It Is Good For Kinsmen To Do So: Chinua Achebe's Wisdom For Ghana Today

Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian literary giant, once wrote: ”A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.”

In Accra, Kumasi, Tamale – in every village ground across Ghana – we no longer gather unless there’s dumsor, economic hardship, a natural disaster, or an election. But Achebe reminds us that if we only come together in crisis, we lose the soul of community.

Gathering, governance, and nation-building are not only about fixing problems. They are also about identity, shared values, dignity, and the simple joy of being a people.

The Wisdom of the Moonlit Ground
Achebe’s reflection was rooted in Igbo society, where the moonlit gathering served many purposes: culture, storytelling, dispute resolution, music, and the celebration of festivals. Togetherness promoted social cohesion. It was a platform for socialization. It was where strategies to develop communities and improve living conditions were mapped out. Matters of security and safety also engaged their attention.

Ghana has the same tradition. In every village ground, we gather for communal labour, funerals, marriages and naming ceremonies, festivals, church and traditional worship, and the market to transact business. Gathering is in our DNA.

The Problem Today
Today, that spirit is fading. We only engage government when there’s a problem that needs a solution. We only show up when there is a crisis. Politics has become “loot and share”, not about “who we are.” Social media has replaced the village moonlit gathering. We scroll alone instead of sitting together.

The Cost of Not Gathering
When we stop gathering for the right reasons, the cost is high. There’s a steady decline in morals and values. The tenets of probity, accountability, humility, honesty, integrity, and patriotism are eroding. Accountability is weakened because leaders only hear us during protests, elections, and economic hardships. Instead of being each other’s keeper, kinsmen become competitors. Greed, avarice, and other social evils are perpetrated with careless abandon.

The Way Forward: Gathering For The Right Reasons

We must revive the art of gathering. We must revive civic spaces. Town halls and community dialogues should happen beyond election seasons.

There’s the need for cultural re-education. Schools, the media, religious organisations, and NGOs must lead a drive to teach that “it is good for kinsmen to do so.” Leaders should lead by example. In both public and private sectors, public office must be seen as a call to service, not a platform to exploit the people. Youth engagement should be encouraged. We must make the village ground both digital and physical, so the next generation has a place to belong.

Conclusion
Let Achebe’s wisdom sink in. “The moon will always be there. The question is: will we still gather?”

On which side are you: Togetherness or individualism? Togetherness will help us build strong families and a strong nation we can all be proud of.

Quotes

1. “The gathering of kinsmen is the surest catalyst for shared prosperity.” – Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
2. “Togetherness is not only about survival. It is about the joy of being a people.”- Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
3. “When we gather under the moonlight, we come to spread love and share happiness.”- Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU

With love,
Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
Writer and Author
Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian literary giant, once wrote: ”A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.”

In Accra, Kumasi, Tamale – in every village ground across Ghana – we no longer gather unless there’s dumsor, economic hardship, a natural disaster, or an election. But Achebe reminds us that if we only come together in crisis, we lose the soul of community.

Gathering, governance, and nation-building are not only about fixing problems. They are also about identity, shared values, dignity, and the simple joy of being a people.

The Wisdom of the Moonlit Ground
Achebe’s reflection was rooted in Igbo society, where the moonlit gathering served many purposes: culture, storytelling, dispute resolution, music, and the celebration of festivals. Togetherness promoted social cohesion. It was a platform for socialization. It was where strategies to develop communities and improve living conditions were mapped out. Matters of security and safety also engaged their attention.

Ghana has the same tradition. In every village ground, we gather for communal labour, funerals, marriages and naming ceremonies, festivals, church and traditional worship, and the market to transact business. Gathering is in our DNA.

The Problem Today
Today, that spirit is fading. We only engage government when there’s a problem that needs a solution. We only show up when there is a crisis. Politics has become “loot and share”, not about “who we are.” Social media has replaced the village moonlit gathering. We scroll alone instead of sitting together.

The Cost of Not Gathering
When we stop gathering for the right reasons, the cost is high. There’s a steady decline in morals and values. The tenets of probity, accountability, humility, honesty, integrity, and patriotism are eroding. Accountability is weakened because leaders only hear us during protests, elections, and economic hardships. Instead of being each other’s keeper, kinsmen become competitors. Greed, avarice, and other social evils are perpetrated with careless abandon.

The Way Forward: Gathering For The Right Reasons

We must revive the art of gathering. We must revive civic spaces. Town halls and community dialogues should happen beyond election seasons.

There’s the need for cultural re-education. Schools, the media, religious organisations, and NGOs must lead a drive to teach that “it is good for kinsmen to do so.” Leaders should lead by example. In both public and private sectors, public office must be seen as a call to service, not a platform to exploit the people. Youth engagement should be encouraged. We must make the village ground both digital and physical, so the next generation has a place to belong.

Conclusion
Let Achebe’s wisdom sink in. “The moon will always be there. The question is: will we still gather?”

On which side are you: Togetherness or individualism? Togetherness will help us build strong families and a strong nation we can all be proud of.

Quotes

1. “The gathering of kinsmen is the surest catalyst for shared prosperity.” – Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
2. “Togetherness is not only about survival. It is about the joy of being a people.”- Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
3. “When we gather under the moonlight, we come to spread love and share happiness.”- Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU

With love,
Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
Writer and Author