Sunday 30 March 2014

Object of Desire: Ashanti Stool By Spode





Price: POA  / For more info Visit: www.soane.co.uk
 

More Info:
England, circa 1900

A decorative stool composed of Spode stone china, stamped to

the underside 'Copeland / Spode's Tower / England' and

depicting the 'Spode's Tower' design originally introduced in

1814.
 

The stool is inspired by the traditional seating of the Ashanti

tribe of Ghana, in commemoration of their suppression by the

British in 1900. The Ashanti uprising was triggered by the

British Governor of Ghana Sir Frederick Hodgson, who

demanded the right to sit on the sacred 'Golden Stool'; a

religious symbol central to the Ashantis beliefs and power

structure, permitted to be touched only by an elite inner circle.

The stool is illustrated in Spode's catalogue of Flower Pots and

Garden Seats.
 
Dimensions
 
 
 
570 mm wide x 455 mm high x 290 mm deep

21 in. wide x 18 in. high x 11.5 in. deep

50


******RE: Copeland "Spode's Tower" Pottery Ashanti-style stool.

Mother's Day / My Day.....................







Paulina says: I've been out of sorts-lately. The thing is..... its very easy to get ...well, a bit out-of-sorts when you're doing lovely things from your heart and one or two, who shall remind nameless -belittle it... I guess they simply haven't evolved beyond themselves ---yet.

Two and a half years ago, all hell broke loose in my life and I was crashed but I learnt, and continue to learn some very valuable lessons.

One of the biggest lessons I learnt about myself, was that, even when my dreams came crashing down, I was still able to pick myself up by God's glorious grace, get back onto the computer, and celebrate other peoples dreams and businesses.....and I like me.....very much for that.

I think that my problems has been that because somewhere along the way I got damaged, that --I felt I had something prove (to at least two people in my life), but now I'm free --and I don't feel that way -Amen.

I also feel that I was mis-educated along the way, and now I'm learning that what I perceived to be the small things in life --are truly the BIGGEST and BEST things in life --and I'm thankful and grateful for them.

Anywayssssssssss I just wanted to tell you how much I needed Mother's Day -today!!!!

I love my son sooooooo much. After God he is my everything. We cooked together today, and he made me this delicious fruit salad..

I hope your Mother's Day was everything you wanted it to be.

Lots of Love

Paulina xxx

"Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.


 

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Ghana Rising Hearts T-Michael








T-Michael and business partner Alexander Helle......
 

"True, unadulterated beauty and craftsmanship goes into each of T-Michael's pieces. Details, quality, tradition and style are few of the words that come to mind. Furthering the art and heritage of artisanal techniques of the past and redefining ready to wear styling of today's zeitgeist. T-Michael also dabbles in films and has from his creative film lab written, co directed, produced and art directed 3 films." Norwegian Rain
 
T-Michael and TinieTempah in Norwegian Rain
 

 
Sneak Preview: Handmade soles made of milk, titanium tanned leather, hidden inner galosh... Welcome the waterproof leather shoe project!! AW14." Norwegian Rain
Paulina says: How fabulous are these boots -a must for A/W 2014 me thinks....

 

Paulina says: I've had the biggest crush on bespoke tailor / fashion designer / style icon, T-Michael for some time and up until a couple of days ago had no idea what he was called. Anywaysssss, like a growing number of yousssssssssss, I'd seen numerous photos of this stylish cat dressed to kill all over the place -and was moved to find out more.... So can you imagine my happy surprise when I found out not only his name --but that he was Ghanaian...... -still I'm not surprised, I've always known Ghanaian men are the best dressed men on planet Earth.
T-Michael it transpires is the fabulous designer behind the hottest label right now -Norwegian Rain, and has become of late -the darling of the fashion red carpet and a heartthrob for many women like me.....

For more info about T-Michael visit: http://www.t-michael.com/
http://norwegianrain.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NorwegianRain
https://twitter.com/tmichael_bergen http://instagram.com/tmichael_bergen 
 
 

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Education for Girls: Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in Ghana................






Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with Swedish Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling with other distinguished guests  (Photo Credit: Papa Kwabena Opoku)

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, together with Swedish Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling, arrived at the Achievers Book Club centre at Maamobi (a suburb of Accra in Ghana) to visit and witness the girls and the Tech Needs Girls team in action. She arrived in Ghana as part of a promotional trip. For many of the young girls, and the team, this was more than just a visit. It was a fulfillment of a dream right before their very eyes.




Princess Victoria of Sweden with Swedish Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling 
(Photo Credit: Papa Kwabena Opoku)

It was amazing to see the down to earth Princess interact with the girls. She gave them such encouraging words as she asked what their dreams were. She edged the girls to pursue them, and not to give up doing so. She was pleased with, and congratulated the efforts the Tech Needs Girls team are making.


To read the rest of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Swedish Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling trip to Ghana visit: http://leversinheels.tumblr.com/post/79961465696/once-upon-a-time-in-maamobi
 

High-Life/ Banking: Ghana to triple the number of people using debit Cards.....


Title: Ghana rolls out plan to grow usage of debit cards
Dated: March 19 2014


ACCRA — Ghana will introduce devices that will triple the number of people who can use debit cards to pay for purchases to draw more business through banks in West Africa’s second-largest economy.

About 2.3-million people would be able to swipe their local debit or e-zwich card on 2,500 point of sale devices in Accra by May, said Archie Hesse, CEO of state-owned Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems. Currently, customers can only use them to withdraw money from the issuer’s automated teller machines (ATMs).

The 1-million Visa cards issued by 14 banks including Barclays Bank and Standard Bank can be used to withdraw money from any ATM and pay for purchases through about 400 devices at mostly hotels and restaurants. The government was in talks with Visa and MasterCard to include those cards on the new machines, Mr Hesse said.

"Use of cards will let funds reside in the bank other than under people’s pillows, in their pockets or wallets," Mr Hesse said last week. "Banks can lend these funds to businesses to expand operations and the government can borrow to invest in projects."

Ghana wants to lure more people to banks to promote lending and saving in a country where less than 10% of its 26-million citizens have access to banking services. Increased debit card usage would draw more cash through banks, boosting gross domestic product and providing more data for policy makers, Mr Hesse said.

Thirteen of the nation’s 27 banks issued their own local cards to customers, Mr Hesse said. Local banks including Ghana Commercial Bank have issued about 1.5-million cards that can only be used at the issuer’s ATMs.

