Nkrumah’s cane walking stick and how he used it to send unique messages to his photographer

Using a walking stick might seem old-school today but in Kwame Nkrumah’s days, it had a different fashionistic feel to it.

And Nkrumah had one or a few of them which he mostly used any time he was out on official duties.

However, the stick in the hands of Ghana’s first president did not only serve as a fashion addition, or even as a support in his walking, but he used it to do something much more different - to communicate.

According to details shared by HIGHLIFE Lives On, on X, it said Nkrumah had a special coded language his walking sticks communicated to his photographer in particular.

Instead of using eye contact or whispering a message, or otherwise, Nkrumah is believed to have rather ‘spoken’ to his photographer using the stick in his hand.

By gesturing to him with the stick, depending on how and when he moved it or positioned it, the message got to his photographer on what he needed to do.

Unique, it was, and it did get him great results too.

The post said; “Dr. Nkrumah often used his cane walking stick to communicate with his photographer Chris Hesse (Now Reverend).

“When he attended events and his cane emerged first before he stepped out of his car, it was a signal for the cameraman to take shots. If it came late, then no shots.”

The post was also accompanied by a photo of Nkrumah using his stick as he walked side by side with some foreign dignitaries.

See the post below:

Dr. Nkrumah often used his cane walking stick to communicate with his photographer Chris Hesse(Now Reverend)
When he attended events and his cane emerged first before he stepped out of his car, it was a signal for the cameraman to take shots.
If it came late, then no shots. pic.twitter.com/hkNBjWjugY

— HIGHLIFE lives ON (@GyapKay) July 11, 2024