On Thursday, 28th March, 2024, The Ama Atta Aidoo Centre For Creative Writing (AAACCW), launched its latest Anthology titled “AFAJATO; STORIES AROUND THE VOLTA LAKE” at the Business Development centre of African University College of Communication (AUCC) in Adabraka, suburb of Accra.
The event began with a welcome speech from the president of AUCC, Professor Abeku Blackson to the special guests in the person of Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, Executive Director, https://ghanaculture.gov.gh/ and Naa Kokor Aadzieoyi I, Queen mother of Adabraka Otuapai, distinguish guests and students who were present at the ceremony and expressed how excited he was to interact with the creative writers and shared his knowledge about the what happened around the Volta lake.
Professor Blackson went on to to address the some strategic plans the institution is pursuing. “This occasion is not just a celebration of a literary work but it is also a testimony to our strategic goals that we've set. In our strategic plan we have identified certain areas that our university wants to push and Creative Arts is one of them”.
The ceremony continued with poetry recital titled “Peace” by Dora Mwintero Diyuoh, poet and student of AUCC. Then the special guests, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, Executive Director,
https://ghanaculture.gov.gh/addressed the event and showed appreciation to each of the authors in the “AFAJATO” anthology.
The book is a collection of many captivating stories about the Volta region of Ghana, the anthology “AFAJATO” is a testament to the diverse narratives emanating from the regions surrounding the Volta Lake and has as many as fifteen (15) extraordinary authors, which most of them are amateur writers from the African University College of Communications, only few of the authors are seasoned, who have been ushered into that exclusive group of Aidoo Centre alumni (now 76) who are set to carry the mantle of the late Ama Ata Aidoo forward. The stories were compiled and edited by the Anthologist, Lecturer and director of the AAA Centre for creative writing, Nana Sandy Achampong.
The ceremony ended after Naa Kokor Aadzieoyi I, Queen mother of Adabraka Otuapai officially launched the anthology “AFAJATO” and certificates with copy of the book was awarded by Dr. Kemi WaleOlaitan, Ag. Vice President, AUCC. After, the book were put on sale for all those present with customised A.A.A.C.C.W by Nana S. Achampong Director, A.A.A.C.C.W.
In an interview done by Vanessa Vnaderpuye, Journalism student and Writer with some of the writers, they disclosed their inspiration behind the book to the quests at the event.
"There is this proverb that a child cannot see what is at the top. That is what inspired my story. History and stories have to be passed down. We read so we must pass on from generation to generation, " answered Kirsty Lomo, author of The Cave, a story in the Afajato Anthology.
Kofi Dzogdewu author of To catch a ghost, in the Afajato anthology also said “My story is of a legendary ewe boatsman who ferries souls across the river to the afterlife whiles working in modern times as a Fashion Icon. To aspiring authors out there, they should dig deep and find stories around themselves. Stories about their culture. There are a lot of stories when we look back at our culture. You'll be shocked at the inspiration that would come out of it."
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