WHAT MAKES UNITY HALL UNIQUE posted by curtiskobii Unity Hall Unity Hall is the ultimate and largest of the traditional halls of residence on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The hall was built in commemoration of the African dream of unity and rests resolutely upon the motto “Unity is Strength”. The remarkable distinctiveness of Unity cannot be overemphasized and even a casual visitor who strolls through the campus of K.N.U.S.T. will not fail to notice that Unity was designed and built to be unique among all halls in K.N.U.S.T. and, indeed,in Ghana and West Africa. The twin towers, standing architecturally superior to any other structure on campus, are home to over eight thousand affiliates, two thousand of whom are domiciled in the hall, and these being the highest figures for any hall of residence in West Africa. Right from the beautiful Aboagyewaa Gardens to the only “Always Around” in Ghana, counting from quality souvenirs to ultramodern elevators and further to the stupendous power plant that is capable of powering three halls of residence, Unity Hall has and continues to distinguish itself as a hall of unparalleled greatness in Ghana and West Africa. Yet the distinctiveness of Unity Hall far transcends these impressive developmental strides. Hence, it is the aim of this exposition to expound analytically the uniqueness of Unity Hall in terms of identity, essence and historical philosophy and by so doing, establish beyond reasonable doubt that Unity supersedes all other halls in greatness and in excellence. Our Uniqueness in Identity Across the length and breadth of our country, several halls of residence from a myriad of tertiary institutions have slapped on themselves identities that bespeak whom they are and what they stand for. Popular among these identities are Spartans, Mongols, Katangees and Queens. For our purpose it will be appropriate to look at the historical antecedents that motivated the adoption of such identities. In this analysis however, Africa is not treated as a separate hall from Unity since the two, though physically separate, are one in essence. Spartans: Members of Independence Hall refer to themselves as Spartans. This is a clear allusion to the citizens of Sparta, a fourth century Greek city-state noted for its bravery in war. Owing to their military superiority, the Spartans led the Greeks in several Greco-Persian wars, popular among them, the battle of Thermopylae. Independence hall, being the first to be constructed, ascribes to itself the preeminence of Sparta. Also, Sparta is portrayed as a state that fought to safeguard the freedom and independence of its citizens, the very thing this hall was named for. Mongols: Members of Republic Hall identify themselves as Mongols. Mongols are an Asian race found in independent Mongolia and parts of China.The Mongols are popular for having participated in the Xinhai revolutionary war which saw to the collapse of the Qing dynasty, leading to the establishment of the People’s Republic of Mongolia. The Mongolians resisted monarchial rule and laid down their lives to establish a republic for themselves. It is not surprising therefore that a hall named Republic Hall would draw their identity from the Mongolians who believed so much in republic hood. Royals: Though they may not have royal blood running in their veins, members of Queens Hall refer to themselves as Royals because their hall was built to commemorate the visit of the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, to Ghana. Katangees: Members of University Hall call themselves Katangees, and their hall after Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebels from Katanga province were responsible for assassinating the country’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, with heavy support from some western mining interests.The province then seceded from the nation in 1960. Later in 1963 the breakaway state collapsed and was reintegrated into the country. That was the same year in which University Hall was built. Members of University Hall then adopted the identity of the real Katanga, claiming that though Katanga state was no more, its legend will live on in their hall, hence, their slogan“the legend lives on”. It is worth asking seriously what positive legend this secessionist, nation- betraying province has to bequeath civilized intellectuals in K.N.U.S.T. Unity Hall Though the significance of these adopted identities may be debated in any direction, one thing is clear; none of these halls has been able to establish its own unique identity. They all fall on remote persons, places, events and institutions.Indeed, the popularity of some of these halls largely hangs upon this borrowing of identity. It is in this regard that Unity Hall manifests distinctness as the only hall that has been able to establish its own identity, independent of any other institution, person or nation. Unity Hall’s identity stems from the magnitude of its vision and purpose. The twin towers stand gigantic as pointers to a vision that is of continental proportions, a dream that encompasses Africa in its entirety, that dream of a united Africa which many illustrious ones like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie fought for at the intellectual battlefronts of yesteryear. Bedraggled by rains of neocolonialism