Ama Ata Aidoo was a Ghana-born writer, poet, politician and academic known for works such as “Our Sister Killjoy,” “Changes: A Love Story,” and “The Dilemma of a Ghost.”
- Died: May 31, 2023 (Who else died on May 31?)
- Details of death: Died after a short illness the age of 81.
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Ama Ata Aidoo’s legacy
Born to a village chief in Ghana, Aidoo was politically aware at a young age; her father put a strong focus on teaching the history of the region, and her grandfather was murdered by neocolonialists. She would go on to attend the University of Ghana, where she began to pursue a career as a writer. In 1964, she became the first published African woman dramatist with her play, “The Dilemma of a Ghost.”
In the decades that followed, much of her focus was on education. She taught at Stanford University in California, the University of Ghana, and the University of Cape Coast, and others, and was a research fellow at the Institute of African Studies. In 1982, she was appointed as the Minister of Education in Ghana, serving 18 months before stepping down. She also spent time as a curriculum developer for the Zimbabwe Ministry of Education.
Aidoo also earned worldwide accolades as an author, often exploring the difficult relationship between Europe and Africa in her work. In 1992, her novel, “Changes: A Love Story,” won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book. Her 1977 novel, “Our Sister Killjoy,” might be her best-known book, exploring sexuality and LGBTQIA+ themes as seen from an African woman’s perspective. When not writing, Aidoo developed the Mbaasem Foundation, which supports women writers and artists in Africa, and edited anthologies, such as 2006’s “African Love Stories.”
Notable quote
“Work is love made visible.”—Our Sister Killjoy
Tributes to Ama Ata Aidoo
Full obituary: The Washington Post
