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Editors-in-Chief
Tanitoluwa Olamiji Adebayo
Nyameye ‘Kiki’ Akumia
Writers
Fridah Cheboi, Kerzia Ocansey,
Immanuel Ifeanyi Jibunoh, Fouvle Nkrumah ,
Afua Saawah Othcere-Mensah, Joshua
Chiefo-Ejiofobiri, Kimberly Taj Mashanga
Layout Editor
Janet Boye
Editor
Deborah Benning
Graphic Design
Senam Dzomeku
Photography
Ronelle Cudjoe
Social Media
Bernice Arthur
Adelaide Nunekpeku
This came very late. I apologize. But in our defense, last semester was BORING! Did anything of note happen?
That’s what I thought.
So... we turned the microscope into ourselves and our thoughts in search of something for this issue. There are some emotional pieces, some introspective, some controversial.
We hope you read and you enjoy and you have conversations.
yours tiredly,
Editor-in-Chief
TANITOLUWA ADEBAYO (EDITOR IN CHIEF) AUGUST 12, 2024
At time of writing, it has been exactly four months since I wrote the first review. In those four months, we never got an apology [see The Ink Issue #2 for context], but I was never particularly optimistic about that. I almost didn’t write this sequel but, in an almost poetic fashion, another encounter with the provost sparked a new wave of thought.
It was the first of August, 2024, during the famous community lunch, when I saw her [the provost] humbly serving us food. I had already been waiting for forever so I made nothing of it but as we got closer, I noticed she was repeating something over and over to whoever would listen.
“Do you want to know why we’re doing this?” she’d begin. “We want to thank you for hanging in there. We know it was a difficult semester but you made it.”
On the surface, yes, these are very encouraging words. It can be very validating to hear someone acknowledge your struggle. Ironically I’m not here to shoot the message I’m here to shoot the messenger.
Dear Provost,
This semester was exceptionally boring.
I’d be lying if I said I think of Ashesi University as a lost symphony of creativity, leadership, and shared dreams. At its core, Ashesi is a university. Like any other university, there’s an expected variance to the kinds of students it accepts. There are the passionate game changers, the kind of people the staff would like you to think we can all become The nonchalant time-wasters, the kind of people the staff would like you to avoid becoming. Then there’s the wide array of people in the middle constantly fighting the tradeoff between passion and discipline because whatever they’re majoring in here isn’t particularly motivating. Who can blame us? When I was applying to Ashesi in 2021, there were only six majors to pick from and half of them were in engineering The classroom has always felt like a stage. For some they get to perform their dreams, for others their dreams are decided for them. What I will say was that Ashesi has always had a unique way of handling the students on the outskirts of idealism.
The school wasn’t just the classroom, so it wasn’t just the stage. It was the campus parties, the open fields, the clubs, and sports and other countless activities that brought us together. But now, the music has stopped, and all that remains is a monotonous note of academic drudgery.
I can’t speak for all clubs, but it doesn’t take clairvoyance to see how apathetic people are growing and may continue to grow towards extracurricular activities. I am the president of two clubs (Storytellers and Ashesi CrewDX), alongside being assistant Editor-in-Chief for The Ink. I recently joined the Public Relations committee for the Ashesi Basketball Association. I say these things not to flex but rather to say that the lack of enthusiasm feels more like an epidemic than an exception to the rule
The clubs are now withered plants in an abandoned garden. The sense of purpose that came from doing more than just passing exams, has been replaced with a hollow emptiness A hollow emptiness that comes from the fact that all we have now to do is to pass exams.
We’ve had a lackluster All-Star weekend, a rushed Purple Room, no performances from CrewDX, applying to be a writing tutor proved unsuccessful, Ustun came and went pretty quickly. No one feels as invested in maintaining their outlets.
People are giving up!.
What has replaced the once vibrant culture? A relentless, unforgiving grind – and we don’t even get paid. Learning is now a marathon with no finish line, a race that offers no respite, no moment to catch one’s breath. Even Olympic swimmers pause to drink water, but we don’t Instead, we are locked in a battle to complete assignments, to pass quizzes, to keep our heads above water in a sea of expectations that threaten to drown us.
This exam season I had a final project due Friday, a final paper due the Saturday right after, another final project due on Sunday for which I would have to prepare a presentation for Monday and then write a sit-in exam on Tuesday. Admittedly this was an exception to the rule. I’m not saying this to garner pity but there’s no point rehashing all the technical ways in which this summer semester was a mistake We can all feel it I can’t preach now, I can only rant
In a university that prides itself on fostering leaders, we are reduced to participants in an academic rat race. The joy of learning has been sacrificed on the altar of The Schedule
What was this sacrifice for? To make room for a new cohort of freshmen this September? The high school timeline remains off-kilter, and the freshmen might not be arriving in September after all. This was out of the university’s control, but it feels like a blow to the stomach regardless.
I hope that I’m blind to all the ways this was supposed to be beneficial. I hope, come January, I’ll be able to look back on 2024 fondly. I hope it was worth it and my rants are the misguided anger of a young adult too caught up in his frustration. It’s getting harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re definitely not out of the tunnel yet
Contrary to optimistic belief, this third semester will also be an accelerated semester as we usually start late august but this time we’re beginning early September At time of writing, I still haven’t written my final exam It is 12th August So to all those in the future reading this, I hope the three week break was enough.
Next semester, I’m going to have to pretend this semester didn’t happen I’m going to have to pretend that in less than a year, I’ve been turnedfrom an academic weapon into an academic sloth. I’m going to have to pick myself up and just
move on. Come June of 2025, I would have done five semesters consecutively with no more than a month break between them.
Come June of 2025, I would have done five (5) semesters consecutively with no more than a month break between them.
What is the long-term impact? What happens to the swarm of students who are being subconsciously taught that their worth is measured not by their curiosity or their creativity but by their ability to endure unnecessary suffering? The mental and emotional toll is already visible – it’s no wonder it’s a concern that the quality of students is reducing. We weren’t set up to fail, but our success doesn’t feel like the biggest priority when quality of learning and teaching is thrown away for The Schedule.
In the end, it’s not about whether we get an apology It’s about whether the university is willing to take a hard look at what has been lost and what needs to be done to restore it. It’s about whether Ashesi is willing to live up to the promise of being more than just another university.
We deserve more than this We deserve an environment that doesn’t just push us to survive but encourages us to thrive. We deserve the apology we never got – but more importantly, we deserve a change that ensures we never have to ask for one again We deserve to be heard, not in the superficial way it’s been done so far We need to go from one-sided complaints to an open conversation. I fear it’s too late though. We might not be able to talk ourselves out of this one.
In a lot of ways, the provost was right It was a difficult semester, and we did make it But, once again, I’m not here to shoot the message. I just hope the messenger sees this.
By Tani
Our evening moments outside your hall The light from the hall hits your face from the best angle. Your honey brown skin glows. A contrast to the night. The breeze feels like a light wool sweeping my bald head. You let a laugh slip through the facade of your frown and my mind freezes. The aforementioned light reflects in your eyes.
"You look so beautiful", I say You don't hear me. My words are dissolved in your laugh and the muffled shouts of people playing table tennis downstairs.
"You look you are so beautiful" You hear me this time. You make this face that suggests you don't believe me- your tongue comes out and you show the whites of your eyes; its a half weird, all beautiful.
I motion for a hug and you oblige My eyes are closed I feel like I'm wrapped in a duvet. Or near a fireplace. Or like I've drank some hot chocolate on a very cold day. I wish this could last forever. I've missed the smell of you. You smell familiar. You smell like home. That's a lot abstract. But I mean you evoke a sense of safety. A " you can be yourself" space
I pull out of the hug- a bit reluctantly, but I can't be hugging a non single girl for 5 minutes.
"Goodnight", I say with a smile and a tinge of sadness
"Good morning" Ah Yes It's 12:01 I hold my hand out and you hold it and squeeze it. We go our separate ways. You walk towards the white lights of your hall, and I walk towards mine in relative darkness.
Perhaps, one day, you'd know just how much I love you
By Tani
Tani: Hello! Who are you?
Mizzy: My name is Ademide Mubarak Adebanjo, but my nickname, or what I go by most of the time, is Mizzy. Some people call me Mide.
Tani: You're in first year How has Ashesi been so far? What were your expectations? What was the reality?
Mizzy: I think it's been interesting. All throughout high school, you watch films of college life, so you get this perception about parties, large amounts of alcohol abuse, and a little drug abuse mixed there
Tani: Yeah. Work hard. Play hard.
Mizzy: Yeah, but for Ashesi, I knew it was very intense academically. So that side stayed through. But I remember having a conversation with one of my friends - he's also a freshman, and this was somewhere around mid-sem last semester [semester 2 in 23/24]- and he said, 'bro, uni is a scam. They lied to us. This is nothing like the movies!' And I feel like that's something that sums up the entire experience. It's been interesting, but it's nothing like the movies.
Tani: Yeah I can relate to that Why do you think that is, though?
Mizzy: I think that, first of all, Ashesi is quite small. We are about a thousand five hundred and five students on campus If you work hard enough, you can get to know everyone on campus And so, people are obsessed with their image. Their steeze. They don't want to do crazy or fun things because they think somebody is watching them.
Tani: Well… unless doing crazy and fun things is your vibe, I guess
Mizzy: Exactly. They don't want to break the character they feel they've been set into because they think it would spread around the school quote quickly. And, you know, the thing that allows people to break that character.
Tani: It's usually alcohol
Mizzy: Exactly! And it's been banned in school. So people conform to who they think they should be, and very rarely do you see them stepping outside of that box It gets repetitive really easy
Tani: Hmm. But I'm not sure that explains why people don't show up to school events. Or why parties are dead.
Mizzy: Yeah So that's the thing I have this thing I do It's like the separation of self Me at an event is not me. That's just me at an event. So even when events are there, you ' re supposed to have fun. I can't dance, but you'd probably see me dancing. And if you say, 'Oh, this guy can't dance,' I wouldn't care because I'm at a party. But now, take people who can't dance, attend these parties, and then they stand there because they are shy. They don't want people to see them not being able to dance. The ones I don't even understand are people who know how to dance but don't dance
Tani: Maybe they're scared of going viral You know, everyone is with their phones.