About 800,000 people have e-zwich smart cards that can be filled with cash to make purchases. Customers do not need bank accounts to load money onto e-zwich.

The clearinghouse will hand out another 2,500 devices outside the capital by the end of the year. Ghana needed 60,000 to 70,000 machines to enable cards to be used as a primary means of payment throughout the country, Mr Hesse said. MasterCard users would be able to make payments through the new devices by the end of July. There were about 5,000 MasterCard customers.

Mr Hesse said t he government was negotiating a similar agreement with Visa. Cards "would save the nation millions of dollars spent in printing new currency and help to provide data for policy making".


Source: http://www.bdlive.co.za/africa/africannews/2014/03/19/ghana-rolls-out-plan-to-grow-usage-of-debit-cards

Ghana Ambassador to Japan was hoodwinked

 
 
Title: Ghana Ambassador to Japan was hoodwinked
Dated: Monday 24th March , 2014
 
Emerging details suggest that Ambassador Edmond Kofi Agbenutse Deh, Ghana’s envoy to Japan, was deceived into signing documents unknowingly, letting out part of a property belonging to the mission to a gang of Japanese gamblers.

The envoy is said to have believed the story of the gamblers when they told him that they were engaged in an NGO activity, something which according to them, previous envoys did not object to.
Tokyo Police are reported to have asked Ambassador Deh to consent to questioning over an illegal casino at his official residence, waiving his diplomatic immunity.

This new development may lead to the recall of the Ambassador.
The gamblers’ goal, DAILY GUIDE learnt, was to operate under the cover of the diplomatic immunity the mission’s property provided, concealing thereby their illegality.

Unfortunately, that was not to be as Tokyo law enforcement officers descended upon them, taking them into custody and confiscating two baccarats gambling platforms, 12 million yen ($ 118,164) in cash, according to a local broadcaster.
 
The NGO they claimed to be operating was particularly helpful to Ghana, given the supportive role it is playing in the drilling of boreholes – something the envoy was unable to authenticate before agreeing to append his signature to an agreement.

Ambassador Deh, totally convinced, quickly signed the accompanying tenancy agreement to let out the place to be used ostensibly as an NGO office.

It was amazing, though, how easy it was for the Tokyo crooks to hoodwink the Ghanaian envoy, considering the fact that there was no evidence of the activities the gamblers claimed to have been rendering Ghana in the area of borehole drilling.

Worsening the situation was the fact that communication ceased following the signing of the deal, letting out the office space to the gamblers.

The cat was only let out of the bag when the Tokyo cops descended on the gamblers as the news kept spreading throughout local news networks and beyond like wildfire and causing massive diplomatic embarrassment to the Ghanaian mission in Tokyo.

It would be recalled that Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced early this month about a raid they under took in a casino in the Shibuya entertainment area of the sprawling city, for operating an illegality in a premises belonging to the Ghanaian mission in Japan.

Even as they claimed to be linked to the Ghanaian Embassy, some of the Japanese casino operators expressed surprise that such a raid could take place, the diplomatic immunity they expected to enjoy, notwithstanding.

Although the Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, was not available for comment when the news about the raid broke out, the details emerging from Tokyo fully covered what transpired.

She however, posted on her facebook wall that investigations had commenced over the illegal act.

Japanese investigators had earlier stated that a rental contract to the tune of a monthly payment of 500,000 Yen or $4,923.50 was entered into, using the name of the previous Ghanaian envoy to Japan, Dr. William Mensah Brandful’s document which was signed at the ambassador’s residence.

In March of last year the details on the contract were altered to that of the current envoy, Edmond Kofi Agbenutse Deh. Source: Daily Guide

Source: http://www.citifmonline.com/?p=8171

Black Gold: Tullow Oil Pays Tax



Title: Tullow Discloses First Income Tax Paid to Ghana Last Year  --Dated: Mar 24, 2014

Tullow Oil Plc (TLW)’s government payment disclosure revealed it paid income tax for the first time in Ghana last year after recovering part of investment in its largest project.

The producer, which pumps about 100,000 barrels of oil a day from the Jubilee field offshore Ghana, paid about $107 million in income tax, or about half of all the money it remitted to the government, according to its annual report published today. Total payments to nations rose 25 percent to $870.4 million last year from a year ago, driven by projects in Kenya, Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.

“In 2012, we acted ahead of regulatory developments and published our tax and other payments to governments and other major stakeholders,” Tullow said in the report. This year it stepped up its transparency effort by disclosing payments on a project-by-project basis and providing more details such as royalties and other taxes.

The company, based in London, has been leading the initiative for companies to give details about their payments to governments, part of a worldwide effort to combat corruption, according to Global Witness, a U.K. advocacy group. Tullow, which is pumping most of its oil in Africa, started reporting before a European Union directive requires the information in 2015.

The company’s payments to Uganda fell to about $23 million last year from $174.7 million in 2012. That year, Tullow had to pay $141.8 million part of the capital gain tax claimed by the government on the sale of interests in oil fields to Total SA and Cnooc Ltd. Tullow said on Feb. 12 it was disputing the charge.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-24/tullow-discloses-first-income-tax-paid-to-ghana-last-year.html

Health: IBM Tackles HIV in Ghana



Title: IBM Teams With Yale to Tackle HIV in Ghana
Dated: 03/24/14


IBM (IBM) has teamed up with the government of Ghana and Yale University as part of a technology-intensive project to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the African nation.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who has pledged to eliminate Mother- to-Child Transmission (eMTCT) of HIV in the country, announced the consortium on Monday. In addition to Yale, IBM is working with the Ghana Health Service and The ONE campaign, which aims to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.

The Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM is working with the Ghana Health Service and experts at Yale to build the public health initiative. Pro bono teams from the company's Corporate Service Corps will "design a blueprint for implementing and managing eMTCT efforts", according to a statement released by the Ghanaian government. This strategy will encompass national, district and community efforts, it said.

Technology will feature prominently, with IBM providing System z mainframes to support the initiative. The mainframes will harness cloud, mobile and big data technology to capture, store and retrieve data from a variety of locations, such as clinics, offices and remote sites.  The consortium's goal is to reduce Ghana's rate of mother-to-child HIV infection to less than 5% by 2018, meeting the World Health Organization's standard for elimination. President Mahama wants to create a system that will cut the rate of transmission to less than 20% by 2020. 

