Opening a Formal Speech

Level 6

Greet by rank before you speak: Nana, mpanimfoɔ, anuanom, mema mo akye (Nana, elders, brothers and sisters, good morning). Then ask leave: Nana, mesrɛ wo, ma me kwan.

How It Works

1. Call for attention
A speaker can call Agoo! to ask for attention, and the audience answers Amee! (We are listening).

2. Greet in order of rank
Greet the most senior person first, usually the chief, addressed as Nana, then the elders, mpanimfoɔ, then everyone else, often as anuanom (brothers and sisters). End with the greeting for the time of day, using mo (you all): Nana, mpanimfoɔ, anuanom, mema mo akye. In the afternoon say mema mo aha, and in the evening mema mo adwo. See daily greetings and respectful address.

3. Ask leave to speak
Before your main point, ask the chief or the chair for permission: Nana, mesrɛ wo, ma me kwan (Nana, I beg you, give me leave). Ma me kwan na menka asɛm kakra means Allow me to say a few words. See I Beg You: mesrɛ wo.

4. Speaking through the ɔkyeame
At a chief's court, you usually do not speak straight to the chief. You address the ɔkyeame (spokesperson), who passes your words on: Ɔkyeame, ka kyerɛ Nana sɛ yɛaba (Spokesperson, tell Nana that we have come).

5. Polite formulas and thanks
Polite speakers say sɛbe (pardon me) before anything unpleasant and mepa mo kyɛw (please, all of you) when they ask for something. A speech ends with thanks: Meda mo nyinaa ase (I thank you all).

Examples (6)

  1. Agoo!

    May I have your attention?

    The audience answers Amee! (We are listening).

  2. Nana, mpanimfoɔ, anuanom, mema mo akye.

    Nana, elders, brothers and sisters, good morning.

    Word by Word: Nana, elders, siblings, I-give you-all morning

    The chief first, then the elders, then everyone else.

  3. Nana, mesrɛ wo, ma me kwan.

    Nana, I beg you, allow me to speak.

    Word by Word: Nana, I-beg you, give me path

  4. Ma me kwan na menka asɛm kakra.

    Allow me to say a few words.

    Word by Word: give me path and I-let-say matter little

    After na, the optative menka means so that I may say.

  5. Ɔkyeame, ka kyerɛ Nana sɛ yɛaba.

    Spokesperson, tell Nana that we have come.

    At court, visitors speak to the chief through the ɔkyeame.

  6. Meda mo nyinaa ase.

    I thank you all.

    Word by Word: I-lie you all under

    The usual close of a speech.

Common Mistakes

  • Greeting the crowd before the chief.

    Anuanom, mpanimfoɔ, Nana, mema mo akye.
    Nana, mpanimfoɔ, anuanom, mema mo akye.

    Formal greetings go from the most senior person down. Starting with the crowd puts the chief last, which is disrespectful.

  • Greeting a whole audience with wo.

    Nana, mpanimfoɔ, anuanom, mema wo akye.
    Nana, mpanimfoɔ, anuanom, mema mo akye.

    Wo is you for one person. A greeting to a whole audience needs mo (you all).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Opening a Formal SpeechLevel 6

Learn This First

Formal openings build on respectful address, the daily greetings and mesrɛ wo.

Words in This Pattern

mesrɛ woma me kwanakyenanaopanin