Mizzy: I think that that's actually a very good point. I think one thing that has really damaged party culture is social media. Because at a party before, if there's no camera or anything, whatever happens at the party happens there, and it's just stuck in memory. But now, you'd think, ' Hey, it's just a party,' till you see yourself on someone ' s story the next morning. And then they’ll post it at the end of the month in their monthly dump, and then they'd post it again next year and then say it was one year ago today.
Tani: Yeah. And the internet does not forget.
Mizzy: It does not forget
Tani: Yeah. Speaking of separation of self. You are involved in many things like football, and you ' re a tutor; I'm not sure if it's official or unofficial, but you ' re almost everywhere So, how do you find time to be everywhere and still be yourself and have time for yourself?
Mizzy: I think that you need to identify who you are first. It's difficult to do many things and search for who you are because that's time-intensive If you don't know who you are, you should focus on yourself and search for who you are. Figure out what you like, what you don't like, and what your goals are. I enjoy reading, for example, and listening to music. So, if I can open my phone and read a few pages between all the activities I've been doing, I have gotten some ' me time ' It can rebalance me In between classes, you might see me reading. Even in class, I might be reading. That's my ' me time'. So I think that if you know who you are and what you like, you'll know how to fit it into your schedule to do plenty of things.
Tani: Just thinking of all the activities you ' re involved in, maybe you don't need parties to have a fulfilling college experience. What do you think of that?
Mizzy: You don't need parties to have a fulfilling one, but you would need parties to have a wholesome one Like to have that entire college experience College is supposed to be the last time of your life before you officially become an adult. So you should be able to let loose and have fun; parties are crucial to that. It's crucial to have the space to make mistakes. By the time you become an adult, a mistake is significantly worse than when you are a child So, it is crucial for us to have that room to make mistakes. For example, to take alcohol and get drunk and realize you don't like the feeling and you ' re not doing alcohol again.
Tani: I guess you can do that, just not on campus.
Mizzy: Yes, but it's still crazy because… honestly, I have had a conversation with a lot of people, and the alcohol thing, for example, forces a fake sense that people believe in what the school is doing. You may ban alcohol on campus and off-campus residences. Once it's vacation, you'd see people still with alcohol because they're not drinking to conform to the rules, but they haven't been changed.
Tani: I think the reason wasn't to change anyone, but was more because -well, what I heard- they allowed alcohol for a while, but alcohol makes people behave in ways that are not super safe, so they were like, 'fine. No alcohol'
Mizzy: Okay. I think that's valid as well.
Tani: So you ' ve been here for a year… It's not even a year. It's like seven months. Crazy. What would you say are some things about Ashesi culture? The ones that you like, the ones that you don't like. For example, Ashesi culture is showing up to an event because there is free food and not even remembering what the event is about.
Mizzy: Yeah Ashesi culture is also very much fake.
Tani: Lots of people say that. Why do you think that is? I think there are some genuine people here
Mizzy: Oh yeah. Deffo. But I think that the general public is fake. There is this sentiment of 'herh, I'm failing the course oo. I don't know what is going on in class oo ' Then at the end of the semester, you guys are not in the same boat They are doing better than you I don't understand why. Because if you understand the material, just say you understand. You are not forced to help anybody. If you want to help, you can help. But if you just say, 'Yeah, I'm doing okay I don't understand why you guys are complaining.' That's also fine.
Tani: I guess people don't want to be ostracized. Or maybe that's just me. But you get this idea that if people see you in some way, they will find you less relatable
Mizzy: I actually get that a lot because I skipped a year at a point in my life. So, I was the youngest in my class in high school. So I know what you mean. You can't come off as too smart, but it doesn't mean you should be dishonest I come off as smart, for example I don't always understand what's going on, but I put in the effort to understand later on. How do I become more relatable? I teach. Right? If I feel I'm confident enough in it, I will teach. Not only does it benefit you, but it benefits me because now I am going over what I have learned I have to restructure the information I have processed into a way for it to make sense to you. And if I can make it make sense to you on an exam paper, I can make it make sense to my lecturer. It's one thing to take information and understand it, but it's another to give it back in a way that makes sense If you do this, you would still be relatable. Even if you are smart, smartness doesn't cut across every field. You can be the most intelligent person in the school and you get onto the football pitch, and you ' re ass
Tani: Word
Mizzy: And it shows people that you ' re human too. But people are afraid of being anything but mediocre They want to be mediocre where they are excellent and mediocre where they are bad And they forget that life has these ups and downs. Be good at the things you ' re good at. Let people know. Be bad at the things you ' re bad at. You're a human being.
Tani: Have you had any low points? Or you can't remember?
Mizzy: It's not that I haven't had any low points, but I feel like nothing is ever as bad as it was in that moment
Tani: Yeah… like it's never that deep.
Mizzy: It's never that deep. And I think I came with that mentality because there are things I have been through that I didn't think I'd get through, but I got through them. So it's the mentality I have whenever things are shit, really. I mean, the end of last semester was hell. There were so many projects going on. So many submissions to make. And I just told myself that I'd make it through it, and in the next month, I'd be like, 'Last month I was dying oo, ' but I'd survive
Tani: Do you miss school when you ' re not in school?
Sometimes I do. I miss the grind, and then when the grind starts, I'm like, 'shit, I'd rather be doing nothing.'
Mizzy: It's not the grind for me I miss the serenity I grew up in Lagos. There's always something going on. I'm okay with that, but it's exhausting having to keep track of everything. Ashesi is quite boring. That makes it peaceful, and who doesn't like peace?
Tani: What if Ashesi was bigger?
Mizzy: I don't think that's possible, even if we have the physical resources. There would be a dilution. Ashesi has very strong core values that it tries to teach. The smaller the people in Ashesi, the easier it is to pass those values, but as more people get in, it would dilute.
Tani: Okay. I guess one last question. You're a pretty confident guy, and from some of the submissions we ' ve gotten and from conversations, I get this kind of vibe that there are many awkward people at Ashesi, and they'd like to be more confident, but they don't know how. What advice would you give to someone if they wanted to be more confident?
Mizzy: Let me add a little context before I give my answer. I am very introverted. I'd tell people this, and they'd call me a liar. And we must realize that being introverted does not mean you ' re shy. I'm introverted, but I used to be shy. But when you see the thing you want badly taken from you and given to someone else because you didn't speak up and their voice is louder than you, you will eventually learn that sometimes, regardless of how you feel in a situation, even if you don't feel confident, you should still speak up and say 'I want it' because there's a chance that it'll be given to you I think that's what it is When you realize that you want something, you do it You fake it till you make it I cried the first time I ever stood in front of a crowd - I think it was for a debate. That's how bad it was. I cried, and they had to take me off the stage because I couldn't do it. And I tell people this story, and they say I'm lying because now you can see me stand in front of a crowd and speak confidently After all, I faked it till I made it. I told myself, 'Regardless of how you feel. We have to do this.
Mizzy: And it's the same for confidence Even if you don't think you ' re that confident Fake it The human mind is very fickle. You fake something long enough. If you lie to yourself well enough, you'll forget it's a lie. So if you keep telling yourself, 'I'm confident,' you’ll eventually believe that you are confident till eventually you are confident. Your internal nature doesn't change I still sometimes lock myself in my room because people drain me I have a large social battery, but they still drain me. There's a goal I want to reach, and I know the steps I have to take to get there. So, I won't let my emotions stop me from doing what I feel I have to do. It's the same for you. If you want to be confident or have ‘aura’, you must live like you have ‘aura’ Watch people that you believe have that aura Mimic what they do Don't just mimic it on the surface. Ask yourself why they do the things they do. If you understand the reason, then try and mimic it. You do it enough times, then it becomes a habit. Then, people who weren't there at the start of your journey would see you and try and mimic you as well That's how life works People forget where you ' re coming from, but you know where you ' re coming from and where you want to go.
Submitted on 6/29/24, 9:37PM:
ByFridahCheboi
Submitted on 6/29/24, 9:37PM: “Nothing scares me more than the fact that the girls know that the AJC will be on their side if it is against a boy. And they know they have this secret weapon even if it is not warranted. A weapon they can use to punish you for something else under the guise of harassment.”
While this sentiment is obviously not true, I understand why many (male) students feel this way. To explain it please allow me to tell you a story. In Kenya, you say “story come ” when I say, “Story? Story?”
Okay? Lets do this.
“Story? Story?”
I like the sound of that! Lets add some pizzazz to it. Say it out louud please!
“Story? Story?”
“200,000 years ago, the Earth was a veery, very different place from what we know and see today.
She, the earth, was cold. Very cold. Colder than Ashesi’s AJC committee.
Modern society calls this period the Pleistocene Epoch/ the Ice Age.
You see, she was covered in laaarge sheets of ice. And her children, Human beings, lived alongside mammoths and giant sloths.
They, humans, were just learning how to make spoons and forks from bones and stones. They covered their fragile crotches with skin and leaves like Tarzan, the only difference is that they didnt live and sleep in trees. Instead man slept in bougie caves. With neutral colours and natural light. His walls were adorned with curated drawings of charcoal and stony scratches that added to the aesthetic of man ’ s dwelling. He had a beautiful backyard, with a lovely fire pit, that screamed “luxury”.
Men, in this very early times, possessed greater physical strength than women obviously. They hunted and fought off, mammoths. Yes mammoths and saber-toothed tigers like the ones from the 2002 Ice-Age movie. Women on the other hand, gathered and took care of their children.
Assuming this story is true, man ’ s role as a protector and provider put him a position higher than that of a woman since the beginning of time.
And if Adam and Eve’s story is one to go by, then perhaps the evolutionary one is a possible truth. It was natural that man assumed the positions of authority. And perhaps, just perhaps, it still is.
Nonetheless, man in his inherently flawed nature, used his physical strength to exert control over woman. And part of it, were acts of sexual violence.