Ghana currently ranks among the 22 countries with the highest burden of HIV among pregnant women, according to the government's statement, and lack of public awareness, limited access to diagnostic tests and cultural stigma often stand in the way of testing.  IBM is no stranger to major public health projects. In 2009 and 2010, for example, Big Blue worked with Mexico's Ministry of Health to model the spread of H1N1 when swine flu cases in Mexico City hit pandemic levels.

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, in her annual letter to shareholders earlier this month, vowed to maintain the company's significant presence in hardware, highlighting, in particular, its mainframe business. Big data, which refers to the management of vast quantities of unstructured data, or information that is outside the realm of traditional databases, is another key technology area for IBM. 

Experts have already identified 2014 as a crucial 12 months in IBM's 103-year history. The company has kicked off the year with a slew of major announcements such as a $2.3 billion deal to sell its low-end server business to Lenovo, billion-dollar investments in Watson supercomputer and cloud technology and plans to rebalance its workforce. IBM shares rose 0.61% to $187.81 on Monday trading

Source: http://www.thestreet.com/story/12541108/1/ibm-teams-with-yale-to-tackle-hiv-in-ghana.html

Paulina says: Some good news.........................

BSB Poli-tricks -put on hold....................


Title: Ghana puts $1bln Eurobond on hold
Dated:March 19 2014


Accra - Ghana has put on hold plans to issue a 10-year Eurobond worth up to $1 billion because market conditions are not conducive, a deputy finance minister told Reuters on Wednesday.
But the government has not ruled out issuing a Eurobond this year and is targeting a yield of 8 percent or less, Cassiel Ato Forson said.
 
“Market conditions today are not good enough for us to issue the bond, because if we are to go in now, we'll get a very expensive spread,” Forson said.
 
Ghana's parliament approved proposals in December for a 2014 Eurobond, the West African country's third, and said the government could issue up to $1.5 billion to finance capital projects and refinance debt.
 
“You can't say that because it is not good today, it will not be good tomorrow. So we have to keep monitoring, and I am optimistic that things will change for the better,” Forson added, referring to conditions for a Eurobond issue.
 
Ghana, which exports cocoa, gold and oil, sold a $750 million 10-year Eurobond last July, paying a yield of about 8 percent. It also bought back about $250 million of its 2007 debut dollar bond. - Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/business/international/ghana-puts-1bln-eurobond-on-hold-1.1663961#.UzHU_cJOXIV

Paulina says: Beg, Steal and Borrow Poli-tricks -put on hold.................... Is it me or is this government always trying to get its hands on some money...... why? What are they using it for? Aren't they waiting on some monies from China??????? What will they use it for????? I certainly haven't seen any progress. Must re-read http://graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/19501-3bn-chinese-loan-govt-delegation-in-china.html

 

Friday 21 March 2014

"A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her."


 

Ghana's Social Media-Nistas talk Anna & the President.......


(Posted on the 12-1-2014 )
"Had the Honor of meeting the President of Ghana! yess he's #JetSkiing lol #Ghana #Africa #PowerfulMan #Honored #ImSmilingToHard" @anna_stanelli


 

"I can get use to this! Lol #Ghana #Ghana2014 #Africa #privateisland #Jetski" @anna_stanelli




 They Don't Know #Ghana #Africa #AnnaStanelli


"No person will ever effect my money flow. You can never knock a true Boss down." @anna_stanelli

 

"Beauty can take you so far but the mind is what takes you beyond " @anna_stanelli

 

 
Paulina says: It all started out very innocently on the 12th January 2014 when one good-time-gal based in Orlando Florida but wanting to move to Miami, a glamour queen by the name of @anna_stanelli uploaded a photograph of herself and errrrmmmm the Republic of Ghana's very own President, his excellency, President John Dramani Mahama of the former Gold Coast --saying hi to each other at Ghana's must-visit, sexy Ada beach!!!!! Then five days ago, a member of the Ghana's people -stumbled upon the above photograph and hey presto ---said image went viral or should I say --virus!!!!!

Every Kwame, Kofi, Atta, Ama and Auntie Baba has had something to say about it and its not all good, or bad or funny.

To be honest .......its been exhausting to say the least. And the funny thing is.... I don't believe said young lady at the very epicentre of the storm --knows anything about the storm (laughter)!!!!

I don't know @anna_stanelli personally, but I don't believe she is what Ghana's ever increasing 'Moral Elite' are claiming -----that she-beeeeee the girlfriend/lover or what-have-you of our 'better Ghana' president!!!

The thing is......I've sort of lived a bit ----and I can honestly say, ---most girlfriends-of....dot, dot, dot...... tend to know their place ---which is a place called hidden (or shopping in Dubai, or Paris, or Amsterdam, or Geneva or NYCity)....And @anna_stanelli is soooooo not hidden!!!!

Granted........looking through @anna_stanelli's exotic photos she does seem to be travelling and having lotssss of fun (all things/stuff that kill the green-eyed-monsters-of-La-Ghana) but I don't believe its paid for ---from the public Kente purse or Ghana's GDP (mercy)!!!!!

Personally, I believe @anna_stanelli is the usual A-type, Instagram-er kind of gal....., you know the ones, ........all do-able, earthbound ambitious hair, nails, flat stomach and knows her power --and is prepared to use it to get her to where she wants to get-to regardless of what yousssssss think!!!! 
 
I think she's a lovely young lady who wants to win and have a nice life, and help her family, and was probably shooting a glamour calendar on the beaches of Ghana when she saw our president jet skiing (as-you-do) --and went and said hi (as you do)..... But no, I don't believe she has her eyes on the first throne of the republic of Ghana, West Africa ---former Gold Coast Colony etc, etc etc..... Nope, I'm sure she likes her electricity -on, and her water --flowing (mercy)!!!!!

Anywaysss, I was more interested in seeing Ghana's very own President, his excellency, President John Dramani Mahama of the former Gold Coast now 'Better Ghana' ------on a jet sky in Ada and not Dubai (mercy......laughter)!!!!!!!!

I'm hoping said photo, --a photograph that has garnered much noise, will do for Ghana's tourist industry what its very own tourist board/Authority or whatever --has never managed to do/achieve, ------put Ghana's beautiful beaches on-the-map!!!!!!
 
