5 Lessons From The Lamu

LAMU

In every Ghanaian High School aside the classroom, there is one place which receives more visitors
in a day than the classrooms do.

It is the most disgusting but essential element of the school. Which I would place as number 1 before the classroom itself.

This is where we attended meetings with nature and took major life decisions such as emptying the bowels before the next fun fair to avoid any embarrassment, how to escape to town and many others I can't list.

'Atonko' they call it in Okuass, 'Là' in Holico, 'Binary' in Persco,
'Wengeze' or 'E-loo'in Syte, 'Push' in Motown, 'Downs' in Abugiss, 'Toala' for the Santaclausians but in the land of the Pope, the only Vatican City annex in West Africa, PJ, we call it 'Lamu'. This is how some high schools called their latrines or shanks.

As disgusting as it may sound, my 4-year constant meeting with Nature taught me many things and it inspired me to write this. You only may have observed but never considered the lessons I learnt from the shanks. Follow me through as we learn from my Lamu and relate them to life.
(Caution: do not read this post while eating.)

Lesson 1:
Spread Faeces - Even though a school is a civilised society, not everyone I could say was civilised. An uncleaned Lamu was met with faeces scattered all over from the entrance to the wherever you chose. Meaning one had to tip-toe somethings stepping into them. But finally made it to the spot.

Lesson: Life is full of disorder. People would mess up your road to success. You got to maneuver your way through with determination and faith. Don't make petty things act as a bloque to your destination.

Lesson 2:
Houseflies - An unclean shank with faeces everywhere attracted a lot of flies. Where one had to squat, you were sure to host some delegates there. Noise made around your body, uneasiness and a rush to leave the place.

Lesson: People are going to distract you once you start making it life. It is never going to be easy, but determination and hard work bring positive results.

Lesson 3
Worms - where there are flies expect worms and where it has to do with such a place expect more. As uneasy as they make you feel in there, they worked on the end product.

Lesson: People seem hang around to make life uneasy for you, but they are there to work on your labor to make it useful.


Lesson 4:
Writings on the wall - the most interesting part of the Lamu was the wall. Where you saw people's thoughts on the walls. Some drawings of naked people having sex and others. That's where secrets and grieves and talents were shared and funny enough the 'brave' did not leave a name on the wall.

Lesson: Life is an everyday educational affair. What you read or think shapes you. Decipher what is good and bad content. Not all writings are meant for everyone.

Lesson 5:
Cleaned 'Lamu' - there are times the place is so neat that you spend more than 30 minutes in there deliberating over issues while you enjoy the air that passes beneath the bottom. It is satisfactory when you cleaned it yourself under the supervision of a prefect who only inspects when he is going to have a tête-a-tête with nature.

Lesson: The world is a messy place. You may not like the idea of putting your life in shape, but the ability to do it with God's strength is worthwhile. You won't always have the world messy and the cool air that blows over you is a sign of your labour being useful.


You may have visited your school's shank for many years but never thought of it. You were able to overcome the challenges of a latrine and today you enjoy the warmth of the Water Closets.

The next time you visit the shank, compare it to what you left behind in high school and you would realise to everything, there is an end. Nothing lasts forever. So get up and face the challenges of life.