room when Adom finally returns home. He looks spent. He has as serious five o’ clock shadow and heavily hooded eyes. He is also only wearing a Kente cloth and sandals. He has taken to this look lately, stating that is what Ashanti chiefs wear.Yeah, if they are 70 years old and sit in their compound all day!On the other hand, Adom is a modern chief and a businessman. He must carve out his own reign. He gives me a half smile as he flops into a chair. Adom Annan, the chief of manners and propriety, flopped onto a piece of furniture!This is getting out of hand.

I glare at him over the rim of my coffee cup as a I take a sip. This calls for a direct approach.

“Adom, what are you wearing?”

---