The other day, I was reading an article in one of the international media outlets about a 73-year-old parish priest at King Catholic Church in Accra. The priest, Father Andreo Campbell, born in Ireland, arrived in Ghana in 1971 to serve as a missionary – and, in due course, acquired Ghanaian citizenship.
However, among other things, he refused to adopt certain local – let’s call them “African” – habits, including that of lax time-keeping.
An incident was cited in which he began a wedding ceremony despite the absence of the bride, who was characteristically running late. Halfway through the programme, the bridal procession could be seen trying to make a discreet entrance through the back door.
Father Campbell rushed from the altar, leading the groom, and stopped the bride in the middle of the aisle, where he conducted a hurried marriage rite – and then walked back out to continue from where he had left off before the bride’s appearance.
Now, this might seem a bit strange – especially inside a sacred place. But it is not. I, along with many others – mostly in Northern European countries – call it keeping time.
This reminds me of the first time I arrived in London in the early 1980s. I was rather surprised to observe that almost all the commuters on the city’s public tube system were either reading their papers or minding their own business as they waited for their respective buses or trains.
They kept a close eye on the station clock and their watches. Many buses and trains passed by, stopping for only half a minute – yet the commuters remained unbothered.
But at the exact second and minute their bus or train was due to arrive, they would simply stop whatever they were doing and board in orderly fashion – without even checking the destination signs. They just knew it was the right one because of the timing.
I, on the other hand, would be busy reading the destinations illuminated on the front of each bus or train – until mine finally arrived. And surprisingly, it too arrived precisely on time, to the second and minute. In due course, I realised I did not trust the time-keeping precision of the transport system – which, obviously, was my mistake.
Try that in Bongoland, and you’re more likely than not to miss your journey altogether. Our timing system is too flexible – too elastic – for such a system to function.
One particular incident of this Bongoland-style time-keeping comes to mind. I was on the road, and a fellow Bongolander cost me several hard-earned dollars. I mean US dollars.
It was in the early 1990s, and the two of us were travelling by train from Brussels, Belgium, to Frankfurt, Germany, to catch an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Bongoland.
We arrived at Brussels Central Station on time and settled on the benches of our designated platform, enjoying cans of Stella Artois, while waiting for our train that would take us directly to Frankfurt International Airport.
Less than a minute before the train’s arrival, my colleague announced he needed to visit the washrooms, which were located below our platform. I strongly argued against it. I pointed out that our train was arriving in under a minute and would only stop for about 30 seconds before departing. Besides, I added, there were plenty of toilets on the train itself.
He was adamant, and off he went.
Needless to say, the train arrived right on schedule while he was still away. I was in a sweaty dilemma – either leave my friend and his luggage behind, or abort the whole mission and face the consequences.
As the train hooted and pulled away, my friend came rushing back, sweating (it was summer), and huffing and puffing. He was too late – by about three seconds.
I was furious, to say the least. But what could be done?
As it turned out, we ended up spending two more days in Europe – this time in Frankfurt – and spent more money before we could catch another Ethiopian Airlines flight back to Bongoland.
This was an expense we had not budgeted for, given our meagre resources. Like it or not, it was an expensive lesson – and a hard one at that.
Learning to keep time? Ha!
🔴 The author is a veteran journalist and communication expert/consultant.
📧 mpumilwa@gmail.com
