Mfantsipim School celebrates 150 years with reflections on student traditions

In reflections on the 150th anniversary of Mfantsipim School, personal accounts describe the unique social dynamics and oral traditions within the institution. A student entering the school in 1987 noted a parallel system of identity where staff members were known by unofficial nicknames rather than formal titles.

These nicknames, such as ‘Corrosive’, ‘Ostrich’, and ‘Doboo’, functioned as a form of coded language and internal anthropology among the student body. Rather than being purely malicious, the labels often reflected observational details or personality traits, such as a headmaster’s surgical sarcasm or an assistant headmaster’s height.