Award-winning Ghanaian poet cum author Ama Ata Aidoo has died after a short illness.
Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo died today, May 31, 2023.
She was 81 years.
The death of the renowned author, poet, and playwright was announced today in a statement issued by the Family head Kwamena Essandoh Aidoo.
“The Family of Pro. Ama Ata Aidoo with deep sorrow but in the hope of the resurrection, informs the general public that our beloved relative and writer passed away in the early hours of this morning Wednesday 31st May 2023, after a short illness”.
“Funeral arrangements would be announced in due course. The Family requests privacy at this difficult moment”.
Over the seven decades of her career, Ama Ata Aidoo published award-winning novels, plays, short stories, children’s books, and poetry, and influenced generations of African women writers.
In 1991, she was adjudged the winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Changes as a novelist.
The late Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo is known for books such as Changes: A Love Story, Our Sister Killjoy, No Sweetness Here, Dilemma of a Ghost and Anowa, Diplomatic Pounds, After The Ceremonies, The Girl Who Can, Someone Talking To Some time and more.
Born Christina Ama Ata Aidoo, she hails from Abeadzi Kyiakor, near Saltpond, in the Central Region of Ghana.
She was raised in a Fante royal household, the daughter of Nana Yaw Fama, chief of Abeadzi Kyiakor, and Maame Abasema. She grew up at a time of resurgent British neocolonialism that was taking place in her homeland.
Her grandfather was murdered by neocolonialists, which brought her father’s attention to the importance of educating the children and families of the village on the history and events of the era.
Aidoo attended Wesley Girls’ Senior High School in Cape Coast, from 1961 to 1964. After high school, she enrolled at the University of Ghana, Legon, where she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English.