In response to the threat of sexual violence and coercion women began to develop cautious behaviours as survival mechanisms. They became selective with their interactions forming alliances with other women and men who could protect them. Do you ever wonder why girls prefer to grind on each other in clubs and parties than on guys who may be their friends? Well if not, then now you know why. �� {Here is another secret. Today you get a bonus one for reading this much. It is always about safety. We, women, feel much safer around other women cause of these societal, cultural and perhaps evolutionary conditionings. So, my guys, if you really genuinely like someone, perhaps start with not scaring them away? Try getting past these walls we have built to keep off predators, yeah?}
The formation of agrarian societies further exacerbated these mechanisms, making women to be more cautious. Somewhere along the line, man convinced himself that he was better than woman. For a long time, his civilised society put him on the public and economic spheres and the woman was told “Kaa nyumbani ulee!” == “Stay at home and raise them children!”
You see this is how my people made money. They didn’t go to school and then get paying jobs, no. Instead, they sharpened knives and attacked other people’s houses in exchange for money. Money here being the stollen cows if you are following.
Back and forth they went. Men fighting each other for money/cattle/food/brideprice/dignity/livelihood (ie. Modern day work-life balance)
Like the nyasi (grass) that suffers when ndovu (elephants) fight women always bore the consequences of these battles. These women and their children were taken as spoils of war, dragged alongside the cattle to their new homes.
They would then be lined up alongside their daughters and forced to perform lewd dances to entertain the winning warriors. They were used as objects of pleasure infront of their young sons and daughters.
Eventually, these women, my great great grandmothers, hatched an ingenious solution. Clitoridectomy. A procedure they performed on each other to protect themselves from the imbicile champions of war. They would tear their clits as a survival mechanism, a means to preserve and protect their dignity. Eventually, it became a part of life, a rite of passage. An initiation that if not for luck, time and enlightenment I would be preparing to take. 1 2 3
At this point of the story, I would like to take a small detour. A trip to Kenya. Just briefly though then we will be back.
The Kalenjins of Kenya, are a nilotic group of people who migrated from the Nile valley (present-day Sudan and Egypt.. Learn your geophraphy man. I can't explain everything!)
These Kalenjins, were pastoralists (Pastoralists are people who keep animals - seriously I am done explaining yawaa).
Cattle was and still is the livelihood of kalenjins.
We eat and drink them.
It is our currency and our identity. If you dont have a cow and you are kalenjin, you are a nobody.
And if you have hundreds of them, you are a Elon Musk. A billionaire.
Kalenjin men, exchanged and still exchange women for cows. If you are beautiful, tall and strong, you got more cows. Your value as a woman was proportional to the number of cows your husband would bring to your father.
Anyway that's not the point of this sub-story. This sub-story is about Clitoridectomy. It is said that the warring tribes of the Pokot and Marakwet fought tooth and nail. They, in their terribly dark and coarse skins, and their tall and slender gaits, would ran after each other with forks, spears and arrows.
They would then thrust their dusty blades into each others souls and tear them apart. All this, for a bunch of extra cows. Imagine that.
The point I am trying to drive at with this long narration about the Kalenjin and my evolution story, is that Ashesi is trying to fix a problem One that has long existed in society It may feel a little stifling and sometimes unnecessarily exaggerated. But sometimes, it takes unpleasant things to make life better. My country folk would say Ashesi “imechachisha hii story” == “Made a big deal unnecessarily”.
Thing is, Ashesi needs to do this, before we can get to a point where men protect women truly and honestly And if my wonderful and beautiful story has taught you anything (not even a new swahili word or two) then “itabidi umevumilia” == “go google this one”. We will get there.
Yours,
Fridah Cheboi
B Y T H E I N K
TheUSTUNawardsstartedlikeanyotherstudentorganisedevent atAshesi.Thevenuelookedexcellent.Foranight,theopen theatreoutsidethehivewastransformed.Theredcarpetwas rolledout.Thelights-green,white,andsometimesred-were brightandbeautiful.Themusic-thesameoldpopularafrobeator amapianosongs-wereinfulldisplay.Andlastly,noonewas around....
Thelateness,though,didn’thaveaneffectonwhatwasa memorablenightofcelebrationforAshesi’spremierathletes.In thissegment,wewouldberevealingsomeofyourthoughts-yes, youreader!-onwhodeservedtowinandwhodidn’t.Wewould alsobeshowingthebestoutfitsthatthechampionsgraceduswith
Sport s biggest night brought together a wide array of people and with that a dazzling array of style icons, each in stunning ensembles that made heads turn. From jaw-dropping glam to laid-back cool, the night was a feast for the eyes and a reminder that style and sports go hand in hand.
In this edition of our "Best Dressed" list, we’re spotlighting the looks that stole the show. Whether they went all out or kept it effortlessly chic, these style icons knew how to make a statement. So, let’s dive into the fashion highlights from a night where the competition wasn’t just on the field, but on the red carpet too!
Let’s be real most guys play it safe with the usual suit and tie, but this outfit? It’s in a league of its own The textured brown pullover instantly gives off that oldmoney, academia vibe, like he just stepped out of a classic campus setting, but with a modern twist Paired with those sharp white trousers, it’s a look that says, “I know how to dress without trying too hard ” The black belt adds just the right amount of polish, keeping it all pulled together, while the sunglasses casually perched on top bring a hint of mystery. This outfit is proof that you don’t need to go the traditional route to make a statement. It’s cool, confident, and just a little bit different in the best way possible.
Pfungwa stepped onto the red carpet in a cream suit that was the epitome of power and elegance. The tailored jacket, with its sharp lines and impeccable fit, highlighted her confident presence, while the matching trousers offered a sleek and sophisticated silhouette. Paired with a simple yet classic pair of black heels, her look was a masterclass in understated glamor. The neutral tones of the suit allowed her natural poise and authority to shine through, making it clear that she knows how to command attention without saying a word Nothing says “most awarded woman” quite like a power suit, and Pfungwa’s choice was a perfect blend of style and strength With minimal accessories and a subtle makeup look, she let the ensemble speak for itself a testament to her success, confidence, and sophistication
What makes this outfit particularly n oteworthy is its simplicity. It speaks for itself.
The all-black ensemble is effortlessly chic, combining elegance with a hint of edginess. The fitted corset top perfectly accentuates her figure, adding a touch of sophistication, while the layered skirt brings a textured, playful element to the look. The way she’s styled it, with minimal accessories and classic black heels, allows the outfit to shine through, showcasing her unique fashion sense.
She was easily the best dressed of the night. While most people played it safe in black, she chose this vibrant blue dress that really stood out. The color looked amazing on her skin, giving her a glow that made you take notice. The cut of the dress was classic and elegant, with a strapless design that showed off her shoulders in a subtle, sophisticated way
What really made her look special was how it all came together her vibe, her composure, and the way she stuck to the theme without overdoing it She didn’t need anything over-the-top to make an impression The dress, the color, and the way she carried herself all worked perfectly together, making her the standout of the night in the best way possible
B Y T H E I N K
BY FRIDAH CHEBOI
Submittedon6/29/24,9:40PM:
“Ask her to record an audio of her giving consent to have sex with her with the date and time and everything. If she says no, my nigga run, run like your mom ’ s life depends on it.”
A lot of students on campus, both male and female, are going about with unpopular, unpleasant opinions about ethics, consent, and other aspects of life.
We have bottled up these notions and ideas into caskets that we have buried in the back of our minds. Having done this, we go ahead and put up a front A false front One that wears a smiling mask that says, “Yeah. We are on the same page.”
Some of us are holding our breaths. Long enough until we graduate and safely leave Ashesi. The plan is that once we are out there, we will then allow ourselves to be our true expressive selves. The ink magazine itself filters out a lot of these opinions, hiding them at the back of its backlog, just like many of you out here
You fear that if you lived a little. That if you dared to step out of the convention of ordinary and “good” they would form a lasting opinion of you. You fear that they would immediately cross you out and decide that “naah, you are not good enough" I don't know about you, but I always thought college was the place I was going to have so much fun. It was the place where I would try out things and people for the first time. I imagined I would have the time of my life. That every day would be a party day, asking me to live life to the fullest. It was the place where I would exhaust every bit of youthful energy that ran through my veins and create such thrilling memories that would keep my dreams full for years to come.
But so far, for may of us, we feel like we are back in boarding school. Where Ashesi and her AJC is the strict headmaster in a brown wrinkled suit. He walks around in the shadows during prep time with a Bunsen burner pipe. Ready to strike at any student falling out of line. You sleep when he tells you to sleep and learn when he switches on the lights You never know when he will walk in and call out your name So you are always on your toes, with fingers crossed hoping that you won’t fall asleep when he decides it is time to study.
BY FRIDAH CHEBOI
Submittedon6/29/24,9:40PM:
“Ask her to record an audio of her giving consent to have sex with her with the date and time and everything. If she says no, my nigga run, run like your mom ’ s life depends on it.”
Sometimes Ashesi feels like it was meant for a bunch of young adults who have figured it all out and are required to be ever diligent. It feels as though it was meant for these people who don’t mind spending hours in books. Students happy to spend their entire semesters following a constant routine of classakorno-library-hostel-then back to class again. And they do this over and over again. For four whole years. And these students, they are professional, they wear their business casual to class, they go for office hours and finish assignments ages before they are due.
But then there’s a huge number of us who are different. Those of us who cannot follow schedules. Those of us who don’t wear bras and find formal wear terribly uncomfortable. Those of us with an appetite for liquor and extravagance Eh, where is our life?
Those of us with misogynistic ideas that need to be touched inorder to change. But if we keep burying parts of our selves. Flawed parts of our beings, how will we ever get better? If we don’t engage these misogynistic ideas from a point of love, how will our darling men learn to love? If we are unwilling to talk about ethics beyond the signing of the honour code, then when will it stop being a facade? So my opinion on this, yes run. Run cause its much safer that way. Until everyone comes off their high seats, and starts treating you as a human with flaws, my friend, ruuun!
[And heeeey, chill. Disclaimer here. These opinions are not of the author’s or the INK magazine.. And no its not that we are also running We are just amplying our audience’s opinions We are great advocates like that! The INK magazine for president yawaa! Viva!]
