The fable of the Santrofi Anoma in Akan folklore has been on my mind recently. Santrofi Anoma is a mythical bird, which is regarded to be both a blessing and a curse. As the saying goes,
“Santrofi Anoma, wo kye no a, wo akye mmusuo; wo gyae no a, wagyae serade.”
Meaning: To capture this bird, the Santrofi Anoma is to take on curses, yet to let it go is to let go of untold blessing.
Therein lies the dilemma of the Santrofi bird (Anoma). It is a blessing for its transforming beauty and power of its gift of song that is irresistible to humans. Yet Santrofi is also a curse for its mysterious treasures of the mind imbued with an irritating and irrepressible urge to expose the truth regardless, hence causing rift among humans.
It is said that the hunter who comes across this bird in the forest is faced with a great dilemma; for to leave Santrofi back in the forest is to leave behind a rare treasure (blessings); while to capture and bring it home is to bring upset to your household, hence the curse.
I have always thought that Santrofi Anoma in Akan folklore can be likened to the Poisoned Chalice in English.
The term "poisoned chalice" is applied to a thing or situation which appears to be good when it is received or experienced by someone, but then becomes or is found to be bad.
William Shakespeare uses the expression, poisoned chalice in Act I Scene VII of Macbeth, in the opening soliloquy of the scene when Macbeth is considering the ramifications of the murder he is plotting. (Yes, I still love my English literature.)
The poisoned chalice depicts the image of someone trying to kill another while offering them hospitality.
I cannot help but think that some husbands and partners eventually become a Santrofi Anoma – they have somehow become a curse, yet once were seemingly a blessing.
They have also become the poisoned chalice, slowly killing you under the guise of loving you.
Hmm, this was always my dilemma – should I enjoy the rare beauty and gift of song of my Santrofi, or must I let this seemingly rare treasure go?
I guess you know what decision I finally made, and boy am I glad! Real treasure or True blessings never come in disguise. Like a wolf in sheep clothing. If it looks like a dog, and barks like a dog even just sometimes, girl, it IS a dog.
Footnote: Yesterday I blogged about letting go of something else, not my ex. I was intentionally rather vague about what that was for a number of reasons. As much as I try to be as open and candid as possible on this blog, reason dictates that I be more reticent on this subject for the time being.
I will eventually be more expressive about what that big thing I let go yesterday was, at the right time. I just wanted to mention in this footnote that, whatever I let go yesterday wasn’t my ex. As you well know I let him go ages ago. Does sound like I am really purging my life recently? Probably!
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