Ama Ata Aidoo celebrated in Windhoek, Namibia

On Saturday, 27 June 2015, AfricAvenir and Spoken Word Namibia held the screening of the Ghanaian documentary “The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo”.

The 2014, 78 min film was directed by Yaba Badoe. The programme also involved members of Namibian Spoken Word reciting some of Ama Ata Aidoo’s prose and poetry. The programme was made possible through financial support of the Finnish Embassy in Namibia and took place at the Goethe Institut. The Ghana High Commission provided moral and patriotic support.

The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo, celebrates Ghana’s acclaimed Pan-African feminist, poet, playwright and novelist and provides a fascinating insight into her life. It is also an important resource for students and teachers of African literature, as well as lovers of African women’s writing. By celebrating one woman’s contribution to Africa’s Renaissance The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo will inspire others to be equally courageous.

It explores the artistic contribution of one of Africa’s foremost woman writers, a trailblazer for an entire generation of exciting new talent and charts Ama Ata Aidoo’s creative journey in a life that spans seven decades from colonial Ghana through the tumultuous era of independence to a more sober present day Africa where nurturing women’s creative talent remains as hard as ever.

Over the course of a year, the film follows Aidoo as she returns home to her ancestral village in the Central Region of Ghana, launches her latest collection of short stories in Accra, and travels to the University of California, Santa Barbara to attend the premier of her seminal play about the slave trade, Anowa.

With contributions from Carole Boyce Davies, Nana Wilson- Tagoe and Vincent Odamtten, The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo gives a fascinating insight into the life of a feminist poet and novelist and brings Aidoo’s writing to new audiences.
In a message to the audience, she said, “I was absolutely thrilled to learn from Yaba Badoe that her documentary on me and my work is getting premiered in Namibia. Hearing about this event took me back to my brief visit to Windhoek, and how absolutely wonderful that was…Over the years, there have been one or two occasions when I’d come close to returning to Namibia to lie low and write. Although those chances did not work out, I haven’t given up on that particular project yet. This evening though, I hope you enjoy The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo, the film…I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank you for all the great work you’ve been doing on, and for African films.”

AfricAvenir was awarded the “Toussaint L’Ouverture“ medal, an annual prize given by the Executive Board of the UNESCO for individuals and organizations for their outstanding fight against racism, intolerance, and economic exploitation. It is a Member of the Filmmakers Association Namibia (FAN), Member of the Association of African Film Critics (AfriCine) and Winner of AFDA award for Best African Film Promoter, at 2014 Zanzibar International Film Festival.
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