‘Writer Moms Are The Best And I Had The Best One’ – Ama Ata Aidoo’s Daughter Pays Glowing Tribute

The daughter of the late renowned poet and playwright, Kinna Likimani, delivered a heartfelt tribute to her late mother at her final funeral rite on Thursday, July 13.

The funeral for the late poet and playwright Professor Ama Ata Aidoo was held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra.

Present were President Akufo-Addo and his predecessor, John Mahama.

Likimani expressed her admiration for her mother’s writing prowess and described her as the best writer Mom in the world.

With a radiant smile and a mixture of emotions, Likimani shared fond memories of her mother, dividing her world into two categories: writing and not writing.

She revealed that her mother found the utmost peace when engaged in writing, contrasting it with restlessness and discontent when she wasn’t writing.

“If one looked deep into her eyes, far past her loving embrace and famous hugs, somewhere deep inside her a pool of dejection and despair had started to form. This pool will grow to challenge the Gulf of Guinea, till one day she wrote a poem…that she was a master of the literary form.

“She never suffered a writer’s block, her challenge as she articulated it was the space to write. Space here means physical space, financial space, space from the public, space from family, space even from me. African women need space to write,” she read.

Likimani recalled a car accident her mother experienced, resulting in her admission to Cape Coast Government Hospital. Despite the hardships she endured, Aidoo’s passion for writing never waned, even during difficult times.

“One Sunday morning in 1977… we were informed that Mummy had been involved in a car accident and is on admission at the Cape Coast government hospital. Mummy’s brakes had failed. Her right leg was broken in three places. An operation and almost a year of recovery. In the year since, she would use crutches, cane, walkers and then finally wheelchairs.

“My mother’s need to write caused her something great, the cost showed on her body but after she came home to recuperate she wrote. When she quit the PNDC and went into exile, she wrote. When she went through a difficult time she still wrote,” she read.

Reflecting on her childhood, Likimani expressed gratitude for growing up in the nurturing environment of the University of Cape Coast, where her mother served as a lecturer.

She also humorously described the late Aidoo as the most stubborn person in the world, affectionately referring to her as the ‘Founder of Stubborn Academy’.

Expressing deep appreciation for her mother’s life, words, care, and love, Likimani concluded her tribute by urging her mother to rest and enjoy a well-deserved respite.

“Thank you for everything. You have earned your rest, don’t be stubborn about it, drink lots of tea and rest well,” she said.

She ended her tribute with one of her mother’s favorite poems, “Won’t you celebrate with Me” by Lucille Clifton.

Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, a highly respected writer, passed away on May 31, 2023, at the age of 83 after a brief illness.

The funeral ceremonies, which commenced on July 13, are scheduled to conclude on July 16, 2023.

The burial service will take place on Saturday, July 15, at 8:00 am at the Good Shepherd Methodist Church in Abeadze Kyeakor, Central Region.

The interment will be held at Abora Nkwanta, followed by a thanksgiving service on Sunday, July 16.