Listen to the world’s best poetry read out loud.

Let the dry savannah winds 

grab you by the hair 

and drag you 

stumbling 

through tough clumps 

of cow-nibbled grass. 

Did you see the children streak by 

on bikes – two or sometimes three on the same? 

Did you see the striking garments 

energised by night dances? 

Now the green of the forest 

will sweep you across the secret 

passages of 

Ashanti pride 

into the rich red 

depths of palm nut soup. 

Did you see a woman drag her husband 

home by the cuff – insulting him all the way? 

Did you hear the market traders 

hurling prices down the street? 

The lights of Accra 

will confound you as you circle 

dreamily round 

haphazard 

houses arranged to fit 

sprouting family trees. 

Did you hear the blaring 

horns – sometimes angry, sometimes friendly? 

Did you see two lovers 

heading for Labadi beach? 

Follow them 

lift the hem 

of the sea 

you have reached 

the centre 

of the world