Mfantsipim School's Price Tag: 150 Years and Counting
Philip Creech-Jones, a 1992 alumnus of Mfantsipim School, recently shared a remarkable story about the school's unofficial culture of nicknaming its staff members. Founded in 1876 in Cape Coast, Ghana, Mfantsipim School has a rich history of academic excellence and discipline.
A Living Oral Tradition
In 1987, Creech-Jones arrived at Mfantsipim School, expecting to address the teachers with formal titles. However, he soon discovered that the students had their own unofficial register of nicknames for the staff. These nicknames not only reflected the students' creativity but also served as a coping mechanism within the rigid architecture of boarding school life.
The nicknames were not casual mockery, but rather coded language that revealed the students' perception of their teachers. For instance, the Headmaster was nicknamed "Corrosive" not because he was loud, but because his sarcasm was surgical and efficient. The Assistant Headmaster (Academic) was known as "Ostrich" due to his tall and distinctive appearance.
Informal Culture and Endurance
Creech-Jones realized that the nicknames were part of the hidden curriculum of Mfantsipim. Beyond the formal subjects, the students learned valuable lessons such as how to interpret power, how to survive scrutiny, how to build solidarity, and how to laugh under pressure. These informal cultures make endurance possible, and it is this unique blend of discipline and creativity that has allowed Mfantsipim School to thrive for 150 years.
A Legacy of Shared Experience
The nicknames not only reflected the students' creativity but also bound them together. To know the nickname was to belong, and it signified initiation into the fraternity of shared experience. Creech-Jones himself became known as "Dizzy Kay" among his mates, and it was this nickname that truly marked his initiation into the school's culture.
What Endures
Mfantsipim School's legacy extends beyond its formal structures and academic achievements. It is the informal cultures, like the unofficial nicknames, that have made the school's endurance possible. As Philip Creech-Jones reflects on his time at the school, he realizes that it was not the formal registration of his name that marked his initiation, but rather the unofficial renaming of him by his peers.
In the end, Mfantsipim School's 150 years of existence is a testament to the power of informal cultures and the resilience of its students. As the school continues to shape the lives of its students, it remains to be seen how the next generation will adapt and innovate within its walls.
Source: Joy Online
