Ghanaian writer and feminist Ama Ata Aidoo passes away at 81

03 June 2023
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Ghanaian writer and feminist Ama Ata Aidoo passes away at 81

Ama Ata Aidoo, the iconic Ghanaian writer whose classics The Dilemma of a Ghost and Changes were taught to children in West African schools for decades, has died aged 81. The death of the playwright and poet who was famous for her feminist ideals was announced on Wednesday in a short statement by her family.

Life of Ama Ata Aidoo

Born in a rural village in central Ghana in 1942, Aidoo's passion for writing emerged at the young age of 15. She pursued her literary interests at the University of Ghana, where she also taught for several years. In 1965, Aidoo achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first African woman to publish a play with her debut work, The Dilemma of a Ghost. This accomplishment marked the beginning of her remarkable journey as one of the most renowned writers on the continent, serving as an inspiration to subsequent generations of authors, artists, and feminists.

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Aidoo's influence extended beyond her literary achievements. From 1982 to 1983, she took on the role of Ghana's education minister, contributing to the development of the country's educational system. Her novel Changes, which explores the challenges faced by an educated woman in a polygamous marriage, earned her the prestigious Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book. Through her thought-provoking storytelling, Aidoo addressed complex themes and shed light on the experiences of women in African society.