 

"Sometimes they're people who dont fit in a certain place. They follow happiness rather than settling for a 9 to 5 job, living pay check to pay check , going to school after school; stressing half of there life.(Not knocking down anybody's hustle). Im going to call that person "H.M" which stands for Hathor the Egyptian Sky-goddess of joy,love, beauty, foreign lands,music and much more. The M stands for Ma'at whos an Egyptian Goddess of truth and justice. So H.M. searches and searches until they find where they belong in the World. Other people may judge them for not living a "normal american life" but they don't let that effect there journey. They avoid Negative situations and follow there heart. Instead of working for someone they'll rather be the one running things and trying to find peace with themselves and other by building beyond there income to take care of a whole World! In the process of getting to the top H.M.'s will travel to explore the World, learn and understand everyones situations, Research everything and anything, and learn the REAL facts about the World.Why? Because Knowledge is POWER. They Refuse to live the life of a written Manual. H.M.s never doubt themselves, if they say there going to make a mill in 4 years then THEY'RE going to MAKE A MILLION in 4 years! Every H.M. Finds happniess in there own way. To cut this short readers i am a H.M. Im going to be on top, I'm never going to stop grinding. I will take care of my whole family one day, and I will BECOME WEALTHILY By the time I'm 24!!!! Its Motivation to this ,I'm starving for success . All I follow is positive Vibes. I am not a normal person and will not settle for just anything. Therefore is My year to grind,travel, and build my foundation. I may lose friends, have people disagree with things, and fall down sometimes but nothing is going to stop my Grind. I am a new person and will forever think and stay positive. Family and happiness First!"
@anna_stanelli

Wednesday 19 March 2014




"Apparently...Ghanaian police don't investigate spiritual matters........ that could be the problem with our economy."  Nana Aba

 

With regard to:
http://www.highstreetmail.com/odd-news/flying-wizard-crash-lands-at-kasoa.html

Ghana Rising Hearts Piyusha Yamaoka





 
Paulina says: Remember uber beautiful Ghanaian /Japanese singer Katini, well she's not the only looker in her family, her sister Piyusha Yamaoka is an upcoming high-fashion model who's about to blow up in Australia -and we can see why.

According to Viviens Model Management, the ever beautiful Piyusha Yamaoka stands at an impressive 5'11, is a size 8 (lucky, lucky girl) -and is just gorgeous!!!!

I was thinking.........wouldn't it be fab to see her on the catwalk at GFDW --this year!!!! For more info about Piyusha Yamaoka visit Viviens Model Management via: https://www.facebook.com/ViviensModelManagement

 

 

P.s ...what is it with Australian websites calling Piyusha Yamaoka African /Japanese???? Do they not know Africa is a continent, and not a country????

Saturday 15 March 2014

Akan Proverbs—A Mirror on Social Norms


 
WHAT is a proverb? One dictionary defines a proverb as “a short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or tells you something about life.” The Yoruba of Nigeria define a proverb more colourfully, calling it “a horse which can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas.”
 
The importance of proverbs, or proverbial sayings, is captured in this proverb, well-known to the Akan people of Ghana: “A wise person is spoken to in proverbs, not in prose.” The point is that a wise person does not always need a lecture in order to be convinced of the right thing to do. A fitting proverb stimulates thinking, imparts understanding, and can motivate one to do what is right.
In Ghana, proverbs are used profusely during marriage ceremonies and funerals and are featured in folkloric music. They are also indispensable in diplomatic parleys. A spokesman or an emissary often resorts to the skillful use of proverbs.
 
In Akan society, skill in the use of proverbs is a hallmark of wisdom. Interestingly, in the Bible, King Solomon—a man famed for his wisdom, learning, and diplomacy—was credited with knowing 3,000 proverbs. Of course, the Bible’s proverbs were divinely inspired and are consistently true, unlike proverbs based on human experience and insight. Human proverbs, no matter how wise, should never be put on a par with the Bible. But let us take a look at some Akan proverbs.
 
Concept of God
In Ghana, proverbial sayings often acknowledge the existence of God, and this is reflected in many Akan proverbs. Atheistic ideas have no place in Akan philosophy. For example, one proverb states: “No one shows God to a child.” God’s existence is all too obvious even to a child. This proverb is often used in reference to something a child will automatically learn with little instruction.
Another Akan proverb states: “If you run away from God, you are still under him.” Thus, it is an exercise in self-delusion for anyone to attempt to ignore God. Long ago, the Bible made a similar point, saying that God’s eyes “are in every place, keeping watch upon the bad ones and the good ones.” (Proverbs 15:3) We are all accountable to the Almighty.
 
Expression of Social Norms and Values
As is true of proverbs from other cultures, Akan proverbs are a repository of social norms and values. For instance, the power of the spoken word is well highlighted in this example: “A slip of the tongue is worse than a slip of foot.” An unruly tongue can indeed do great damage and may actually make a difference between life and death.—Proverbs 18:21
 
However, when held in check, the tongue can be a real peacemaker, as testified to by the adage, “In the presence of the tongue, the teeth do not litigate.” The point here is that matters can be amicably settled between contending parties—say, a man and his wife—through calm discussion. And even when this does not work, the skillful use of the tongue in arbitration can stem the tide of conflict.
 
Practical Wisdom
The value of discernment and forethought is vividly expressed in a number of proverbial sayings that emphasize practical wisdom. An impulsive, foolhardy person who fails to consider the consequences of his actions could take advice from this maxim, “You first find an escape route before taunting the cobra.”
A parent noticing some bad traits in a child would want to heed this proverb, “If you notice a growing stalk that can pierce your eye, you uproot it, you don’t sharpen it.” Yes, any bad trait should be uprooted—or nipped in the bud—before it blooms into real trouble.
 
Allusion to Mores and Cultural Practices
Sometimes it is necessary to understand a culture to get the sense of its proverbs. For example, among the Akan it is considered bad manners to gesture with the left hand before others, especially older ones. This rule of etiquette is alluded to in the proverb, “You don’t use the left hand to point the way to your hometown.” In other words, one should appreciate what he has, including his origins.
A proverb alluding to the traditional dining practice in a typical Akan home states: “A child who learns to wash his hands eats with his elders.” At mealtimes, members of the household are grouped on the basis of age. However, a child who conducts himself well, especially in the areas of physical cleanliness and etiquette, may be elevated to join his father and other adults at their table. The proverb underscores the point that one’s respectability is determined more by his conduct than by his age.
 
