Ama Ata Aidoo Centre launches ‘One Book One Community’ to encourage literacy

As part of its reading outreach to encourage literacy, the Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing has announced the book “No Sweetness Here” as its choice for its ‘One Book One Community’ initiative this quarter.

For the pilot program, the collection of short stories by the celebrated author will be donated free to, and read by, 100 readers belonging to four book clubs at the African University College of Communications and the Adabraka area in Accra from March to June, 2018.

According to Nana S Achampong, Director of the Center, ‘No Sweetness Here’ is a collection of 11 beautifully woven “Ghanaian” short stories by Ama Ata Aidoo written in the 1960s. The stories deal with issues that are still relevant in this century.

“They are about transitions from one reality to another - from rural to urban, old to new world, one generation to the next - and through them all, the theme of rights lingers, right to education, right to self,” he explained.

Ama Ata Aidoo is one of the most decorated feminist writers of recent times. Her numerous works include ‘Someone Talking to Sometime’, ‘Anowa’, ‘Our Sister Killjoy’ and the groundbreaking ‘The Dilemma of a Ghost’.

He said, every three months, the Centre will donate copies of selected titles to active members of local book clubs to encourage and sustain literacy and interest in literature

“We will bring the authors to meet the readers, and through that revive the love for reading and writing.” He added.

According to him, the next selection for ‘One Book One Community’ will be announced June 2018.

Earlier in February, the Centre sent out a call for short story submissions rooted in the Greater Accra area for an anthology to be called ‘Adabraka: Stories from the Centre of the World’. ‘Adabraka’ will be edited and published in May 2018.

In March 2017, the African University College of Communications (AUCC) launched the Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing to celebrate the remarkable author who at 15, decided she wanted to be a writer. Today, Ms. Aidoo is recognized as one of Africa’s truest.

cultural and feminism ambassadors with several books and literary awards under her belt. The Centre provides support for critical reading and creative writing.

As part of its programs this year, the Ama Ata Aidoo Centre will on March 10 host veteran journalist Cameron Duodu (author of ‘The Gab Boys’), the Honorable Samia Nkrumah and Kwesi Pratt Jnr at a Speakers’ Forum themed ‘Of Freedom and Literature’. The year’s activities will end with a celebration of the winner of the Ama Ata Aidoo Prize for Best Original Writing in Ghana.