How would you describe your Ashesi Experience? My Ashesi experience, I would say, was an amazing one. It wasn’t all glorious, but it was an amazing one in particular because I feel like the experiences that I’ve had here, I don’t think I would have made or gotten such experiences in other schools. And it was also an amazing one because of the opportunities that Ashesi provides. I know more often than not we’re always talking about opportunities, opportunities, opportunities. Still, I feel like if it were not for Ashesi, I wouldn’t have been as motivated to do an internship or I wouldn’t have seen the need for an internship I wouldn’t have even met the friends that I’ve met, who have pushed me to be who I am today. I wouldn’t have been in the Christian fellowship that I was in. I wouldn't have met amazing faculty. I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to work with career services, amongst other things. I think I also became more serious when I came to Ashesi and I realized how the environment was. I feel like all in all, I’ve enjoyed my time in Ashesi, even though there's stress from assignments and the stress from juggling things and making sure you’re on top of your academic work path and that your social life is not suffering was a lot to handle But I managed to do that and Ashesi has shown me that in any environment I find myself I’m able to adapt, I’m able to thrive and it’s possible to succeed.
How do you feel about
I was excited but I was also very sad. I was excited because I didn’t have to worry about quizzes, assignments, exams, grades. Things like that. I know I’d pursue higher education than my undergraduate, but just the idea of not having to study everyday for quizzes or having to do assignments is just thrilling. I feel like there’s a relief, but the sadness or the lack of enthusiasm came from the fact that now I’m very responsible for my life. The reliance I had on my parents, it’s not like they're not going to still be reliable, but now I’m more responsible for my actions and inactions. I’m responsible for how I manage my pay. I’m responsible for how I deal with my finances amongst other things. And I don’t think it's a nice feeling at all. To even think about the idea of being taxed, amongst other things, when you know you’re not even receiving so much is stress on its own. So that is what made me feel sad, but all in all, I'm excited. It’s nice knowing that I’ve successfully completed one phase of my life and there’s another one waiting for me.
What would you do differently if you could go back in time?
I’ve thought of this, and to be honest, I don’t know if there’s anything in particular that I would have done differently if I had gone back in time. I think the one thing I would say is seizing more opportunities because I was more academically focused than being focused on other aspects of my life I did care about other aspects of my life and I did work on them My social life was quite social to my knowledge But I feel like I could’ve taken up more roles or more opportunities that were available, but I did not because I felt that I could only handle a certain amount of tasks at a given time. I feel like if I had added more stuff, maybe I could have done more things and had more things to share, write about, or experience. But then I also limited the amount of things I wanted or did because I knew the goal I had in mind Upon assessing the current situation, I knew taking on more roles wouldn't be wise or advisable So that was the perspective I was coming from, but if I were to go back in time, I would have seized more opportunities than I did.
What's a memory from a time in Ashesi that you'd never forget?
I've been thinking about this I don't think there's one memory I would never forget I feel like all my memories here are important But the one that, off the top of my head, I can think about is just the walks that I went on with my friends after class. I appreciated walking with my friends back to the hostel after class every day because I felt like sitting in class and unable to talk to one another after a long day. After all, we were in class and had to pay attention. Unwinding with them was one of the memories I'd never forget because it was one of the only times I would ever really sit down with someone and talk about how my day went unless they were to call or text me and ask But even then, I won't go into detail because I feel like there are other things to do at that moment I wouldn't really have time to sit and chat about my day. But just walking with my friends, talking and laughing, discussing random things. I genuinely would not forget that and I appreciate it.
Arethereanyachievementsthatyouareproudof?
I think my first achievement was becoming a Career Peer Advisor (CPA) because I became a CPA in my first year, second semester. And as at that time, we hadn't even come to school. It was still the COVID era. We were online; that was the first time the school was officially reopening after COVID-19. So just being able to secure that job even though I hadn't yet been to Ashesi physically, and for them being able to trust me even though I was in my first year and I didn't have so much experience, I feel like that was one achievement, at least to me. Also, getting the best CPA of the month from Ashesi Career Services was an achievement because it meant that I was doing something right in the department, and they recognized it.
Another achievement for me was becoming an AIX robotics coach and being awarded one of the best and most hardworking coaches for the Ashesi Innovation Experience in 202I didn't do or participate in any activities for the academic stuff. I did top in some of my classes, which I felt was a good achievement. Like in software engineering or computer networks, where I topped the classes. I feel like that was also an achievement because for those courses, I knew I’d do well, but I didn’t think I’d do “well well”.
Isthereanyoneyouwouldliketogiveashout-outto?
Yes. I would like to give a shoutout to my study members. I don't know if I can mention all their names, but Adele, Oheneba, Chudah, and co. They were very helpful and instrumental in my Ashesi journey and having not only a study group but a friend group, a Christian group… everything. So I'd like to shout out to them, but most especially to Chudah for being a good friend to me and a very good capstone partner.
Could you tell us about the awards you received?
I received two awards The first award was the Computer Science and information systems best team thesis project And my thesis was on leveraging Artificial Intelligence to passively record Sales in Micro and Small Businesses in Ghana, but specifically corner shops and what I mean by corner shops are those provision shops that we find in our areas. Not necessarily Melcom or Shoprite or China mall. They are just like some small provision shop where they sell your basic necessities. We were seeking to answer the question of whether AI through an intelligent camera can be used to record sales. So while a person is buying something from the shop or engaged in some form of exchange with the seller, can the intelligent camera or the AI system identify that a sale has occurred? And can it identify who the buyer was, who the seller was and what item was bought.
In simple terms that’s what my project was seeking to address. The best team thesis award is given to the thesis team that they felt embodied Ashesi’s goals of solving problems in our real world. So it’s the computer science department, so of course they expect us to do something related to CS and Information Systems, but they definitely want us to link it to or connect it with the fact that Ashesi is training us to be ethical and entrepreneurial leaders So ideally, projects that are seeking to make some form of change in their society are projects that they look out for. Aside from that, they also look out for projects that have done well to incorporate the things that they’ve learnt in the entire four years in Ashesi, which I think we - my thesis partner and I- did very well amongst other things.
The second award was for the valedictorian of the class of 2024. And this award is just given to the person with the highest GPA in the entire student body for that particular year group and I happen to be the valedictorian
BY BERNICE ARTHUR
It didn't have to be this way That's what I keep telling myself, over and over, as if the repetition might somehow alter the reality I'm living If I had two lives if I could split myself into two versions, perhaps one of them would choose the path of submission, surrendering to the expectations placed upon me. Maybe that version of me would allow herself to be loved by Akoto, to love him in return, without question, without doubt. But I do not have two lives. I have only this one. And because this life is all I have, I must speak my truth. I must write to my African Society and let them know no, feel how deeply the standards they have set for us cut into our hearts and shape our lives in ways we cannot always bear. Perhaps, in doing so, in laying bare my soul, my words will plant a seed of change in the minds of those who hold these expectations so tightly Perhaps my letter will make them pause, reflect, and reconsider the weight of the roles they have carved out for us Maybe I should simply write it this way Let them see what I see, feel what I feel Let them know that these standards are not just traditions they are chains holding us back from who we could indeed be Perhaps, through my words, they will understand that change is not just necessary but long overdue. And so, I write.
Dear African Society,
As I sit by the window, staring at the twilight sky, I find myself compelled to write this letter. The evening breeze carries the distant sounds of children playing, their laughter mingling with the chirping of crickets. Yet, there is only
silence inside me a deep, unsettling quiet that gnaws at my heart It is a silence born of conflict, of a struggle within that I can no longer ignore I write to you, African Society because it is within your expectations and standards that I find myself entangled, torn between love and the harsh realities of the roles you have laid out for me. I think back to the first time I met Akoto. It was on Telegram, of all places a platform where connections often fade as quickly as they form. I hadn't expected much; it was just a casual conversation to pass the time. But Akoto had been persistent; his messages were simple and almost innocent.
Heyyy " his first message had read I remember smiling at the extra ' y, ' wondering what kind of person would start a conversation like that I responded, expecting the usual small talk that often fizzles after a few exchanges But Akoto was different "Can we be friends?" he asked, and I hesitated momentarily before typing out my response "Sure" From that simple exchange, something began to grow between us. At first, it was just friendship at least, I told myself. We talked about everything my dreams, his plans, our shared love for highlife music, and the little things that made life in Accra both beautiful and frustrating. I looked forward to his messages, voice notes, and quiet laughter that seemed to reach out and touch my heart. But as the months passed, I began to feel a shift. Akoto's messages became more frequent, and his words became more tender. He started calling me " my love" in a way that made my heart skip a beat, 33
even though I knew deep down that something was missing. He was everything a woman should want kind, attentive, and madly in love with me. And I did love him, or at least, I thought I did. But there was always a nagging feeling at the back of my mind, a voice that whispered doubts into my ear
One evening, as we sat under the old baobab tree by my house, Akoto reached for my hand, his touch warm and reassuring "Maame, I want to spend my life with you, " he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion "You are all I ever wanted." His words should have filled me with joy, but instead, they weighed heavily on my heart. I looked at him, his eyes full of hope and love, and all I could feel was the weight of my own expectations pressing down on me. "Akoto," I began, my voice trembling, "I love you, I really do. But I need more... I need someone who will be the icing on my cake, not just the cake itself." Akoto frowned, not understanding. "But Maame, isn't love enough? I would do anything for you. I thought we had something special " "We do," I whispered, tears filling my eyes "But it's not about you, Akoto It's about me I feel like I'm carrying the weight of this relationship
I'm the man here, making all the decisions, guiding everything And it's draining me " Akoto's face fell, and I saw the hurt in his eyes It tore at me, but I couldn't longer ignore the truth.
"It doesn't have to be this way, " I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I need you to meet me halfway. I can't be the only one holding us together." Akoto was silent for a long time, his gaze fixed on the ground. The crickets' chirping seemed louder, the air thicker with unspoken words. Finally, he looked up at me, his expression one of resignation.