Are you contemplating marriage? Then consider this Akan proverb, “Marriage is not palm wine to be tasted.” Sellers of palm wine, a fermented beverage tapped from the palm tree, generally allow prospective buyers to have a taste before deciding how much to buy or even whether to buy at all. Marriage, however, cannot be so tasted. This proverb highlights the permanence of the marital bond and the unacceptable status of trial marriages.
 
Critical Observation of Things
A host of proverbial sayings testify to the keen observations that Akan ancestors made of people and animals. A close examination of a hen with her chicks, for example, gave rise to this proverb, “A chick that stands by its mother gets the thigh of the grasshopper.” The meaning? If a person isolates himself, he is easily forgotten when it comes to sharing good things.
 
Anyone observing a dead frog can hardly fail to understand the truth of the saying, “The full length of the frog is seen upon its death.” This proverb is often cited when a person is unappreciated. In a situation like this, the unappreciated one takes solace in the fact that his or her absence might provide the opportunity for people to see in full measure his or her good qualities.
 
Proverbs in “Shorthand”
Though Akan proverbs have been passed from generation to generation by word of mouth, many sayings have been preserved in symbolic art. Such art is seen in wood carvings, staffs, gold weights, and traditional cloths as well as in modern textile designs. Visitors to Ghanaian art galleries may see depictions of a man climbing a tree while another man gives a helping hand. That is the visual equivalent of this proverb, “If you climb a good tree, you may be given a push.” The underlying message is obvious—if you pursue worthwhile goals, you may be given support.
 
Funerals especially provide the occasion for what one writer calls “textile rhetoric.” The mournful atmosphere of the occasion actually calls for meditative reflection on life. Consequently, the designs seen in funeral cloths convey messages with philosophical underpinnings. For example, a cloth depicting a ladder or a staircase recalls the proverb, “One person alone does not climb the ladder of death.”* This alerts all to take a humble view of themselves and not to live life as though they were immune to death.—Ecclesiastes 7:2
 
 
In Akan society, emissaries or spokesmen for traditional rulers are well versed in the eloquent use of proverbs, and they also carry a staff of office with motifs espousing some cherished value of the people. For instance, a bird clawing the head of a snake is “shorthand” for the saying, “If you get hold of the head of a snake, the rest of it is mere rope.” The implied message? Deal with problems resolutely—head-on.
 
Proverb Etiquette
As with any illustration, when and how a proverb should be used depends on both the argument and the audience. The beauty of an argument can be marred by the incorrect use of proverbs. And since in some cultures the use of proverbs forms an important part of communicative etiquette, any misuse can influence people’s perception of the speaker in a negative way.
 
In Ghana, elders of society are regarded as authors and custodians of proverbs. Thus, proverbial sayings are often preceded by the phrase, “Our elders say . . .” And in a situation where a speaker is talking to a much older audience, it is polite to precede the use of a proverb with the expression, “It is you elders who say . . .” Out of respect, a younger speaker does not want to be seen as teaching his elders the words of wisdom embodied in the proverb.
 
Some Noteworthy Observations
Proverbs can either precede an argument or follow it. Also, they can be so cleverly woven into the fabric of an argument that one might need insight to detect the allusion. Concerning a humble and peace-loving person, for example, an Akan might say: “If it depended on So-and-so alone, there would be no gunshot in this village.” This recalls the proverb, “If it were left to only the snail and the tortoise, there would be no gunshot in the bush.” Both creatures are seen as meek and unobtrusive and not inclined to fight. People who possess these qualities make for peace.
 
However, if you want an Akan to recite a string of proverbs, you might succeed in getting only one, “There cannot be a dream where there is no sleep.” In other words, one cannot use proverbs in a vacuum any more than one can dream while awake. Circumstances determine their use.
 
[Footnote]
It is worth mentioning that this motif is found in cloths of varying colors and is not restricted to the dark ones normally used for funerals.


Source: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102003206

Africa , Land Of Biblical Traditions



“Wherever I went, I found that my Master had been there before me.” So declared Dr. H. Ph. Junod, a missionary and researcher, after a 30- year sojourn in Africa. (From A History of Christianity In Ghana, p .1 under the heading “He came into His own Home”).
 
In speaking of his experiences in Africa, Dr. Junod was not exaggerating nor was he romanticizing African beliefs and practices. The fact is, African culture resonates with Biblical traditions - what some scholars call “Hebrewisms”- which point up a strong Israelite identity.
 
Among these traditions stands out the seventh-day Sabbath ordained by God as a perpetual sign between Himself and the children of Israel (and subsequently all true believers of all nationalities ) – Exodus 31:16 -17; Isa.56:1-5; Heb. 4:4, 9-10. And, indeed, from Jerusalem to Ethiopia to West Africa, the Sabbath truth occupies a pride of place in the culture of the people.
 
The Ashantis of Ghana, for instance, possess such a profound and biblically apposite knowledge of the seventh day as “the Sabbath of the Lord” that they have made it part of the Creator’s Name. In Akan society ( the larger clan to which the Asante belongs), a boy or girl born a particular day of the week is given a name derived from that particular day. A boy born on Saturday, for example, is called “Kwame”, which means “God’s child.” Thus the Ashantis, in recognition of Saturday as the holy day dedicated to the worship of the Creator God, call the heavenly Father “Otwedeampong Kwame” which means “Almighty God of Saturday “. The Akan word for the seventh day itself leaves no doubt as to whom the day belongs. It is called “Memeneda,” which translates as “the day of the I AM.”(Exodus3:14).
 
In the 1920’s, at a ceremony to present a wedding gift intended for princess Mary of England, Nana Serwaa Akoto, the then queenmother of Asante Mampong, made a speech which eloquently affirmed the Saturday- Sabbath tradition of the Asante nation:
I place this stool in your hands.
It is a gift for the king’s child, Princess Mary.

Asante stool makers have carved it and Asante silver-smiths have embossed it. …
We pray that the great God Nyankopon, on whom men lean and do not fall, whose day of worship is Saturday, and whom the Asante serve just as she serves him, that He may give the king’s child and her husband long life and happiness.

