“The universe is made up of stories not atoms”.
– Muriel Rukeyser from “The Speed of Darkness”
She would shuffle in every evening as the sun set, stooped over her old, trusted cane. Her old, haggard body harbored an indomitable spirit, the fire of which lit up in her eyes. To a five-year-old, she was the oldest person in the world.
As she moved slowly across the courtyard, eager eyes would follow her.
She would head for her stool set in the corner of the courtyard like a throne. The dancing flames of the kerosene lamps that lit the courtyard always cast ghostlike shadows on the walls, enhancing the moment in intrigue and suspense.
The minute she sat down, three generations of descendants would form an arc around her stool. She would always cast her gaze over the assembly, as if to make sure no one was missing.
We always sat in suspense, riveted and waiting for the opening lines. We never knew where Storytime with Great-Grandma Jooma would head out to. It could be into the world of Kweku Ananse, about great kings and queens, a fable, an event from long ago or trips over hills and far away. We just waited and knew it would be good.
And then she would clear her throat and go:
“Kwezi wo dze ndze oo!”
And we would respond:
“Wo gye dze wo ara!”
Then even as the red flames of the lamps danced in her eyes, they’ll open up to usher us into her universe. Her universe of stories. Soon it became my universe too.
Over the years, I may have travelled the world, learnt the secrets of science and even marvelled at the stars and planets but at heart, my universe is made of stories not atoms.