In the heart of the vibrant city of Kumasi, Ghana, lies the Yaa Asantewaa Museum, a treasure trove of Asante history and culture. Among its fascinating exhibits stands an old British 75mm Field Gun, manufactured by the Parry-Martin Company. This relic from the past holds a unique place in Asante folklore, symbolizing the fusion of cultures and the resilience of a people.
The Parry-Martin Company, a merger of two American firms, the Parry Manufacturing Company and the Martin Truck and Body Corporation, produced this artillery piece. Its trademark inscription, “Parry-Martin,” adorned the gun, which was ceremoniously fired at 12 noon every day. This daily boom marked midday, echoing across Kumasi and beyond.
Growing up in Kumasi and later at Atwedie in Asante Akyem, I remember my grandmother’s response whenever someone mentioned the time was 12 noon or shortly after. “Prɛmoo ato,” she would say with a knowing smile. It was a signal to start preparing the evening meal, a tradition deeply ingrained in Asante culture.
But “Prɛmoo ato” wasn’t merely a phrase; it was an adaptation of the British Gun’s name, “Parry-Martin.” In the Twi language, people referred to the gun as “Parry-Martin Tuo no ato,” connecting it directly to the tradition of firing at noon. “Tuo no ato” translates to “strike at noon,” encapsulating the essence of the daily ritual.
Over time, “Prɛmoo ato” became synonymous with the stroke of noon, embedded in the lexicon of the Asante people. Just as they renamed the British War against the Asante Kingdom in 1873 as the “Sagrenti War,” after the British commander Sir Garnet Wolseley, they adapted foreign words to fit their own tongue and culture.
As a German student once remarked when teased about his English pronunciation, “We Germans pronounce foreign words the way they fit onto the German tongue.” Similarly, the Asante people molded “Parry-Martin” into “Prɛmoo ato” to fit their cultural narrative.
In essence, “Prɛmoo ato” serves as more than just a timekeeping phrase; it’s a testament to the intersection of history, language, and identity. It’s a reminder that even in the face of colonialism and cultural exchange, the Asante people have maintained their traditions and found ways to make foreign elements their own.
So, the next time you hear the clock strike twelve in Kumasi, remember the story behind “Prɛmoo ato” and the British gun that became a part of Asante folklore.
Source: Asantefoɔ
