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Coming To America: A Taxi Chief Is A Real Chief In Africa
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 12, 2011
Modified Aug 12, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 12, 2011
Modified Aug 12, 2011
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Coming To America, the original Eddie Murphy-plays-multiple-characters film, is one of our favorite movies ever—so when we saw this NY Times story about a taxi fleet owner who just happens to be an African Chief, we had to scream "Good morning, my neighbors!" out our office window immediately. “Here we are very busy — but at least I don’t have my people around me here, because I am more free,” said Isaac Osei, also known as Nana Gyensare V, a chief of the Akwamu people, who oversees the residents of five towns across the Eastern Region.
Osei and his wife Elizabeth, who are immigrants from Ghana, oversee a fleet of 50 taxis in midtown Manhattan; Elizabeth is the president of Napasei Taxi Management Corporation, and Isaac the vice president. But back in Ghana, Osei dons a gold crown, sits on a throne or stool, and works 20-hour days out of his 10-room palace. In September, when he returns home, Osei will be tasked with everything from mediating family disputes to blessing the yam harvest.
Osei, who is one of 19 children, says he never expected to be chief—he moved to NYC three decades ago to carve out his own life, and bought a medallion in 1982. But when his elder brother died in 2006, Osei was called back to Ghana to assume the title of chief. Now he spends part of his year in Ghana attending to Chiefly responsibilities: "They spoil you,” Elizabeth said of her husband’s staff members in Ghana. “When you get to J.F.K., they don’t pick up your suitcases.” However, she sees the bright side in living dual lives: “When I get to Africa, I have to worship him. When I get back, he has to worship me.”
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Africa
cab
chief
coming to america
Ghana
taxi
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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