Her house was filled with people from the neighborhood both young and old, but she always made me feel special, like I was the only one who mattered. She would prepare large portions of food in case someone would drop by because she believes "never invite someone without feeding them." She would make different kinds of food like "chichinga" the tastiest spicy kebabs made from beef or sausages, "banku" made from fermented corn and is served with fried fish or meat and hot sauce, "red red" black eye pea beans cooked into fine bean curry with either a mix of prawns or fish, "waakye" spicy rice and beans which can be eaten with either fried fish, egg, spaghetti meat or fried chicken, and "groundnut soup" her specialty. Even though at first it might look like spicy curry, it is anything but curry and has additions of goat meat or beef. It is my to-die-for favorite of hers. .
I was named Ruth Yaa Ofeibea after my grandmother by my parents (dad to be precise) because she is his mother and mom agreed. According to sheknows.com, the name Ruth is a Hebrew name meaning companion; friend; vision of beauty. In the Bible, Ruth the Moabitess was the great grandmother of King David, grandmother of Jesse, and mother of Obed. Yaa my second name has its origin in the African-Akan language. The meaning of Yaa is Yawoada "born on Thursday". The 5th day of creation, was the day on which various life forms (plants, animals,) were created. "YA" means "Life". "WO" means "bring forth" or "reproduce". "DA" means "day." "YAWODA" therefore means "the day life was brought forth, began or was born. "That is, "Day of Reproduction." Akans call earth (ASASE) "YAA" in recognition of the earth bringing forth "life" for the 1st time on creation Thursday. Yaa therefore commemorate this day and mean "Lord-of-Life Reproduction.
