By Hussein Kiganda
Renowned Ghanaian author, playwright, poet, and novelist Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, whose work profoundly impacted generations of African writers and artists breathed her last on May 31, 2023.
Her passing was confirmed by her family members through a statement that was released on Wednesday, May 31.
Aidoo was born in 1942 in Ghana. She studied English at the University of Ghana and later earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing her studies, she returned to Ghana and embarked on her writing career.
In 1965, Aidoo published her first play, The Dilemma of a Ghost, which narrates the story of a Ghanaian man returning home from the US with his African-American wife. The play received critical acclaim and achieved commercial success, establishing Aidoo as a leading voice in African literature.
Throughout her career, Aidoo wrote numerous plays, novels, short stories, and poetry, delving into themes of gender, race, and colonialism. Her writing challenged the status quo and championed social justice.
As an esteemed educator and academic, she taught at various universities in Ghana and the US, even serving as Ghana’s Minister of Education from 1982 to 1983.
Aidoo’s contributions to African literature were monumental, and her works will continue to inspire and provoke readers for generations to come. Her passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt by the literature fraternity in Africa
