My parents are Guans from the Volta Region. They each speak different dialects and I grew up learning these two dialects as my first languages. My father, who is a school teacher worked in various villages where different Guan dialects were spoken. So in addition to my parents’ tongues, I picked up the local languages spoken in these villages.

My father is from Avatime-Amedzofe, while my mother is from Nkonya. So these are the languages I learned from them. Then I also picked up Ikpana, the dialect of the Logba people. I also learned how to speak French, Ewe, and Twi. By the time I grew up, I could speak six languages. I must say that the Volta Region is one of the most linguistically diverse and ethnically varied regions in Ghana. But that’s not what my story is about.

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Recently, I became friends with a young teacher who has been posted to a Senior High School in our town. The first time we met was at a DSTV center. I was there to support my favorite team, Arsenal. He was also there for the same Club. That’s how we easily bonded.

Our friendship grew naturally because we had a lot in common as men. However, our busy work schedules only permitted us to meet after work, which was always in the evenings. We would sit somewhere, have drinks, and discuss the latest happenings in the football world.

One evening, we met at a mutual friend’s drinking spot to play cards and drafts. While we were there, I received a call from an old friend, and we spoke in Ikpana. After hanging up, Lawrence looked at me with amusement in his eyes and said, “I know that language. It’s spoken by people from my wife’s tribe.”

He wouldn’t stop going on about how happy it made him that he knew someone who understood the language. I had met his wife but we didn’t talk much. So it’s not as if we were going to hang out at family for us to speak Ikpana to each other. That’s why his excitement didn’t make sense to me. However, I didn’t think too much about it.

A few months ago, Lawrence showed up at our hangout sessions armed with an audio recording. “I want you to listen to what these women are saying and translate everything to me,” I asked who they were but he wouldn’t say it.

Rather, he turned on a recorder and recorded me while I translated what the women said in Ikpana into the English language.

I heard five women speaking in the audio. In one aspect of their conversation, they spoke of a man in a derogatory manner. The words they used meant he was a simp or a pushover. They also called him and mocked his tribe.

“He is such a fool,” one woman said, “his wife introduced her ex-boyfriend to him as her family member and he believed her. He even helped the guy.” I felt sad for this man as I listened to them tear him apart viciously with their words.

In another conversation, one of the women talked about the paternity of her child. “I was still seeing my ex when I got pregnant. What if the child is not my husband’s?” The other women retorted, “Oh please, your son looks like your husband. Don’t trouble yourself over this.” This same woman then talked about the creative ways she saved her admirers’ numbers on her phone so her husband wouldn’t get suspicious. “Sometimes he innocently answers the phone and passes it to me,” she laughed.

After I did my translation, I didn’t ask any questions. I felt the conversation was too private and it was none of my business. I also didn’t see Lawrence for a while but we kept in touch so I didn’t suspect that anything was up.

Recently, I ran into a mutual friend who asked me, “Have you heard the news? Lawrence and his wife are getting a divorce.” I was shocked. The guy saw the look on my face and said, “Your name even came up so how come you didn’t know?” As we spoke further, it was revealed that Lawrence’s wife’s lawyer requested my presence at an upcoming court hearing, however, Lawrence’s lawyer objected to it. He also told me that one of the voices in the audio I translated was Lawrence’s wife.

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When I spoke to Lawrence, I asked him what was going on. He assured me that everything was working in his favour. “I was unhappy in my marriage but you helped me gain closure.” While he thanked me, I felt awful. I asked him why he didn’t tell me his wife was part of the conversation. Maybe if he did, I would have filtered the things I said to him.

All he said was that I had no reason to worry. “She doesn’t know you are the one who translated the conversation to me, and she won’t find out.” Even though I understand his reasons for recording his wife’s conversations with the women in her family, I can’t help but feel guilty for playing a part in the dissolution of their marriage.

She Left Me To Marry A Man Who Was Ready For Marriage

I didn’t even know that their marriage was in trouble until the whole divorce thing came up. To make matters worse, Lawrence has now requested a DNA test for their two children. And it makes me wish I hadn’t translated that audio for him.

Now, I find myself wondering if this situation could have any spiritual implications on me. As a Christian, my Bible tells me not to put assunder what God has joined together. But look what Lawrence made me do. If they tell the story of their divorce, the audio would come up, and I would be blamed.

— Levi

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