"I thought I was doing enough," he said softly. "But if I'm not what you need, then I don't know what to do." My heart broke at his words, and I touched his face gently. "I don't want to lose you, Akoto. But I need to find myself in this relationship, too. Can you understand that?" He nodded slowly, though the pain in his eyes told me that understanding didn't make it any easier And now, as the night deepens, its inky darkness enveloping me in quiet solitude,, I face a harsh and painful truth: love, as profound and consuming as it is, isn't always enough
This realization settles heavily in my heart, leaving an empty ache that no amount of affection can fill. I love Akoto deeply, but I am beginning to understand that love alone won't sustain me. I need more than just love to be truly happy to feel fulfilled in the life I am building. But here's where you come in, African Society. I find myself grappling with the expectations you have placed upon me. At 25, I am already considered old by some standards expected to have found a husband, settled down, and perhaps already started a family. I am three years older than Akoto, and with that age difference comes an added burden a societal expectation that I should be the traditional woman, the caretaker, the nurturer, the one to manage a household and, eventually, raise four children of my own But I am not willing to conform to this outdated ideal I have dreams of my own, aspirations that stretch far beyond the confines of domestic life
"
Then there is Akoto, who relies on me for everything. He depends on me financially, emotionally, and intellectually. It isn't just that he leans on me he does so entirely, with an unspoken expectation that I will always hold him up. This imbalance has led me to say, "I'm the man here." It isn't an exaggeration;
Akoto has, in many ways, made me take on the role that Society often assigns to men. Yet, the truth is, sometimes a woman just wants a man who can take charge not because she can't do it herself, but because there is a deep-seated desire to feel cared for, to feel like her partner is in control, even if only sometimes. Perhaps this is a feeling that some might disagree with, but it is mine nonetheless.
But don't mistake this sentiment as a cry for feminism at least not in the way it is often misunderstood My thoughts go beyond that I am an observer and a commentator on the contradictions and pressures that you, African Society, impose on men and women
Akoto, with all his loyalty and love, reminds me of the difficult reality that many men face in a society that defines manhood in rigid, often toxic terms. A man, according to these norms, must be strong, independent, loud, and aggressive. He must never show vulnerability or reveal his shy or emotional side for fear of being labeled as weak or "not man enough." In this societal framework, a man who cannot support his girlfriend financially is deemed unworthy of a relationship. Yet, if that same man loves too openly, too deeply, he is scorned as a "simp " So, how can I blame Akoto for falling short of these impossible standards? I can't Instead, I see the struggle within him the tension between who he is and what Society expects him to be And in that struggle, I recognize my own I am caught between my love for Akoto and my growing understanding that love, without balance and equality, will never be enough to bridge the gap between us. It is a truth I don't want to face, but one that becomes clearer each night.
As I pen these thoughts, I am filled with a sense of melancholy and a resolve to challenge the standards you have set for us I refuse to be boxed into a role that doesn't align with who I am or aspire to be I refuse to let Akoto be diminished by expectations that do not reflect his true self And most of all, I refuse to let love be the only measure of our relationship's worth So, dear African Society, I ask you to reconsider the roles you have assigned us Let men and women be who they are without the weight of expectations stifling their growth and happiness Let us redefine what it means to be strong, caring, and equal partners in life's journey In this letter, I lay bare my heart, fears, and hopes I hope you will hear me and understand the need for change not just for me but for everyone who struggles under the burden of these societal norms.
"
Sincerely, A Daughter of Africa.
As I place the pen down, the ink still wet on the last line of my letter, a thought lingers in my mind that refuses to be dismissed What if my words never reach the hearts they are meant to change? What if my raw and honest plea is met with indifference or scorn? A shiver runs down my spine as I consider the possibility that, in speaking my truth, I have only deepened the chasm between who I am and who Society wants me to be But there is no turning back now The letter is sealed, ready to be sent, and my fate is cast with it. I rise from my seat, my heart heavy with uncertainty. I tell myself I am doing the right thing and that my words might spark the change I desperately seek. Yet, as I step out into the cool night air, the moon casting long shadows across the path ahead, a single question echoes in the silence:
And as for Akoto, I may not be Whitney Houston, but I know one thing for sure I'll always love him
BY FRIDAH CHEBOI
Well, at least not anymore��.
WE DON’T WANT TO BE FRIENDS-WITH-BENEFITS WITH YOU!
Maybe we share the same course, the same classes or know each other from the gym. Maybe you are my friend’ s friend or we happen to be in the same hostel. Every now and then, we exchange hi’ s and sometimes have conversations pertaining to school or the usual aimless, friendly chatter. One day, you wake up and think, “It’ s not a big deal. Plus, if she says no, it’ s cool.” The problem is, you don't find this girl attractive or ‘suitable’ enough to have a decent relationship with them. You like them enough to want to have a fling, but hey, god forbid anyone finds out you have ever been with them.
For some guys, making a commitment is burdensome. It is tedious. And Ashesi is demanding enough already. So why should they twist that callous knife and make their lives any harder? I mean, we all know that having a girlfriend means time, effort, emotional support, respect, affection, care, communication, and because it is 2024, financial commitment. All the things you (perhaps) currently can 't give.
IFYOUCAN'TCOMMIT,THENBRO,WALK!PLEASE,ITISNOTWORTHIT,ANDTHIS ARTICLEEXPLAINSWHY.
Well, FIRST and FOREMOST, I don't need to tell anyone how casual sex is ephemeral. Because of this, it often tends to be unfulfilling and riskier than it is worth it for women (no need to throw stones at me, I speak only for some women, of course)
The saddest thing about this is that often, the guys asking for casual sex do not even behave well enough to deserve anyone sleeping with them. Most of them don't bother to think outside their tiny boxes of personal satisfaction. And so these experiences rarely culminate in sexual bliss for the lady
My next point is that sex is a power exchange It's a negotiation of desires and boundaries My desirability as a woman is a social currency And when you walk up to me, or more often shoot me a disappearing text (cause ya'll are big cowards), asking for sex, you are, in other words, asking me to be vulnerable with you. You are asking for intimate parts of my being that are very personal. You are asking for something without exchanging it for commitment and responsibility. You are asking me to trust you.
The only way I see casual sex being enjoyable is if it’s with a man worthy of the spotlight in a romance movie. A romantic hero. The perfect male lead for a film. A quintessential gentleman who dresses impeccably and exudes an air of confidence and charm. One with the breathtaking looks of a Greek god
This human being comes with an effortless handsomeness and a sharp humor A human being who smells diviiiine. And his smile is a knee-weakening smile. A man you would want to get pregnant by. Eeei! And sadly, a number of you, our dearest Ashesi boys, are not all this (I say this with lots of love).
Additionally, I don't know how to explain how undignified it is when he tells you (in his deep and scratchy voice), "I hope this whole thing stays between us. " If he is a bigger jerk, he will go on to say, “It's only weird if you make it weird.” Of course, it's weird. It will always be weird. We just saw each other naked and exchanged very intimate parts of our being. How can it not be weird?
Another thing, sex is never equal in terms of biology, pleasure, risk, societal expectations, power dynamics, and emotional experiences It is never the same for both parties. When my mom explains this difference, she often says, “The minute a woman sleeps with a man, she’s done.” (She says this by clapping her hands while raising her voice very dramatically). She says that once you sleep with him, you get tied to him because his sperm swims past your uterus, through your stomach and lungs, and seeps into your brain. While I am pretty sure her biology is off, I think she might be on to something. Here's why.
When women have sex, the hormone oxytocin, or the cuddle chemical, is released in much higher quantities than in men These hormones are associated with bonding, attachment, and feelings of closeness Don't get me started on how fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone that women experience throughout their menstrual cycles affect these moods.
So, in a way, my mom is right – sperm do travel to the brain.
Often, sexual desire for women is not merely about physical arousal as it can be for men. It is more complex. To be satisfied, it involves emotional intimacy, trust, and communication in addition to physical pleasure. All the things that casual sex doesn't give.
The only guys exempted from this are those that possess the greek-god green card. And sadly, again, you don't have that
Another person ’ s mom might tell you that it corrupts the body, mind, and soul. In many ways, this is also true. There are biological and psychological factors that cause women to become emotionally attached through sexual activity compared to men. It becomes difficult to make decisions clearly after sex. Especially unpleasant sex. And because most of the time, it's never great sex, this lack of clarity that women get happens often. Biologically, it is the oxytocin that fuddles your thinking. Women have been seen becoming more lenient with crappy behaviors from their sexual partners once they have slept together. Of course, I need to say that this obviously doesn't apply to every sexual encounter or every woman.
Sexual cultures, attitudes, and practices have significantly evolved over time. It has become more liberal in different parts of the world. And women are being encouraged to behave more like men sexually. But the truth is, sex has and will always be more consequential for a woman. She bears the risk and burden of pregnancy and childbearing Again, I say, it is always more risky for her than it is worth it. If she gets pregnant, she has two options or not. Either carry the pregnancy to term and bear all the emotional and physical risks that come with it. And once you give birth, it's her cracked nipples that will be sucked for months by an oblivious someone. Months! I say. And not once in a day! But multiple times! Jesus. Multiple times!
And woe unto you if this oblivious someone came out with a twin. Two mouths! Woi! Oh, your poor nipples. These are costs only women bear.
This asymmetry alone should be enough for you as a man (or boy) to seek out commitment if you are capable of giving it That is if you want sex The other option is to abstain It's not impossible, you know Even priests do it And if that still doesn't work, then you can buy it Lucky for you, this particular industry is booming, and its services are in rich supply.
It’s not surprising, then, that women tend to be more selective. Unlike men, women don't quickly jump into a bed the minute an offer is made. Instead, they seek commitment or public acknowledgment of a relationship. They look for a guarantee that this man won't be an ass and run off as soon as things go sour. Cause that possibility is always there.
I am going to stop here and not touch on the slut shaming and ostracizing that women experience from being sexually liberal How they are harshly judged even here on campus
I have done enough shouting.
My people the Swahili say that kosa si kosa, kosa ni kurudia tena. I was gonna have you google this, but I have done enough savage work already, so I will tell you. It is never too late to do better.
I hope you have learned a thing or two. If not about the complexities of female sexuality, then about my mother��.