(Emphasis mine. From the Asante Monarchy in exile by Ivor Agyemang–Dua, pp 27-28).
Indeed as Charles E. Bradford observes in the introduction to his revealing book SabbathRoots: The African Connection, “The Sabbath has vital roots in Africa, an African connection, if you please, carried forward by a people who bear, in some mysterious way, visceral memories of the Sabbath, however faint.” (p 11).
 
Well entrenched is the Sabbath tradition in Africa, but it’s by no means the only ‘Jewish relic’ showing a connection with ancient Israel. It’s only one of a number.
Other Hebrew customs found in Africa include but not limited to:
  • 24-hour day period reckoned from sunset to sunset instead of 12 . midnight to 12 midnight – Gen. 1;5; Lev. 23:32.
  • Presentation of the right shoulder of the sacrificial animal to the priest or king [as obtains among the Akans of Ghana]- Lev. 7:32-34.
  • The Royal Palanquin – Song of Solomon 3:9.
  • The separation of women in their menses - Lev. 15:19-20; Ezek.18:6.
  • The traditional Great Oath [as in Asante] - Judges 21:5.
  • The Golden Stool [also in Asante] -1 Kings 10:18.
  • The erection of statues of lions, symbolic of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, in front of traditional Palaces – 1 Kings 10:18-20.
    • The Royal sword – Isa 1:20.
    • The traditional blowing of 7 trumpets [as in Ashanti] – Joshua 6:6.
    • The Royal sceptre – Gen.49:10.
    • The use of the hyssop plant (in Akan “Adwera”) for purification –Ps.51:7.
    • The Royal footstool - Ps.110:1-3; Isa 66:1.
    • The African traditional musical instruments –Ps 150.
    • The ‘Homowo’ festival of the Gas of Ghana corresponding to the Passover – Ex. 12.
    • Traditional queen mothers avoiding the wearing of earrings – Ex. 21:6; 1 Pet.3:3-5.
    • The above examples of cultural practices in Africa, and West Africa especially, are indisputably Hebraic in origin and character as the scriptural references clearly establish.
Now arises the question : How did Africa come to possess such distinctive Hebrew customs if it were not related to Israel? Does the fact that some few elements of African culture are decidedly pagan suggest a mere coincidence?
No. That even serves to put the connection with Israel in the appropriate historical and prophetic context. Biblical Israel for this very sin of idolatry and flirtation with paganism came under divine judgment, which among other punishments, led to their banishment from the Holy land as enemy troops overran the land and laid it to waste. In the ensuing flight from the enemy’s sword, historical accounts show that, many Jews came to mainland Africa resulting in Jewish communities springing up in North Africa.
 
In the course of time, these Jewish escapees and their descendants, facing further waves of gentile persecution, fled southwards to the Western Sudan where they settled to building such great empires as the Ghana and Sonhay Empires.(Rudolph Windsor’s From Babylon To Timbuktu treats this subject in depth).
 
Still unrepentant, divine visitation was not through with them, however. A series of invasions by Arab forces set the African Jews on another southward march, this time to the west coast of Africa.
Today, under the onslaught of modernity and the imposition of European gentile traditions in the guise of religion, such as Sunday worship and Saturnalia (Christmas), the Hebrew cultural heritage of Africa appears to be on the wane. Nevertheless, it’s still recognizable.
 
And God’s sentence for sin and covenant breaking remains in force. To this day, Africa still bears the scars of the curses prophesied to afflict Israel for her violation of God’s covenant. Deut. 28:15-68 gives the prophetic background to the many tragic episodes in the history of the Hebrew world community in general and the African Hebrew in particular.
  • It foretold the slave Trade stating even the means by which the slaves would be carried off and sold in the gentile lands: “with ships” – vs 47-48, 68. 
  • It foretold the colonization and exploitation of Africa – vs 49-51.
  • It foretold the economic stagnation of Africa and its dependence on . foreign handouts – vs 43-44.
  • It foretold the banishment of African Hebrew kings like Prempeh I of Asante – vs 36.
  • It foretold the disease burden of Africa including diseases hitherto unknown, e.g. AIDS and Ebola - vs 58-61.
  • It foretold hunger in Africa (vs 38 -39) and a host of other harsh realities that define life for millions of Africans today.
The recent daring, but dangerous, attempts by hordes of hungry, unemployed
African youths to cross the Mediterranean Sea to the supposed greener pastures of Europe - at risk to life and limb - illustrate once more the life of curse being lived in Africa. (Verses 29, 65-67).
The sad reality is that even though Africa is the richest continent in terms of mineral resources, its people are among are the poorest in the world. Now we know why. It’s time Ethiopia stretched out her hands unto the Lord God of Israel (Ps 68:31).
 
Gospel Message to Africa (GMA) calls the African Hebrew to his true roots. Rest is found only in Jesus, the seed of the woman who was ordained to bruise the head of the serpent who caused the first fall in Eden, which embraced Ethiopia or East Africa (Gen. 3:15; Gen. 2:13).
 
In typical African fashion (where in a town or village plagued with curses refuse from the town are dumped on the town’s outskirts to signify the removal of the curses), Christ “suffered without [ie outside] the gate” of Jerusalem to remove all our sins and curses. (Hebrew 13:12, Gal. 3:13).
He still calls: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden [which is true for many Africans], and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28).
 
A genuine response to the call demands repentance and faith in Christ which entails the abandonment of all pagan beliefs and practices, ‘home–grown’ or otherwise.
 
Christ is prepared to heal the land; He is prepared to RESTORE! (2Chron.7:14; Jer.6:16; Joel 2:25-26). Amen!
 
Source: http://www.enochevangelism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44:africa--land-of-biblical-traditions&catid=20:gospel-messages

The Spirit: Defeat at Ai and the Sin of Achan (Joshua 7:1-26)



After such a wonderful experience at Jericho, chapter 7 is surprising to say the least. Suddenly we are presented with a series of failures that stand in striking contrast to the victories of the past six chapters. But how instructive this is if we only have the ears to listen to the message of this chapter. The thrill of victory was so quickly replaced with the agony of defeat. Here is the story of life and one we must learn to deal with in our daily walk because this passage is so typical of most of us. One minute we can be living in victory—the next in defeat.
 
