“Lingo-Lingo” on Asaase Radio 99.5fm — the city’s new toast!

Look around for edifying and entertaining radio content and you are most likely to find the same old drab segments replicated across several radio stations, but for one of Asaase Radio’s Rush Hour segments simply known as Lingo-Lingo which debuted a little over 6 months under the charge of  one of Ghana’s on-air giants Elvis Crystal who is the host of the show, the segment has uniquely won the love and attention of listeners across several regions of the country who yield enthusiastically to contribute their knowledge to the segment by way of phone-ins,  texts and voice notes, all for the love of language.

Ghana is a multilingual country with more than 80 spoken languages from different ethnic groups, some of these languages are also mutually spoken or inter-enthnic. Recently, data from World Population Review (2021) indicates that Ewe language is second most spoken in Ghana, whereas the Akan is the most widely spoken in the country, other commonly spoken languages include: Ga, Hausa,  Dagbani, FraFra, Fulani, Boron, Dangme, Dagbani and Akyem.

Language is principal for human communication and connection, written or spoken, signs or gestures when employed accurately one is sure to get their point across effectively, and sometimes to their advantage in situations that calls for seeking favors. Imagine, standing in a waakye queue where you over hear an Akan speaking patron say “ina son babba kifi ”  in Hausa, though it might be inaccurate, the vendor rewards them with an extra serving to their advantage, because why not? They’ve touched their heart, I think.

Lingo-Lingo brings on a refreshing new way to learn these various languages through the provision of meanings, context and pronunciations of words and phrases from a myriad of local languages in Ghana and from neighbouring countries such as Nigeria and Liberia. Through the deliberate and consistent airing of the segment every afternoon, one would admit that Ghana has rich and beautiful languages. Truth is, you are most like to hear a fair representation of a number of commonly spoken languages on the segment when you tune in. It’s more like a Rep-Your-Language moment for most contributors. A few words or phrases are chosen everyday, the host calls out for their meanings in an entertaining fashion accompanied by the groovy and melodious sigtune, heavily composed instrumentation with typical African musical elements to which you are sure to dance to. Although English is the official language of Ghana, the segment awakens the love for the indigenous languages across the country.

The Ewe speaking host who is handicapped in other local languages said “the segment was borne out of the curiosity for other languages, and also to help others like me learn how to speak fairly in other local languages while being entertained”. Elvis is a creative, there’s no doubt that the station’s drive time slot rests comfortably on his laps, and he effortlessly brings delight to his listeners every weekday afternoon at 2pm on Asaase 99.5 with the assemblage of his co-hosts.

So Lingo-Lingo? Lingooooooo!!!