To all conservative readers of the INK magazine who want to throw stones at me at this point,�� don't worry, I am done. If you are lucky, your prayers will be heard, and my boss, Tani, will kick me off the team after this crude and immodest writing. If he won't, and you are still vexed by this piece kujeni mnchipe. (Google this one ��. ��Here at the INK, everyone carries their own weight)
Yours, Fridah Cheboi.
(Ps. if you enjoyed my work, follow this link to read more exciting pieces: devotah.com)
Byeeee!
* Turns out, my boss didn’t sack me He, instead, suggested that I add a reference list cause I make huge claims on this piece But what is this? Text and Meaning? If there is anyone who doesn’t believe me they can go and research on the topic and find out for themselves ��I can’t be writing references for my lectures (and just so you know, there are many) and also have you bothering me I am tired Heeey chill I want to keep my job I quite like it So here is a small reference I wrote this piece after I watched a video from the Diary of a CEO podcast. Where the entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, does an interview with the British journalist, author, and podcast host, Louise Perry. If you need more information, please slide into my dm and shoot your shot. Thanks��.If you happen to have the Greek god green card we talked about ��, please do not hesitate
IHow would you describe your Ashesi Experience?
I would say overall, well rounded I had a little bit of everything in there I was able to lock-in in my studies I’ve had the “all nighter” experience more times than I’d like to admit. I did some sports. I was a technical coach at Elite FC. I enjoyed that a lot. And then I played in the engineering volta tournament with my classmates. I joined the ASC as a committee member for the Academic Committee and then became Vice President of the ASC. I did an internship abroad in Ohio. And… What else?
I would really say my experience has had a bit of everything. I had a phase where I was going out with my friends a lot and then one where I was just staying in school, focusing on my studies So yeah Lastly, I wrote a rap music type of thing with my friend Kenneth and actually performed it last semester I have a lot of varied interests From philosophy to sports to music All those things So, I would say it’s really reflected on the type of experience I’ve had in Ashesi I would say, overall it’s been fulfilling and well rounded.
And that’s when I began to come out of my shell That’s when I began to involve myself in the community a bit more
So if I could go back in time, I would do all of that earlier. I would be more open, friendlier and more involved earlier than I was.
Is there anyone you’d like to shout out?
What would you do differently if you could go back in time?
So in my first semester, I wasn’t serious enough It was actually my first semester that rocked my GPA because of that I spent the next two semesters seriously academically grinding, trying to put things where I felt they should be in terms of my grades. And because of that I was locked in. I wasn’t thinking about anything else in life at that point. The semester that we came on campus- that was the second semester of first year. I was very reclusive. I was always in my zone, always with my books, and wasn't really interacting with people initially because I had a goal that I really really wanted to get to. So that was all that I was thinking about at that point in my time in Ashesi And I think because of that, I didn’t meet the great friends I met as early as I could’ve I wasn’t really talking to people, you know? So if I could do anything differently, I would still lock in and try and get those grades, but I would have come out of my shell earlier I didn’t do that until a statistics presentation that went really well And I think everybody kinda saw my potential and then I got a lot of encouragement and compliments from that single presentation.
I would like to shout out Joel Osei-Asamoah and Kezia Asare- my president. Joel has held me down for the longest time. He’s become something of a brother at this point. There were so many things that I could only talk to Joel about because only him would be able to understand, empathize and talk to me about it and I think it went both ways He really held me and supported me in my time here I want to give him a shout out for being such a great person And then Kezia My relationship with Kezia was almost preordained here We could sometimes tell what the other person was thinking or what they were going to say. We saw eye to eye on a lot of stuff. Obviously, it helped in our campaign- we won. I think that synergy was clear for everyone to see even if you weren’t our friend or you weren’t close to us. From afar you could see that these two people are always on the same wavelength and I just really appreciate her for that.
It made her so easy to relate with and talk to. And our friendship that began before we became president and vice president only blossomed when we went through the trials and tribulations of leadership and it’s only grown since we handed over So I’d like to shout out both Joel and Kezia for being such great friends.
Just to talk about the academic side of things a bit more. There were a lot of times when I felt like this course, or this assignment or this topic was too hard and sometimes it really was so challenging. But after completing each one, after investing your time and effort to try and do each one well, after completing it, I would realize that I had grown or improved. I feel like what Ashesi academics try to do to an extent is to push you out of your comfort zone And I always believe, growth occurs outside your comfort zone. So when you do that week after week, quiz after quiz, assignment after assignment, you’d notice your intellectual capacity improving and expanding. I mean, I don’t think and write the same way as I used to when I became a freshman. And I think it’s those mostly tough or moderately tough quizzes or exams that really forced me to undergo that evolution.
Can you tell us more about the awards you received?
I received three awards. The first one was a Summa Cum Laude. You earn it when you graduate with a GPA of at least 3 85 The second one was the technical excellence award in computer engineering and it is awarded to the best computer engineering capstone project. My project was titled, by me and my supervisor, as “The weather station without moving parts”. So it involved developing a remote audio data collection system and machine learning models that could infer wind speed and wind direction from wind noise. And the point is to address challenges faced by mechanical ultrasonic and thermal anemometers. Those are the anemometers that are used today. Challenges they face include mechanical wear, vulnerability to harsh weather conditions and the need for complex signal processing circuitry
Talking about the criteria of the award, they used the analogy of a taco. They said if you used the tools available to create a Michelin star taco then you get the technical excellence award. But from my understanding, my capstone won that award because of its rigorous intelligent and exceptional engineering design
The final award I won is called The President's Award for Scholarship, Leadership and Citizenship. What the description says is that it is awarded in recognition of my outstanding efforts to Ashesi’s mission and for exemplifying the values of scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
What’s a memory from your time in Ashesi that you’d never forget?
I had a bunch to pick from, but I would say the campaign period As you’d remember, our slogan was “all hands on deck”. I remember how late Kezia and I began our campaign, we were worried about how things would go, the outcome and all of that. So it was a very stressful period, you know? Planning, interviewing our potential chairpersons, building a team By that time, we already had our vision, we knew what we wanted to do, but putting the team together and bringing everyone on board and then actually campaigning especially considering the strong opposition we were going up against It was a really really difficult period I sometimes questioned myself and my decisions, but it was really fulfilling going round, talking to people and getting their perspectives and, most of all, connecting with people.
When we went door to door, that’s the thing that stuck with me the most In my head, the idea was that I’m going round to talk to people and give them and idea of what Kezia and I and our entire team was trying to do and trying to understand what issues people had been facing and discussing solutions to tackle those things and sharing some of the plans that we had to tackle those things, but it ended up being more like a heart to heart that we had with everybody we met. I felt like I connected with a lot of people I spoke to and it made me really grateful that we went door to door. I met Judith and we had a whole conversation about how we both used to debate in highschool and how there’s no debate club in Ashesi and for that reason we’ve now established a debate club. We started it at the start of my tenure but it was one of the things that came to life at the end of my tenure. So something like that won’t have come to life if I never connected with Judith on those door to door campaigns. Talking to so many people really made me feel the pressure of what me, Kezia and our entire team had stepped into. It made me realize that we really had people’s expectations riding on our ability to win and to deliver And that pushed us all the more to really give our all to the campaign and executing our roles as leaders.
BY FOUVLE NKRUMAH
One has to lie and deceive the others in their polite society that they are of great moral upstanding.
To execute the presence of a good moral understanding, you need to understand the principle of character modelling
It has to be a theatrical performance that does not owe the audience no explanations; otherwise, you have failed in your pedestal of good upstanding.
Yet, for a character’s model, the acting needs to be built up piece by piece; this is where a mentor's creation and devotion come in.
The mentor is a finished product of good upstanding, and you just need to learn and understand the formula they used because that is all the convincing needs,
a boilerplate formula that can be rearranged over and over again till you accomplish what you need to be successful in a good society- a certificate that proves that you are a moral and upstanding character, and no amount of audience sway should be able to change that.
Your unfiltered thoughts
“Watch your back Tani. I'm coming for my girl”
“Shout out to Jonathan Odonkor chale. Legendary guy.”
“Shout out to Augustus Kofi Gaisie. I don’t know how I would have made it through this semester without this guy.”
“More sheeshh to my utopia twin Josephine Allan”
“Friends are the key to surviving here at Ashesi Shoutouts to Esinam, Michael, Awoye, Daniel and Austine”
“I don’t want to want her man o, but how can I help it if the boy is funny and smart and cute and exactly my type?��”
“i once saw this couple kiss. ON CAMPUS. ON A BRIGHT SUNNY AFTERNOON. TONGUE AND ALL???”
“People shaming other people for having sneaky links knowing fully well they want one too.”
“"babe, it's sem over, not love over����" That be what I hear rn oo...Ereach ur man����”
“What is this guy doing to this girl that she's screaming like this... I hope it's Africana o. ”
“there is this 26 girl. I honestly think she's the most beautiful person in this entire school. Like how can one person be so perfect. We've not met yet but when we do there's no going back. It's only a matter of time. Oh and yeah about the exams just pray and hope for the best and let God do the rest, you barb!”
“Waakye and Pancakes??”
“Shoutout to Kwame Attrams C27. Guy has some of the hardest fits I’ve seen. Also made my life in the school a lot better. ”
“Thank God for peripheral vision, cos the way I’m ogling this boy, if I had to stare directly he’d probably think I’m a freak”
“11:59 is no more scary. Make it 6:59!!”
“Stanley, I like you but not romantically. I like how smart you are!”
“If at your big age, your aim on campus is to 'look cool'. then idk that's really childish and cringe. Not participating in class/coming in late makes you look weird, not cool. This aint high school”
“Shoutout to Nana Akua Senanu, for being beautiful. She made going through the sem easier. I hardly saw her but when I did. It brightened up my day��”
“I've gone back to the boy”
“Shoutout to Jox C’25, she’s a sweetheart ♥”
“I heard some people have been getting it on in their rooms. I thought we ' re all morally upright children of God ��”
“Charles Amankwah has Duke denis and Wisdom Kaye aura fr❗❗”
BY IFEANYI JIBUNOH
I’ve been pondering about identity for what feels like multiple lifetimes. I’m 21 years old for context so translate that to about 5-6 years. Somewhere during the great pondering I’ve accepted the concept of life as a journey. We are born and we live however we live and then we die. We start our journey randomly and it ends just as randomly There’s a lot of things that just happen along the way A lot of things that we can’t control We change and we are changed
That acceptance of life as a journey opened up some new questions though; Who am I? Do I get to choose who I am? Or am I just a product of circumstance. Determined to be a finished product of fate without regard to where its pendulum may swing.
