In Africa, we have an affinity for people who identify with spicing up their speeches with proverbs, believe it or not. To an extent, how well one is able to spice up his speech with relevant proverbs is a measure of his maturity and we appreciate wisdom so much.
For this reason, we keep meeting lots of proverbs day in day out especially in literary works. I have come across this particular saying time and again quoted in almost always the same context. I have thought through this and I want to bring another side of this saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
It is usually said to admonish people not to make conclusive decisions just by seeing the “screen saver” of a person, situation or a thing. This is very true and I even made a statement in my book SEEING THROUGH THE CLOUDS which appears to affirm this to an extent. I wrote, “Conjecture leads to crisis and a stranded life”. “Not all that glitter is gold” is another construction of this same idea.
Kindly forget about what you know about this saying and let’s get on another flight. I want to draw our attention to the fact that all things being equal our covers will be seen first before someone is moved to open us up to access our contents and so we should be concerned about our covers.
People, once we remain social beings, we will always ascertain your cover and mostly, that informs the next step so pay some attention to your cover. The good book confirms, “Man looks on the outward…” . Once we remain men, once the Bible always says the truth, your outward(COVER) will always matter to us men.
I remember those times on KNUST campus especially during church meetings… not once or twice but on numerous occasions, I would sit by “vibrant men of God” who had “kabayed” (a term for praying in tongues within the Christian fraternity) for several minutes and just couldn’t breathe.
At other times it was the wonderful and zealous “asofo maame” who wouldn’t cease waving “their hair” (because these days most ladies don’t own they carry on their heads) around. Not because I had a problem with my respiratory system but because I just couldn’t take the stench emanating from these wonderful “prayer covers”. I became a TA, and on a number of occasions my Lecturer sent people away from his office even before they narrated what had brought them there simply because of how they had dressed up (shabbily or indecently).
I had one particular lecturer who would send people away for dressing anyhow to class. If the cover is not so important, why wouldn’t one’s intelligence push him/her beyond being “bounced” from a lecture/lecturer’s office?
Those are just some introductory scenarios I want you to grasp before we move on.
We should be concerned about our cover because believe me or not, in some jurisdictions before you are given an ear, how you appear counts a lot. I have heard many stories of people being lynched mistakenly. I can’t confirm how true those stories are but then they drive me to assume, barring all other considerations these mobs didn’t make, probably the victims “looked like” robbers.
Why don’t you save people the hassle of having to dig deeper into you before getting some gems by paying attention to certain things you have probably ignored. Assuming you get lynched for this reason (God forbid!), where lies your content? Is this kind of situation not preventable?
I meet very intelligent people who don’t observe very simple oral hygiene rules and conversing with such folks is more of an endurance drill than an interaction. In such situations, one has to adopt a strategy of breathing periodically to avoid inhaling the bad smell throughout very important conversations. Is this not preventable? I have sat in meetings with big men who made me lose my concentration throughout because I just couldn’t stick my nose out of some window to catch some good breathe. Is this not preventable? Please keep the medical conditions to yourself for now; let’s deal with the general issue.
I sit in trotro (public transport) very often and I always wonder what drives people into arguments over 10pesewas. A driver once pulled out a metal ready to kill. I’m not really sure if he knew the value of blood as against 10p. It could have been a spontaneous reaction kindled by anger, but is that a good cover to put up?
What amazes me is the people who demonstrate that “all they know” in unnecessary arguments in trotro. Can’t we prevent being drawn into irrelevant arguments in public transport? Can such a cover lead someone on to pursue your contents?
I observe most people hide under the pretext of not having money to dress anyhow at any time. If anybody is confused, he should bring Gh5.00 and I will organize a very decent shirt for him/her. It is not far out of reach, as some people may be arguing whilst reading this. Assuming this argument even stands, how about my sisters who spend good money to buy “baby dresses”? How about my young men who spend good money to buy jeans troussers with holes in them? How about the wonderful haircuts? Are some of these things not preventable? And my sister… eeerrrrmmm how much do you spend to get those “paints” that make you look someway? Apologies ooo.
Yes, I agree it is a matter of choice and that is why I want to draw our attention to the fact that,we should be concerned about our covers. You could be worth a fortune but sometimes your packaging is not worth paying the price for and you should take note of that. Pay attention to your skin, your hair and wash your clothing even if it’s only a set. Appear presentable and fit for the occasion on any day.
I am burdened to prompt my church folks who think we attract people with prayers and commanding voices that, just maybe, just maybe, just maaaay beeeee… you are not catching anyone’s “attention” because of how “nice” you smell and probably how weird you combine your black shoes with your brown belt. Probably you just don’t know how to smile. It is still good to keep praying about potential spouses though. Hehehe.
The last “cover” I want to end with is S-M-I-L-E. Very very simple to spell but very expensive for some people to radiate. I just don’t get it. Just smile even if you don’t believe it does anything. “People don’t come close”, “people don’t seem to like me” …Please check your “smilingmeter”.
For the religious folks who think I’m deviating into materialism with this write up, I want us to consider the following excerpts from the Good Book (You could caption this “the Bible’s testimony of some covers”):
· Gen 24:16: Rebekah was very BEAUTIFUL and old enough to be married… (NLT)
· 1 Sam 9:2: His son Saul was the most HANDSOME in Israel-head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. (NLT)
· Luk 2:52: And Jesus increased in wisdom and STATURE, and in favour with God and man. (KJV)
· Prov 7:10: And, behold, there met him a woman with THE ATTIRE OF AN HARLOT,… (KJV)
I choose not to attempt explaining any of these texts but I trust another force does that on my behalf as you go through this piece.
Take your bath regularly – You need discipline to do this and not money.
Wear washed decent clothing – You need discipline and hard work to do this not money and laziness.
Smell good – You need wisdom to do this and not money. Lime grows everywhere in Africa.
Smile – You need humility to do this which is not sold in any shop.
Be concerned about your appearance (don’t spend forever doing this please). Learn to use decent words in communicating; those could be the cover someone comes into contact with first.Just keep it TRENDY and veeeery SIMPLE. That’s my little piece of advice.
You can only ignore these if you are not a part of society. I mustered so much courage to address this issue. Please be praying for me…. Cos I struggle to dress well. Hehehe