and battered by the scorch of Apartheid, this dream soared and wandered in the wilderness for generations until at last, it nestled in the home that was built for it, the twin towers of Unity Hall . Knowing that their hall commemorates a vision that encompasses not just a national event, a queen or a university but the hopes and aspirations of an entire continent, members of Unity Hall impressed upon themselves the unique identity of CONTINENTALS, popularly truncated as CONTI. Unity Hall is unique in that it is the only all that carves its own identity when other halls simply borrow identities from other parts of the world. Ordinary men bask in the glory of others, but extraordinary men bask in their own glory. Our Uniqueness in Essence Halls of residence are constructed with two things in mind; to provide accommodation and also to commemorate an event. These things sum up the essence of any hall of residence. Again Unity Hall stands out among others as the hall with distinctive essence. With regards to accommodation, the primary aim of a hall of residence, Unity Hall supersedes all other halls as one that accommodates the highest number of affiliates, about two thousand people housed on two great towers.With regards to commemorative essence, Unity Hall again exhibits exceptionality as the only hall that looks forward when all other halls look backwards.It is the only hall that points towards the future when all other halls point to the past. Again, we look at some examples. Independence Hall immortalizes Ghana’s independence. Republic Hall venerates Ghana’s ascent to republic hood. Queens Hall memorializes the visit of the Queen to Ghana. University Hall marks the rise of the university college of Kumasi to the status of a university. Others across the country are simply named after past individuals who are deemed to have contributed to national development. As one would notice, these commemorations are noble indeed, but they all point to past events. It is in this regard that Unity stands unique as the only hall that points to a future dream; that of Africa’s unity. Unity Hall does not point to what has already been achieved so as to make us complacent, but rather to that which needs to be achieved, in order to keep us on our toes. A hall that commemorates this all-important vision of a continent is by no mean measure a unique hall. Our Uniqueness in Philosophy Unity Hall’s philosophy is firmly grounded in the world-acclaimed principles of peace and unity. This in itself is very unique, given the hall’s status as anall-male hall. In a country where all- male halls have been characterized by indiscipline and barbarism, and where violence and mischievous acts have come to be accepted as the only means of making a hall ‘famous and recognized’ in the country, Unity Hall still stands a towering example of the irrefutable fact that a 21st century African all-male hall can exude gentleness and civility without losing its boyish flair. Unity Hall continues to make its impact while still maintaining its demeanour as a hall of peaceful gentlemen, an unusual feat for an all- male hall.The chronicles clearly reveal that the Powerful Continentals have over the years shown themselves as being too civilized to initiate any form of rowdiness or barbarism on campus but at the same time, too principled to allow any other hall to do same.The great historical dates like 8th October 2008 lend credence to this truth.Unity is a hall that is tactful in resisting provocation, severe in bringing wayward halls to order and at the same time open enough to make peace.This in itself is untypical of an all- male hall and certainly is a unique attribute. In terms of unity also, Unity Hall cannot be faulted. There are halls that boast of unity simply because all members can wear “Kaba and Slit” during hall week celebrations or collectively wake up one o’clock in the night to go cause mischief. I see this as a funny definition of unity, especially when, in this same hall, it is not unusual to see the J.C.R.C. and Traditional Council are at each other’s throats. Such a hall would have to learn the true definition of unity from Unity Hall, a hall in which all leaders and institutions live in peace and mutual respect for each other, co-operating as and when necessary for the improvement of the hall. As an all-male hall, Unity is unique in its pragmatic belief in peace and unity. It is of no surprise, therefore, that this hall has produced a man who championed the cause of world peace and unity, His Excellency Busumuru Dr. Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary General and Peace Nobel Prize Laureate. Even now, Unity Hall continues to showcase uniqueness in areas such as infrastructural development and proactive leadership, and these have been recognized by the university community at large. Unity Hall has become a role model to other halls, a Good Samaritan to others and an envy of the rest. Some halls have little to boast of, and while others may pride in records of indiscipline and barbarism, Unity Hall boasts of uniqueness that reflects in its essence, identity, philosophy and unprecedented level of development. CONTI … POWER!!! By: Hubert Agamasu, Unity Hall.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 07:21:34 +0000
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