I was thinking about this yesterday and Theseus’ Paradox came to mind A ship used for many years on the high seas eventually gets all it’s parts changed and/or replaced The question that seems to have philosophers stumped is:
Is it the same ship?
It’s a simple question and at first glance you’d be inclined to pick a side. And you wouldn’t be wrong no matter which side you picked. Because as with most things in life there’s a bit more nuance to the question being asked than there seems to be
Assuming the ship is called the SS Theseus, then over time it would still be the S.S Theseus and maybe a bit more shiny and newlooking. Your answer to the question would then be: Yes, it is still the same ship.
The other camp would then argue that since every single component of the ship of the original ship has been replaced that you cannot, in good faith, call it the same ship Their answer is: No, it is not the same ship
The reality is that both sides are right. The answer to that question would “Yes and No”. And despite that sounding like the answer from an obnoxiously “intellectual” work colleague, it is the right one. At least in my opinion anyways.
The ship will always be the SS Theseus That identity will never change However it remains true that it is not the same ship that sail It has been changed by the journeys it has embarked upon and the
stories it may have to tell I don’t know how many of you might be able to tell but I’m not talking about an old greek ship anymore
By Fouvle Nkrumah
Nala is in the midst of intense preparations for the upcoming career fair. Her day has been a whirlwind of activity, marked by crossing off numerous tasks from her to-do list. This year ' s fair is particularly significant as they're introducing a new component called "industry conversations." While excited about this innovation, Nala admits it's causing her some anxiety. Given the semester's hectic nature and recent participation trends, she's particularly concerned about student attendance. The pressure of bringing industry professionals to campus and potentially facing low turnout weighs on her mind Despite these challenges, there's an undercurrent of excitement in her voice as she discusses the potential impact of the fair on students' futures
Nala, whose full name is Nana-Afua Anoff, holds the position of Career Development Officer in Ashesi's Career Services department. Her role is multifaceted, primarily guiding first-year students as they begin their academic journey. She's also responsible for managing the university's internship program, helping to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical work experience. Beyond these duties, Nala handles data analytics and report creation for the department's website, ensuring that crucial information is accessible to students and stakeholders As an Ashesi alumna, Nala brings a unique perspective to her role, intimately understanding the student experience and the transition to professional life
Nala's recollections of her time as an Ashesi student are vivid and nostalgic. She describes her orientation as feeling "like something out of a movie," contrasting her previous educational experiences. In her first year, Nala was notably reserved and spent considerable time offcampus, often arranging her classes to end early on Fridays so she could return to Accra. This lifestyle initially impacted her academics negatively, but it taught her a valuable lesson about balance. She learned to engage more on campus while maintaining her social life, a skill she now emphasises to current students Nala notes that the campus was significantly smaller during her time, creating an intimate atmosphere where "everybody knew everybody " This close-knit community shaped her university experience and subsequent career path
Nala has developed a nuanced approach to working with students professionally. She strives to maintain light-hearted and professional relationships, respecting students as adults while providing guidance and support. Nala places a high value on open communication, encouraging students to freely share their thoughts and concerns. Recognising the importance of preparing students for the professional world, she extends her approach to digital platforms, using WhatsApp professionally to model appropriate workplace communication. Interestingly, Nala finds that her interactions with students are often reciprocally educational Through these exchanges, she's been introduced to tools and apps like Notion and Locket, demonstrating her openness to learning from those she mentors
The upcoming career fair is a complex, multi-faceted event that showcases the evolution of career services at Ashesi. It's designed as a hybrid event to maximise accessibility and impact. The virtual component, scheduled for June 26th, will feature company sessions and interviews, allowing students to engage with potential employers from anywhere.
The in-person event on July 5th is set to be a bustling affair with several key features A LinkedIn photo booth will be available throughout the day, allowing students to update their professional profiles. Various certification bodies, including Project Management and Amazon Web Services, will be on campus, providing students with information about professional certifications that could enhance their career prospects. A significant new addition this year is the "industry conversations" segment, which aims to bring students face-toface with industry leaders for in-depth discussions. The fair will also offer speed interviews for final-year students, providing a unique opportunity for rapid networking and potential job placement Nala emphasises that this comprehensive approach caters to students at various stages of their academic and professional journeys
Nala's aspirations are multifaceted and ambitious She speaks enthusiastically about her desire to travel extensively, with a "whole list" of places she wants to see. This wanderlust stems from personal curiosity and a desire to broaden her horizons beyond the Ashesi campus.
Her academic aspirations are equally ambitious, with plans to pursue a PhD. While she doesn't specify the field, her current role in Career Services and her passion for education might be related. Nala acknowledges that some people question her resolve when she mentions this goal, but she remains committed to it
Entrepreneurship is also on Nala's radar She is intensely interested in starting a business, though she's still exploring options One possibility she's considering is interior design, which aligns with her creative inclinations Nala reflects that if she could choose her university major again, she might have opted for architecture, indicating a longstanding interest in spatial design.
Nala's journey from a reserved student to a confident professional is a testament to her personal growth. She credits much of this development to her experiences at Ashesi as a student and now as a staff member. This transformation is evident in her ability to speak in front of crowds and lead workshops confidently, tasks she would have shied away from as a student
5. Balance academics with other experiences: While academic success is important, Nala advises students not to focus solely on grades. She encourages club participation, volunteer work, and international opportunities to develop a well-rounded profile.
6. Embrace personal growth: Nala shares how her personality evolved from reserved to outgoing during her time at Ashesi, encouraging students to be open to similar transformations
Nala's belief in Ashesi's transformative impact is evident throughout the interview. She contrasts her reserved student self with her current professional persona, attributing much of this growth to her Ashesi experience.
Regarding Career Services, Nala emphasises that their support doesn't end at graduation. She encourages alumni to continue utilising their resources, including access to job boards, career counselling, and networking opportunities.
Nala offers several key pieces of advice to students, drawing from her own experiences and observations:
1. Don't rush after graduation: Nala emphasises the importance of taking time to make informed decisions about career paths. She warns against jumping into the first job offer due to pressure, which can lead to job-hopping and perceived commitment issues.
2. Remain open-minded and adaptable: Nala stresses, "Ashesi is not the world, and the world is not Ashesi." She encourages students to be prepared for different environments and working styles post-graduation
3 Ask for help: Drawing from her struggles as a firstyear student, Nala urges students not to try to do everything alone She encourages them to seek help from professors, peers, and university resources like the Office of Students and Community Affairs (OSCA)
4. Utilize office hours and resources: Nala repeatedly emphasises the importance of taking advantage of faculty office hours and other support services available on campus.
Nala strongly advises current students to engage with Career Services early and often She highlights services like resume reviews, interview preparation, and career fairs as valuable resources students should take advantage of throughout their academic journey
Nala's creative pursuits form a significant part of her identity outside of work. Her passion for painting is evident, with her artwork adorning various offices around campus, including those of senior staff members. This suggests both talent and recognition within the Ashesi community.
Recently, Nala has rekindled her love for baking. She describes it as a form of stress relief, often finding herself making croissants or cinnamon rolls in the kitchen at 5 AM This early-morning baking serves as a meditative practice for her
Nala comes from a creatively inclined family, with different members excelling in various artistic pursuits This familial background has influenced her own creative endeavours.
Interestingly, Nala purposely avoids monetising her hobbies. She's turned down offers to sell her baked goods or artwork, fearing that turning these passions into obligations would diminish the joy they bring her. This decision reflects a thoughtful approach to maintaining a work-life balance and preserving her sources of personal fulfilment.
As the interview concludes, Nala focuses on the upcoming career fair, emphasising its importance to students She provides detailed information about the event, scheduled for July 5th, including virtual and in-person components Nala highlights special features like a LinkedIn photo booth, industry conversations with alumni and CEOs, and speed interviews for final-year students
Nala strongly encourages students to attend the fair dressed professionally and to engage actively with the opportunities presented Her enthusiasm for the event is palpable, reflecting her commitment to student success
Finally, Nala expresses gratitude for the interview experience. She views it as another opportunity to connect with and support the student body, reinforcing her dedication to her role in Career Services and the broader Ashesi community.
What was your favorite Ashesi Experience?:
So, my most memorable experience at Ashesi, I believe that would be during my time in the public relations committee were I was organizing the Caribbean night. It was a beach-themed event that was supposed to be the opening event for the ASC week in 2022, I believe. It was a really fun experience coz during the organization of the event during the set-up for the event, we had a lot of fun playing with water guns, playing in the pool…--we got this huge box of beach sand really heavy and we had to figure out a way of transporting that sand from the truck that it arrived on to the event grounds so that was an interesting one. We had to be really innovative and all of us had to put in our effort into getting the sand to the venue and after the event, we had to find a way of getting the sand out of a where it was otherwise the school authorities would have given us issues and so, yeah it was a stressful moment but then there was so many fun parts to it and for that reason, it’s my favorite experience or favorite memory from Ashesi.
How do you feel about graduating?
I feel really good about graduation. I feel really excited because finally a very long, hard but exciting 4 years has come to an end. But, yeah I don’t think it’s totally a good feeling. I’m also a bit sad because now, I have to step into the real world where I can decide to have no routines for myself and I need to make it work There’s no manual There’s just advice and I need to figure out my way through all of it to try and get to a good position in a few years to come So, yeah I’m excited but I’m also sad and anxious about what’s next and what’s ahead of me
Are there any achievements you are proud of?
