Accra Gold

Accra gold, Accra gold
Small silence for the couple, please
Ei, Accra!
Band, make it sweet
Tonight one love turns the whole room gold

Accra dusk through the reception glass
Kente catches the evening sun
Her mother presses both hands to her mouth
God has done it — look what God has done
Aunties in the first row start to hum
Uncle Kojo owns the floor before the song
The groom keeps losing the smile he tries to hide
The best man checks three pockets for the ring
Finds it in the lining of his jacket
Then the highlife guitar rolls through the hall
And every careful guest gets up to dance

Who turned this evening sweet?
Who put sugar in the drummer's beat?
Who made the old men leave their chairs?
Look at those two — the answer's there

Raise your glass where the trumpets play
Let the band carry this love till day
Two rings shining, one promise told
Your smile made Accra gold
Accra gold

Now every couple's pulled onto the floor
The ones of fifty years still asking for more
Grandpa shows the young boys how it's done
Two slow steps, no hurry, one by one
Grandma taps his shoulder: You still rush
He laughs and gives the missing beat back
We buried hard years; still we dance, he says
The newlyweds stop and watch their hands
The jollof is finished, but nobody has gone
The photographer gives up posing anyone
One marriage begins beneath the horns
One shows them how to keep it warm

Who turned this evening sweet?
Who put sugar in the drummer's beat?
Who made the young ones stop and stare?
Look at that old love dancing there

Raise your glass where the trumpets play
Let the band carry this love till day
Two rings shining, one promise told
Your smile made Accra gold
Accra gold

Trumpet, talk to them
Ei!
Guitar man, take your time
If you came with somebody, hold them close
If you came alone, the floor is yours
Shoulders easy, two steps slow
This is how a blessing learns to move

Grandma takes the microphone, still catching breath
Gold can scratch and gold can bend
But laughter makes a hard day rich again
Dance with him when money runs low
Dance with her when the house lights won't glow
When angry words make pride stand tall
Be the first one back across the hall
When chairs are stacked and guests have gone
Choose each other when no band plays
Grandpa reaches up and takes her hand
The couple bows; the whole room understands

Raise your glass while the trumpets rest
Keep the small joys; they will serve you best
Two rings shining, one road to hold
That is how a lifetime turns to gold

Raise your glass where the trumpets play
Choose each other when the band fades away
Two rings shining, one road to hold
That is how love keeps Accra gold
Accra gold!

Sweep the rice and stack the chairs
Grandma's shoes are resting underneath her seat
The couple keeps dancing after the horns
Goodnight, Accra — drive safe, love somebody
Choose each other when no band plays
Accra gold