She is Sixty Going On Sixteen

An interview with The Fabulous Mrs. Joyce Anima Misa Amoah,

A Wife, Mother, GM of Sapphire Ghana Ltd, Actress, Producer, Director and Writer

Several years ago, I heard a saying that really sat well with me. I believe it was said by an American entertainer – and it went something like, ‘you can’t help getting older but you don’t have to get old!’ As a free spirit – (I consider myself a free spirit) – it was something I immediately identified with.  I think consciously or subconsciously it’s the way I live my life!

 I am a wife and a mother of a thirty-three-year-old son. I am currently the executive producer of my brother Kwaku Sintim Misa’s show, the KSM Show, formerly known as TGIF.  We also work together on other projects; we mainly write, direct and produce.  As an actor I have worked with other directors; back in the day with Kwaw Ansah, and most recently, with Shirley Frimpong Manso in her movie series, ‘Adams Apples’. As a writer, even though I have not had anything published yet, I have had a number of radio plays that were produced by the BBC; that was a while back…but you know, one of these days I hope to have my other writings published – maybe self-publish – haha.

Hobbies

Apart from reading and writing, it’s got to be dancing! Hahaha – you know, when I go out with people – my husband, KSM and his wife, and there is music, they go ‘oh my goodness she’s going to be at it again!’ I mean I can’t waste music! That’s my policy. Sometimes you go to parties and people are sitting down whilst good music is playing, and I’m thinking ‘what are they doing??? This is good music going to waste!’ Haha. I also love going to the movies. I like a good film at the cinema, you know the atmosphere in the theatre; the sound is louder, the screen is bigger…it’s just different – a great experience a – great escape! You can’t get that from watching a movie on a DVD!

Being young at heart

I think I am quite child-like. At Sapphire where I work, even though I’m supposed to be a GM, you’ll find that we sometimes laugh more than we work! Laughter is good. Seeing the funny side of things is important. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. And I love relating to people far younger that I am. I love talking with them, listening to them – one can learn so much. These days, I am usually the oldest person wherever I am – hahaha but, you know, sometimes I forget. I think I have always been child-like; not childish though – there is a difference between being childish and being child-like; I am not childish in the sense that I’m able to analyze and think things through like a mature adult. I am child-like in the sense that I am not bugged down by what society feels I should do or wear or think because I am of a certain age!  For example, people will say things like ‘you are old,‘boduku’ (wear scarf) hahahahaa’ …you know that kind of thing? I just ignore that and wear what I want to wear, as long as I’m decently dressed and I feel happy in it then that’s what I do. You know, I think I was seen as a rebel when I was growing up; now I look at younger women today and get shocked because I don’t feel that they are liberated enough. I talk to them and I’m thinking ‘oh my goodness even 40 years ago, I wouldn’t even have subscribed to some of the ideas you’re subscribing to now! These ideas are imprisoning you!’ They are so terrified of what society thinks of them and are living their lives for others. I always thought people younger than me should be more radical than I am, yet I am constantly being shocked because so many young people I have met in recent times, appear to be even more conservative than I am!

I love humour – I love satire – and sometimes I can be quite sarcastic in my humour. On my 60th birthday, one of my mates decided to say something and she talked about how I used to crack them up in school, but I can’t even remember. I suppose I’ve been like that all my life. I like to crack jokes; sometimes I will do that with a straight face and get other people into trouble – haahahahhaa. I think there is a lot to laugh about in life.

But having said that, there are certain issues that I feel are never funny; that’s when my serious side comes up. Issues like domestic and child abuse; abuse of human rights; misuse of power; suppressive and harmful cultures, superstitions and traditions; I’m very passionate about how these affect us negatively and whenever given the chance, I make my feelings quite clear.

My secret to ‘60 going on 16’ look

Being young at heart and taking care of myself are contributing factors, I guess! But I have to confess that maybe I was also just fortunate to inherit the right genes from my parents. Apart from that, as I mentioned before, I am quite independent in how I think and do not allow others to dictate how I live my life. So, for example, I dress to feel comfortable and to feel good – I don’t go by the belief that I have to wear a type of dress because it goes with a certain age! I suppose that enhances the youthfulness in me;  Skinny Jeans is what I feel like wearing I will wear it and if I think I need to keep my hair big and flowing, I do it – haahahaa.

In terms of skin, I do make up of course but I don’t sleep with it EVER. No matter how late I get home from anywhere, I wash it off so that I don’t have a caked face overnight. I make sure I cleanse my face. I also steam my face every now and then. I have always tried not to use harsh soaps and creams on my face and body – and I don’t ‘scrub’ my face! I drink loads of water and I try to eat well, I really do; I try to keep as healthy a diet as possible. I don’t restrict myself though; I just balance whatever I eat; so yes I do eat chocolate and cake!! For instance if I go to a party and they serve chocolate or cakes, I’d eat it but then for the next couple of days I make sure I get back to eating healthy, you know. There is something called the 80/20 diet which says that if you eat healthily 80% of the time then it’s ok to have a treat every now and then. I’m very conscious of what I eat, e.g. I know that a big slice of cake could give me as much as 400 calories, full of fat and sugar – hahahahaa. When I eat that biscuit, I already know that I’ve probably done 100 calories. Sometimes you think it’s only a small thing but it may contain lots of calories.

I did have a regime of the gym but I stopped that for a while after I had a knee accident. I think it’s really important to exercise; I am not an exercise freak or anything. Dancing is a good, fun form of exercise!

My advice to younger women

You are all fabulous! Believe in yourselves. Have a dream and work towards it. Make it your primary goal to live a fulfilled life doing something that adds value to your life. Stop worrying about what other people think of you.

Health-wise, be a conscious eater, have an idea of what is in the stuff you are putting in your mouth and how that affects you both mentally and physically. We all know fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy for us so as much as you can, eat them. And don’t say ‘I will never touch chocolate’; I mean how can you live without eating chocolate? Hahahaa.  Eat it – just balance it off within your diet! Moderation and balance is what is important.

Moreover, don’t be backed down too heavily about what everybody else is thinking of you. Live as good a life as you can as long as you’re not in somebody’s face and you’re not hurting anybody.

Fabulous Woman, fulfill yourself as a person, it’s important.