Alright, so for my achievements, the very first one is my time in the CAP club as a peer tutor where I helped students practice their computer-aided design skills as well as learn them if they had no prior knowledge. The second is my time in the public relations committee, first as member and also as an event theme lead. During this period my time in the public relations committee, I helped with the organization of the maiden edition of the creative festival I also aided in the organization of the Caribbean night which was a beach-themed concert during the ASC week in 2022, and I also helped in the organization of the dive-deep seminar which was on personal branding and awareness
My next achievement, that would be my study abroad at CAL poly, which was a 9-month program in all, got to learn so much, got exposed to a completely new culture, and made a good amount of connections. The next achievement I will talk about would be my award for the best capstone in terms of technical excellence and then finally would be my graduation with the highest academic honours that is, SUMMA CUM LAUDE. So it’s a long list of achievements and I’m grateful to God and my family and my support system on campus which is made up mainly of my friends for guiding me through out every step of the way to make these possible.
Is there anyone you’d like to give a shout-out to?
Samuel (Interviewee): Ok, so first I would like to shoutout my mechanical engineering class; David Osei, Kofi Agyapong, Peter Owusu, and Kezia I’m so grateful for them for being an awesome support system for me and also my roommate and Dr. Steven Armah an exceptional lecturer really good and also Kofi Adu Labi also a great lecturer. I would like to shoutout all of those people.
Can you tell us about the awards you received?
So the award I received was the technical excellence award in mechanical engineering for the best capstone project Now, for my capstone, I worked on the design and development of the semi-vehicle damper or shock absorber that will allow for a comfortable ride on all road conditions So this award was given essentially to recognize the large extent of work that I performed and the rigor of that work and the scope that my work covered
Would you do anything differently if you could go back in time?
What would I do differently if I could go back in time? Alright, so throughout my time in Ashesi, one thing that I didn’t really involve myself in was sports and I think sports is really important for one’s overall well-being. So, if I were to go back in time, I would devote myself to learning at least one sport and then becoming pretty good at it. So even after school I can use that as a way of releasing stress whenever the need arises for it
Lastly, how would you describe your Ashesi experience?:
My Ashesi Experience was really exciting Aside the stress of all the academic stuff, I believe my social experiences were way more interesting enough to be able to overshadow these academic experiences. I started out by joining the CAP club I think now it’s non-existent but then I was a tutor in the CAP club. I got the opportunity to teach some of the freshmen when I was in sophomore year some really good skills and I got to join the Public Relations Committee in 2022. We organized some good events. We organized the maiden edition of the creative festival. We organized the Caribbean Night during the ASC week yeah it was a beach-themed event. The experiences I got from all of these roles and responsibilities that I enrolled myself for, they made me really happy when I was on campus It was a way for me to first of all release stress It was also a way for me to learn and often socialize with people so these experiences were really good in that regard I had the opportunity to do a study abroad in my third year—really impactful study abroad program at the California Polytechnic State University; CAL Poly and I got to form some really good friendships over there. I got to experience so many things. I got to experience skydiving that was something I hadn’t tried before. I got to be in a car made for the drag strip about 600 horsepower and we raced on the streets so that was nice so yeah, all of these experiences from the study abroad program so as the internship outside was something I was praying for, for a while and then finally my fourth year and the final part of third year, I just made a ton of new friends, formed really good bonds that would stay with me for a very long time I think my whole life I also got to work on my baby project that was the design and development of the semi-active damper So, my Ashesi Experience in one word was, exciting Yeah, it was exciting
By Anonymoous ‘24
Good parts of Ashesi (from an engineering perspective)
It's the best place to be. You are surrounded by brilliant lecturers who really know their stuff and are ready to assist with projects. You get access to resources and premium software used in the industry. You are also surrounded by colleagues who encourage you.
Bad part
There's clear segregation in Ashesi Internationals vs nationals, scholars vs. non-scholarship students, overly religious vs. the others, you get the idea.
The surge of AJC cases also shows how ethics are failing.
After embarking on an exchange program, I could argue that Ashesi comes with unnecessary stress, and the justification is that Ashesi is aiming to be on the same level as Ivy League schools.
My experience.
It's been a fruitful experience. Ashesi is a place where you have a holistic education and grow to become a better version of yourself
I like the fact that outside of education, I got the chance to explore some of my hobbies and sports. I also love the diversity. I've made friends from across Africa and I appreciate that.
The fact that Ashesi is a close environment brings stagnation Each semester The events are the same, and I think that's gets pretty boring ( I bet you agree on this)
I didn't think a cafeteria could just leave the school premises in the middle of the semester, but it happened. ��
For a school that is supposed to he the best in the country, Ashesi has a lot of drama. Don't get me wrong, I'm there for all of it. Who doesn't love the drama. ��
Things are also overpriced at Ashesi It's sad that the student businesses hope on that trend Some try to make over 100% profit, and I think that's just greedy. An example is the people selling Crocs. I could do the same, charge less, and still be happy with my profit.
I don't understand why some creative in the community are overlooked As a liberal arts school, you'd think they'd be appreciated, but people want their service for free The funny thing is, they are ready to pay others from outside the school Justice for creatives
Back to some of the lecturers being phenomenal... Some of the Engineering lecturers are God sent. An example is Stephen Armah. He doesn't follow the textbook He teaches you to make you ready for industry and makes sure you know how to use the software I like that Ashesi has such lecturers
BY JOSHUA CE
Summer is here, bringing the perfect opportunity to dive into new entertainment without the stress of looming deadlines Whether you are an introvert seeking cozy indoor activities or searching for the perfect show for a date night, this guide has something for everyone Here’s a roundup of must-watch content to fill those long, lazy summer days in no particular order.
1. Deadpool 3 (2024)
Deadpool and Wolverine unite in this highly anticipated instalment of the Deadpool series. With Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine, expect a perfect blend of chaotic humour, action, and the iconic banter between these two fanfavourite characters Highly recommended for Marvel nerds
2. Inside Out 2 (2024)
In this follow-up to the beloved animated film Inside Out, audiences are invited back into Riley’s mind as she navigates her teenage years. Expect more emotional adventures with the original cast of emotions plus a few new ones.
3. The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021)
The comedy-drama by Mindy Kaling that follows four female freshmen roommates. The show humorously explores the ups and downs of college life, from academic pressures to romance, friendship, and identity
4 The King (2019)
The King is a historical drama film that reimagines the life of young King Henry V of England. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, the film follows Henry as he reluctantly ascends to the throne following his father’s death.
5. House of the Dragon (2022)
Set 200 years before Game of Thrones, this prequel series explores the Targaryen dynasty’s rise to power and the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons Expect political intrigue, dragon battles, and family feuds
6 The Boys (2019)
The Boys is a dark and satirical take on the superhero genre This Amazon Prime series follows a group of vigilantes who take on corrupt superheroes, blending brutal action with biting humour and commentary on power and corruption.
7. The Voyeurs (2021)
The Voyeurs is a psychological thriller about a couple who become obsessed with spying on their neighbours, leading to unexpected and dangerous consequences. The film explores themes of obsession, privacy, and moral boundaries.
8 Wonder (2017)
This heartwarming drama tells the story of a young boy with a facial difference as he enters mainstream school for the first time The film is an uplifting tale of kindness, acceptance, and the power of friendship
BY JOSHUA CE
9 Halo (2022)
Based on the popular video game series, Halo is a sci-fi epic that follows the battle between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant The series combines action, deep lore, and stunning visuals, appealing to both fans of the games and new viewers.
10. Catherine the Great (2019)
Starring Helen Mirren, this historical drama series delves into the reign of Catherine the Great, one of Russia’s most powerful and influential leaders. The series is filled with political intrigue, lavish settings, and character-driven drama.
11 The Sandman (2022)
Based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels, The Sandman is a dark fantasy series that follows Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, as he navigates a universe filled with myth, magic, and complex characters.
12. Ma (2019)
Ma is a psychological horror-thriller about a lonely woman who befriends a group of teenagers, letting them party in her basement. However, the situation takes a dark turn as her intentions are revealed. Octavia Spencer delivers a chilling performance in this eerie film.
13 Girls Trip (2017)
Girls Trip is a hilarious and feel-good comedy about four lifelong friends who embark on a wild adventure during a trip to New Orleans. The film is filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and unforgettable scenes, making it a summer mustwatch.
14. Blue Eyed Samurai (2023)
Blue Eyed Samurai is an animated action series set in Edo-period Japan. It follows a mixed-race swordswoman seeking revenge in a world of honour and betrayal The show features stunning animation and intense action sequences
Honourable Mentions
1Blood of Zeus
2.The Old Guard
3.Supacell
4.Dirty Dancing
5.Shogun
6.Crazy Rich Asians
7Moana
8WeCrashed
ing in mmittee of ent is all about celebrating and enhancing the creative field in Ashesi. After a hiatus in 2022, the initiative is back with a refreshed lineup of events, a better experience, and an annual festival celebrating the different forms of creativity among Ashesi University students.
Over the 2 day event, the festival’s immersive platform will allow students to showcase their creative skills through photography, videography, painting, and digital art. Short films are going to be premiered while poetry is in full flow. A Fashion show coupled with a music faceoff will be hosted, appealing to all forms of art, a testament to the festival’s theme, “Beyond Binary, The Future We Weave”. Students will submit their work based on a given theme, which will be exhibited to students and a group of expert judges With prizes up for grabs, there will be opportunities for internships, mentorships, and connecting students with established creatives. The Creative Festival is about giving students a space to show off their talents and connect with others who are just as passionate about creativity.
Amongst the lineup is the iMullar Sound System, an initiative powered by the iMullar Network, the leading platform for fostering the growth of the sound system culture in Ghana IMSS has been and continues to be an allinclusive space which allows DJs to freely explore genres To elevate the art of DJing, iMullar Sound System has established the iMullar Sound System School, a DJ workshop for persons interested in DJing.
ng it off at their first anniversary (Energy OO7), they duced the IMSS open deck, a program which offered a erclass about the basics of DJing. The next IMSS ol edition is slated for 21st September at Ashesi ersity with an all-women team of instructors; TMSKDJ, rstin, and Didi DJ who will share their experience and ledge with the students.The Workshop will be followed mixer, climaxing the Festival. The Mixer will kickstart a B2B showdown between Ashesi Alumni-DJs, Caleb i and King Fikser, and current student DJs, Khxnbeats Don.
edition marks the first collaboration of the iMullar d System School with an educational facility, a am they plan to host in other schools