Mfantsipim School @ 150 and Creech’s Mfantsipim Diaries: My First Shock
My first shock when I entered Mfantsipim School in September 1987 was not the discipline. Not the academic pressure. Not even the intimidating architecture that seemed to breathe history.
Philip Creech-Jones, a former student of Mfantsipim School, found his initial shock came not from the school's discipline or academic expectations, but from the school's unofficial nicknames for its staff members. Upon his arrival in September 1987, he expected formal addresses and decorum, but quickly discovered a parallel student registry of identity.
These nicknames, such as "Corrosive," "Ostrich," "Doboo," and "Black Sammy," were not mere mockery, but rather a coded language reflecting each individual's temperament, appearance, speech patterns, hometown, or memorable incidents. They served as coping mechanisms within the rigid boarding school environment, allowing the boys to interpret power, survive scrutiny, build solidarity, and find laughter even under pressure.
These nicknames, almost as if archiving the essence of their predecessors, played a significant role in the hidden curriculum of Mfantsipim, teaching the boys how to navigate authority, build camaraderie, and ultimately, prepare for adulthood.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
