13 March is Prof. Kofi Awoonor’s birthday and as done for all legends, the Association of Students of English, Legon (of the University of Ghana) and Values For Life (Organizer of the Ghana Poetry Festival) will host a special event annually in his honour starting this year.
September 21 this year marks four years since Ghana’s astute author and poet—Prof. Kofi Awoonor— was killed by the Al-Shabaab terrorists in 2013 during the Westgate Mall crisis in Nairobi, Kenya. This was when he was due to deliver a lecture at Africa’s biggest Literary Festival, STORYMOJA, in the country.
Prof. Awoonor’s contribution towards poetry, literature and Creative arts in Ghana is one that cannot be underestimated. It is in light of this impeccable role that ASEL have instituted the event, THE AWOONOR’S WAVELET, to mark his birthday annually.
THE AWOONOR’S WAVELET, generally designed to promote Prof. Kofi Awoonor’s dream for the Creative Arts industry in Ghana, will this year—his 82nd Birthday—start with poetry readings & performances spiced with music and dance, an interactive session about him with regards to what he dreamt of the Ghanaian creative community, discussion of some of his poetry works and brief tributes for him. The event which will have his family well represented will host readings/performances by Prof. Kofi Anyidoho, Prof. Lade Wosornu, Dr. Mawuli Adzei, Dr. Anderson and by some of the ‘infant corns’ as Oswald Okaitei, Chieff Moomen, Adjei Agyei Baah, Afia Nyamekye, Sarpong Kumankoma among others. There will also be a special segment where balloons will be blasted and numbers in each and corresponding to one of his poems listed for the day will be read.
The event is scheduled to start at 6pm prompt at the Engish Department, University of Ghana and promises to be a start of a beautiful journey into the heart of the late Prof. Awoonor. Admission is free.
The supporters of the event include Graphic Showbiz, Insight Newspaper, Pan-African Tv, Play House.kom, Kasapa fm, News Ghana, Myghanalinks and GBC 24.
