For in that period the only source of solace is to know that 'The Beautyful Ones' of Africa, those men who would stand corruption and fight it to the letter at the expense of their lives, leaders who have visions to take the country farther into development and not to 'see the true end of politics as wealth (Busia)', those who are spiritually in-tuned with the way and knows the path have not yet been born. Thus, in its unwholesomeness it became wholesome, beautiful, intellectual, symbolic and above all meaningful in all its aspects. Yet, even though it spoke literally to the driver or owner of the sign, in its misspelt state it was a spiritual message to the author. The industry of sign-writing is populated mostly by semi-literates and such petty mistakes in spelling abounds. This inscription, which, according to the author in the June 2010 edition of New African magazine, saw in real life after he was looking for a title for this novel, is one of such arts.
It is an art and also a way of knowing what the driver believes in or stands for.
In Ghana, as in most countries perhaps, car inscriptions are common.
The title of the novel, The Beautyful Ones are not yet Born, was an inscription the author saw written at the back of a car a policeman had stopped, in the novel. In our boredom we went out to the open public places to see what it was people were talking about, whether it was a thing we could go to with our hopes, or just another passing show like so many we had seen and so many we are seeing now. But we did not run out eager to follow anyone. If it had been so, we would have been following th first men who came offering words and hidden plans to heal our souls. It is not true at all that when men are desperate they will raise their arms and welcome just anybody who comes talking of their salvation. This is how the Teacher described Maanan's view of this new person, leader: The mental decay that characterised the period is seen through a lady called Maanan who thought that the coming of an eloquent man, who showed glimpses of learning and not just learning but having knowledge of the path, of having power not bestowed upon him by the white man, and when this man (reference to Nkrumah) failed her, she went insane.
It was this Teacher who guided the man to resist the torments of his wife and mother-in-law, whilst at the same time showing him that the path is not that rosy and things wouldn't change even now. In the story is a Teacher, whom 'the man' consulted anytime he had problems.
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