Renowned Ghanaian Author Ama Ata Aidoo Dies

Ama Ata Aidoo, one of Africa’s most prominent female authors and playwrights, has passed away at the age of 81 years old.

“The family … 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,” a statement shared by the family said.

According to reports, the cause of her death was an undisclosed illness that she had suffered from for a brief amount of time.

The Ghanaian feminist was known for opposing what she called the “Western perception that the African female is a downtrodden wretch” by celebrating their experiences in her written works such as “The Dilemma of a Ghost”, “Our Sister Killjoy” and “Changes”.

Born in a village within central Ghana in 1942, Aidoo studied literature and lectured at the University of Ghana before she went on to briefly serve as the country’s education minister from 1982 to 1983, during which she strongly advocated free education.

Her iconic works were taught to children in West African schools for decades, and have subsequently inspired an entire generation of writers and musicians.

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