The distance between a great victory and a great defeat is only one step, and often only a short one at that. One sad truth of reality in a fallen world is that we can be riding high on the cloud of some great spiritual success and the very next moment find ourselves in a valley of spiritual failure and despair. One moment we can be like Elijah standing victoriously on Mount Carmel and the next shriveled up under a juniper tree or hiding in a cave in deep despair complaining to God: “… I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10).
 
Because of its strategic location, Ai was the next objective in the path of conquest. As with Jericho, its defeat was vital to the conquest of the entire land. Ai was smaller than Jericho, but its conquest was essential because it would give Israel control of the main route that ran along the highlands from north to south in the central portion of the land.
 
Jericho had been placed under the ban, a phrase which comes from the Hebrew word, herem, “a devoted thing, a ban.” The verb form, haram, means “to ban, devote, or destroy utterly.” Basically, this word refers to the exclusion of an object from use or abuse by man along with its irreversible surrender to God. It is related to an Arabic root meaning “to prohibit, especially to ordinary use.” The “harem,” meaning the special quarters for Muslim wives, comes from this word. So, to surrender something to God meant devoting it to the service of God or putting it under a ban for utter destruction.32
 
For something to be under the ban meant one of two things. First, everything living was to be completely destroyed. This has been called barbaric and primitive and nothing less than the murder of innocent lives. The Canaanites, however, were by no means innocent. They were a vile people who practiced the basest forms of immorality including child sacrifice. God had given them over four hundred years to repent, but now their iniquity had become full (see Gen. 15:16; Lev. 18:24-28). The few who did turn to the Lord (Rahab and her family) were spared. As with Sodom and Gomorrah, if there had been even ten righteous, God would have spared the city (Gen. 18), but since He could not find even ten, God removed Lot and his family (Gen. 19). Further, if any city had repented as did Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah, He would have spared that city, but in spite of all the miraculous works of God which they had heard about, there was no repentance, they remained steadfast in their depravity.
 
… the battle confronting Israel was not simply a religious war; it was a theocratic war. Israel was directly ruled by God and the extermination was God’s direct command (cf. Exod. 23:27-30; Deut. 7:3-6; Josh. 8:24-26). No other nation either before or after Israel has been a theocracy. Thus, those commands were unique. Israel as a theocracy was an instrument of judgment in the hands of God.33
Second, all the valuable objects like gold and silver were to be dedicated to the Lord’s treasury. This was evidently to be done as a kind of first fruits of the land, and as an evidence of the people’s trust in the Lord’s supply for the future (cf. Lev. 27:28-29).
 
 

The Disobedience of Israel Defined (7:1)

1 But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.
 
Chapter 7 opens with the little but ominous word, “but.” This word contrasts this chapter with the preceding, but particularly 6:27. First, there was the thrill of victory, but now there is the agony of defeat. This little conjunction of contrast is designed to drive home an important truth—the reality of the ever present threat and contrasts of life—victory is always followed by at least the threat of defeat.
 
Never is the believer in greater danger of a fall than after a victory. We are so prone to drop our guard and begin trusting in ourselves or in our past victories rather than the Lord. One victory never guarantees the next. Only as it builds our confidence in the Lord and develops our wisdom in appropriating God’s Word do our victories aid us for the next battle. Always, the basis of victory is the Lord Himself and our faith/dependence on Him. A New Testament chapter that deserves consideration here is 1 Corinthians 10, especially verse 12. The problem is clearly stated in the words, “The sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard …” Let’s note several things about this problem facing the Israelites as a nation.
 
(1) The word “unfaithfully” represents a Hebrew word that means “to act underhandedly.” It was used of marital infidelity, of a woman who was unfaithful to her husband. The sin here was both an act of spiritual infidelity, being a friend of the world rather than a friend to the Lord (Jam. 4:4), and a faithless act, seeking happiness and security from things rather than from God (1 Tim. 6:6f).
 
(2) We see that the Lord held the whole camp of Israel accountable for the act of one man and withheld His blessing until the matter was corrected. There was sin in the camp and God would not continue blessing the nation as long as this was so. This does not mean this was the only sin and the rest of the nation was sinless, but this sin was of such a nature (direct disobedience and rebellion) that God used it to teach Israel and us a couple of important lessons.
 
God viewed the nation of Israel as a unit. What one did was viewed as a sin for the whole nation because Israel’s corporate life illustrates truth and warnings for us as individuals (1 Cor. 10). As a warning for the church, it shows us we cannot progress and move ahead for the Lord with known sin in our lives because that constitutes rebellion against the Lord’s direction and control (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19). It is a matter of loving the world—and to do so is to make one behave as though he or she was an enemy of God (Jam. 4).
 
Achan’s behavior also illustrates how one or a few believers out of fellowship, when pursuing their own selfish desires and agendas, can negatively impact an entire group. Such behavior can create trouble for the rest. Achan’s name, the Hebrew, akan, is a play on the word akor, which means “trouble.” So Joshua would declare that the Lord would bring trouble (akor) on Achan who had become a “troubler” to the nation because of his sin (cf. 7:24-25). Thus, the site of Achan’s death and grave was called, “the valley of Achor” (Hebrew, akor, “disturbance, trouble”). Though the crime was committed by one person, the whole nation was considered guilty. The nation was responsible for the obedience of every citizen and was charged with the punishment of every offender.
 
This should call to mind the following verses:
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal (Hebrews 12:15-16).
 
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
 
The apostle Paul saw the same principle of solidarity at work in the church (1 Cor 5:6-13). Unjudged sin contaminated the whole assembly—”Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” (v. 6).34
 
(3) We also are reminded how nothing escapes the omniscience of God (Psa. 139:1f). Sin never escapes His watchful eye. We can fool ourselves and others, but never the Lord. God sees the sin in our lives and desires us to deal with it, not hide it. Hiding it only hinders our progress in God’s will and plan (Prov. 28:13) and creates trouble for others. Numbers 32:23 reminds us, “be sure your sin will find you out.” This is similar to the idea of reaping what we sow because of the natural consequences of God’s spiritual and moral laws and because of God’s personal involvement. The Numbers text, however, does not just teach that sin will be discovered but that the consequences of our sin become active agents in discovering us (see Gal. 6:7-8).
 
(4) The words, “therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel,” dramatically call our attention to the holiness of God. Sin is no small matter with God because sin is rebellion and rebellion is as the sin of divination (1 Sam. 15:23). Even though Christ died for our sins and stands at God’s right hand as our Advocate and Intercessor, God does not and cannot treat sin in our lives lightly. It is against His holy character (His holiness, righteousness, love, etc.) and against His holy purposes for us because it hinders His control and ability to lead us.
 
Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning?” But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:5-6, the NET Bible, emphasis mine).
 
Thus, God must deal with us and the sin in our lives; He deals with us as a Father and as the Vine Dresser, but He nevertheless deals with us (John 15:1f; Heb. 12:5).
 

The Defeat at Ai Described
(7:2-5)

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
 
The defeat of Israel’s army at Ai described here is the only defeat recorded in Joshua and the only report of Jews slain in battle. Ai was smaller than Jericho! How could such a defeat occur so quickly? The root cause, as summarized in verse one, was the sin of Achan. There are other issues involved, however, which led Joshua to go up against Ai when he should not have.
 
In these verses we see some of the varying consequences of sin in the life of God’s people or in the life of the individual. Sin has many consequences, none of them good.
 
No doubt Joshua was eager to move forward for the Lord and to take more territory in keeping with God’s directions and His purpose for Israel. But being a little self-confident and resting too much on the victory at Jericho, Joshua evidently failed to take time to get alone with the Lord to inquire of Him and seek His strength. If he had, he would not have remained ignorant of the sin of Achan and could have dealt with it first. Four deadly errors were the result: (a) They remained ignorant of the sin of Achan. (b) They underestimated the strength of the enemy. (c) They over-estimated the strength of their own army. (d) They presumed on the Lord—they took Him for granted.
 
Later, when God gave the orders for them to go up against the enemy, perhaps because of their previous self-confident attitude and their presumption, He commanded them to take “all the people of war” (8:1). With Gideon, however, the Lord had him reduce his forces lest they boast in their own power as the source of their victory (Judges 7:1f).
 
How often are we not just like Joshua here in chapter 7? Because of a workaholic mentality or an activity-oriented bent or a desire to get things done and to be successful, there is the tendency to rush off without taking time to draw near to the Lord, draw on His resources, and to put on the full armor of God. Such is not only unwise, but it often causes us to be insensitive to serious failures in our own lives and ministries which grieve and quench the Spirit and leave us defenseless against the enemy because we are operating in our own strength and wisdom. Ultimately, then, these failures stand in the way of our progress and ability to handle the various challenges in life.
 
The last part of verse 5 reads, “so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.” The defeat at Ai demoralized the people. This is perhaps even more significant than the defeat itself because it created misgivings and a lack of confidence in the Lord. Rather than examine their own lives as the source of their defeat, they began to doubt the Lord and wonder if He had changed His mind or if they had misread His directions. Should we have crossed the Jordan? Should we have stayed on the other side? (cf. 7:7).
 
In our sinful human nature, we are typically just like that. We are so quick to become depressed, discouraged, and disoriented. We look in every direction for a reason for defeat—except to ourselves. We blame, we make excuses, we hide and hurl, but we so often fail to honestly examine our own lives. We assume the problem could not possibly be us … could it?
 

The Dismay of Joshua Depicted
(7:6-9)

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why didst Thou ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what wilt Thou do for Thy great name?”
 

The Consternation Before the Ark (vs. 6)

In this description of Joshua we see one of the great evidences of the inspiration of Scripture. God’s people, including the great heroes of the faith, are pictured with blemishes, warts and all. God does not touch up the photo. Rather, He shows us their humanness to comfort us in our own failures and to challenge us to realize He can use us greatly if we will but trust Him. Failure is unique to none of us … and it is not the end. In fact, it can be the beginning depending on how we respond. Of course, it is always better to make a few new mistakes and learn from them than to repeat old ones. When we keep making the same mistakes our defeats have no life-changing value. In the defeat at Ai we see a real test of Joshua’s leadership. As Sanders remarks, “There are tests to leadership as well as tests of leadership,”35 and one of those tests is the test of failure. Failure is unique to no one. Failure, like all testings, are common to all men (1 Cor. 10:13) and thus, the manner in which a leader handles failure, his own and others, will have a powerful impact on his growth and future leadership.

A study of Bible characters reveals that most of those who made history were men who failed at some point, and some of them drastically, but who refused to continue lying in the dust. Their very failure and repentance secured for them a more ample conception of the grace of God. They learned to know Him as the God of the second chance to His children who had failed Him—and the third chance, too …
 
The successful leader is a man who has learned that no failure need to be final and acts on that belief, whether the failure is his own or that of another. He must learn to be realistic and prepared to realize that he cannot be right all the time. There is no such thing as a perfect or infallible leader.36
Joshua, of course, was stunned by the defeat and catastrophe at Ai, and his actions and those of the elders were in keeping with the Hebrew practices of mourning and despair. Prostrating himself before the Ark of the Lord certainly suggests that he and the elders were humbling themselves before the Lord. Joshua and the elders were not guilty of callused indifference. They were showing a deep concern and their need of God’s hand; they needed His intervention and wisdom. However, from the words that follow, intermingled with these feelings, there is also evidence of some self-pity and doubt.

Source & the rest of this incredible sermon via: https://bible.org/seriespage/defeat-ai-and-sin-achan-joshua-71-26


More Info
Verse 27. - The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, - "Modest" (Gesenius), "Tender" (Furst) - and Zaavan, - "Disturbed "(Gesenius) - and Akan - Jakan (1 Chronicles 1:42); "Twisting" (Gesenius, Murphy).


Meaning and etymology of the name Akan
Akan is a grandson of Seir, through Ezer (Genesis 36:27), and is also known as Jaakan (1 Chronicles 1:42). Eventually, his name became part of a location: Bene-Jaakan, meaning 'sons of Jakan' (Numbers 33:31).

Very few sources dare propose an interpretation of this name. NOBS Study Bible Name List, HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament and BDB Theological Dictionary are all silent. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names, bold as ever, follows the brilliant scholar Gesenius, who determined that the unused root 'kn ('kn) is perhaps related to hql (hql). Unfortunately, this root is also unused and brings us no further.

But, says Gesenius, it might also have something to do with the Aramaic root aqm ('qm), meaning to twist, to wrest. The good old Easton's Bible Dictionary agrees and reads He Twists for Jaakan and Twisted for Akan.

In the sense of its meaning, the name Akan is somewhat similar to the names Levi and Naphtali.
Source: http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Akan.html#.UyScL8JOXug