“Sikaduro" is a Ghanaian parlance for getting extremely rich within a short period of time under inexplicable circumstances. To unravel the mystery of such a circumstance, it is always associated with one consulting evil forces to granting them very bizarre means of getting rich quicker. Perception The state of opulence as realised in gargantuan materialistic achievements at the rate reminiscent of a stroke of lightning, compel most people to conclude that one has "sikaduro." Mostly, the underachievers in the society or in the community are those that are trigger-happy with issues bordering on "sikaduro". Is it then that their inability to balance the harsh realities of their lives with their aspirations make them envious of the super successful ones hence, accusing them of having "sikaduro?" Is sikaduro then a myth, or a reality? Let us examine a few cases to better draw our own individual conclusions. The argument In Case one; a cocoa sampler friend of mine was accused of attempting to deal in sikaduro. Hardly had he proceeded to Kumawu from his station for a brief visit to his parents when a messenger was upon his heels to recall him. No sooner had he left his station than his youngest child passed away under a quite mysterious circumstance. The baby had been left asleep in her bed when the mother, a trader, went to the village market with her wares. A passer-by overheard the child cry uncontrollably but without any other human presence in the house. He hurried to alert the mother that the baby was crying. The mum rushed home only to be greeted by an unsightly scene. A big snake with the tongue flickering was slithering on the roof boards and descending upon the baby. The mum shouted for help and within seconds, a crowd had gathered in the house. The snake was killed and burnt. The child also passed away that same evening. When my friend (name withheld as per courtesy to the dead), returned to the village he met people seated or gathered to be told why he had been summoned back. The long and short of the story was, after been narrated to the circumstances surrounding the child's death, the only thing he could do was to give a deep sigh (hmmmmmm) without uttering a word. Straight away, he started acting mad and truly, he became a mad person until his death two years later. He was taken back to Kumawu where he would stroll up and down the streets with his footwear on his head and on most occasions exposing his nudity. People used to say he suffered the repercussions of sikaduro gone haywire. Case Two There is a farmer who doubles as an industrialist. He is extremely rich. In a year, he can bury about ten to fifteen of his relatives and or workers. This has been ongoing for several years. There was a year I quite remember very well when such abstruse death was blamed on his workers killing a python believed to be the son or the daughter of a river at one of his farms. What a bizarre coincidence? He is also accused of sikaduro. Case Three A young man who aspired to be rich whether by fair or foul play was struck by an abrupt mysterious illness that took him to his grave. He was a hard working bloke at Kumasi Suame magazine though of questionable character with his determination to get immensely rich quicker. The little said about this dubious trickster, the better. He had his hair shaved off almost every four days. The rate at which he started making money faster, made people point their “sikaduro" finger at him as usual. To say contrary to the fact that this guy was an assiduous worker is an unpardonable sin. He succumbed to a very short illness on his round trip from Kumasi to Accra. Barely a week into the illness, he passed away. Case Four Finally, in case four; a super rich friend of mine has just kicked the bucket. As usual, the very people he doled out money to are spreading unfounded rumours about his wealth. In short, they are bastardizing the means of his riches. The usual finger pointing of "sikaduro" by the slippery “okra’-mouthed characters is the topic of the day at Kumawu. The gossips have a delicious feed to last them for months if not years. The late Yaw Brenya of blessed memory upon all his wealth that surpassed simpletons' understanding, continued to work harder in his "magazine fitter's attire. As a superb down to earth mechanic, he was always soiled in grease, dirty oil, lifting heavy metals and block of engines related to his mechanical job. One would least expect him to continue to perform the odd tasks he was doing considering the degree of his astonishing wealth yet, he did it unto death; until death laid its icy hands on him on Thursday, 31 July, 2008. Credit: Rcokson Addo (The Chronicle)