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Strange Man
The life story of Old Mensa, a Ghanian civil servant and respected community member whose beautiful daughter becomes an object of scandal.
- GenresAfricaGhanaLiterature
279 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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September 2, 2021The first time, I was drawn to the writer's deep sense of humour but on my second reading, the lessons embedded in the book became more clearer...
ABOUT HUMOUR
‘ ... Now, everything is not simple, my dear boy. You see, you got into trouble this morning because you said what you felt you should say, not what everyone expected you to say. My dear boy, if you want to survive in this world, always say the things people would wish you to say or wish to hear and not what you think should be said. For example, if someone says “Good morning” to you and you think it’s bad morning, you don’t have to say “Bad morning”. If you said that, you’d be considered lunatic. My dear boy, that’s how the trouble starts until you have injustice being paraded as justice. You probably don’t understand me, but you’ll learn in good time...’
ABOUT LESSONS
‘Where did you go this afternoon during the midday break?’
‘I went to Torto’s house, sir.’
‘Did you ask permission?’
‘I thought of asking sir.’
‘Did you in fact ask?’
‘I don’t think I did, sir.’
‘Mensa, be careful! Did you or did you not?’
‘I didn’t sir.’
‘Very good! What did you have for lunch?’
‘Nothing, sir.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Very sure?’
‘So very sure, sir.’
‘Look here, Antwi has already told me everything you told him this afternoon. I know this piece of information will disappoint you and spoil your lying. You make things worse for yourself if you continue lying. Now tell me, what did you have for lunch?’
‘Rice and stew, sir,’ Mensa replied more disarmed by treachery than by the detection of lying.
‘Is that all?’
‘And rolls of sweet pancake, sir’
‘Is that all?’
‘And orange squash, sir.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Yes, sir. That’s all.’
‘What about the three pence?’
‘Which three pence, sir? The one I have in my savings wood-box?’
‘Fool! What did you collect from the place?’
‘I was not asked to collect anything, sir.’
‘Idiot! Were you not given three pence by Torto’s mother?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Where is it?’
‘Here it is, sir.’ Mensa handed the three penny piece to his master.
ABOUT HUMOUR
‘ ... Now, everything is not simple, my dear boy. You see, you got into trouble this morning because you said what you felt you should say, not what everyone expected you to say. My dear boy, if you want to survive in this world, always say the things people would wish you to say or wish to hear and not what you think should be said. For example, if someone says “Good morning” to you and you think it’s bad morning, you don’t have to say “Bad morning”. If you said that, you’d be considered lunatic. My dear boy, that’s how the trouble starts until you have injustice being paraded as justice. You probably don’t understand me, but you’ll learn in good time...’
ABOUT LESSONS
‘Where did you go this afternoon during the midday break?’
‘I went to Torto’s house, sir.’
‘Did you ask permission?’
‘I thought of asking sir.’
‘Did you in fact ask?’
‘I don’t think I did, sir.’
‘Mensa, be careful! Did you or did you not?’
‘I didn’t sir.’
‘Very good! What did you have for lunch?’
‘Nothing, sir.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Very sure?’
‘So very sure, sir.’
‘Look here, Antwi has already told me everything you told him this afternoon. I know this piece of information will disappoint you and spoil your lying. You make things worse for yourself if you continue lying. Now tell me, what did you have for lunch?’
‘Rice and stew, sir,’ Mensa replied more disarmed by treachery than by the detection of lying.
‘Is that all?’
‘And rolls of sweet pancake, sir’
‘Is that all?’
‘And orange squash, sir.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Yes, sir. That’s all.’
‘What about the three pence?’
‘Which three pence, sir? The one I have in my savings wood-box?’
‘Fool! What did you collect from the place?’
‘I was not asked to collect anything, sir.’
‘Idiot! Were you not given three pence by Torto’s mother?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Where is it?’
‘Here it is, sir.’ Mensa handed the three penny piece to his master.
June 17, 2017
Entretenida crítica de la sociedad ghanesa de los años 60 y 70. En su mayor parte narra la historia de una especie de "Oliver Twist" ghanés, especialmente los episodios con los malvados profesores y envidiosos alumnos.
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August 24, 2012Very funny and interesting. A wonderful work of satire.
March 16, 2023
Amu Djoleto captures the essence of everyday life through the eyes of Mensa. His upbringing, his ambitions, the flaws of the educational sector, the classism and subsequently the corruption present in the civil service of Ghana that can make and break a man.
This book makes for an interesting read and was impressed by the simplicity and empathetical use of words.
This book makes for an interesting read and was impressed by the simplicity and empathetical use of words.
June 9, 2022
The things you want are always possible; it is just that the way to get them is not always apparent. The only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life is you, and that can be a considerable obstacle because you carry the baggage of insecurities and past experience.
― Les Brown
― Les Brown
September 2, 2019
Awesome book. Genuine comedy. My favorite book.
July 24, 2025
a masterpiece
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews