Ama Ata Aidoo was hosted for an event dubbed “A Life Masterclass” by NYU Accra on October 15, 2020. The evening also doubled up as a belated eightieth birthday celebration for Aidoo.
Ama Ata Aidoo is no new name to anyone who follows African literature in the last four and a half decades. The Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, and academic has produced many works of literary art the most famous of which was her debut novel Our Sister Killjoy: or Reflections from a Black-eyed Squint (1977). She has also written the plays The Dilemma of a Ghost (1965) and Anowa (1970).
New York University Accra, popularly known as NYU Accra, hosted the legendary writer to an event they called A Life Masterclass as part of their Labone Dialogues. The series has different artists in conversation with one another. The day which was overseen by Kobby Graham had a conversation between Ama Ata Aidoo and cultural activist and producer Korkor Amarteifio.
The evening started with a documentary about Ama Ata Aidoo before the discussions came fast and thick. It was a discussion of a quick-witted writer and a moderator who knew her subject intimately we were observing as Aidoo shared the many lessons she learned during her life in writing over the years.
The discussion was followed by a recorded message from writers who were wishing Aidoo a belated 80th happy birthday. Leaving messages that left the beloved author in tears were Molara Wood, Maaza Mengiste, Bisi Adjapon, Mohammed Nasheehu Ali, Zukiswa Wanner, and Chiké Frankie Edozien.
Chiké Frankie Edozien while giving a vote of thanks as the event ended introduced a cake and led everyone in singing the universal song one sings at birthday events. With the singing done there was a cake-cutting ceremony and eating of cake.
You can watch the whole event in its entirety by clicking here.
Here are more images from the event taken by Ernest Ankomah and Frank Antwi.
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