FWD: The art of Ama Ata Aidoo – Film screening and director Q&A, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

(Ama Ata Aidoo)

Event principal participants: Yaba Badoe, Nana Ayebia Clarke, Louisa Egbunike, Kwadwo Osei-Nyame Jnr

Date: 10 March 2015 Time: 7:00pm

Finishes: 10 March  Time: 9:30pm

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings Room: Djam Lecture Theatre

Type of Event: Film

Ghana/UK. 2014. 78min. Colour. English.

The first of its kind, this documentary celebrates the acclaimed Pan-African feminist, poet, playwright and novelist and provides a fascinating insight into her life. The film explores the artistic contribution of one of Africa’s foremost woman writers, a trailblazer for an entire generation of exciting new talent. The film charts Ama Ata Aidoo’s creative journey in a life that spans seven decades from colonial Ghana through the tumultuous era of independence to a more sober present day Africa where nurturing women’s creative talent remains as hard as ever.

Over the course of a year the film follows Aidoo as she returns home to her ancestral village in the Central Region of Ghana, launches her latest collection of short stories in Accra, and travels to the University of California, Santa Barbara to attend the premier of her seminal play about African enslavement, Anowa.

With contributions from Carole Boyce Davies, Nana Wilson-Tagoe, Vincent Odamtten and Ayebia Clarke Publishing, The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo gives a fascinating insight into the life of a feminist poet and novelist and brings Aidoo’s writing to new audiences.

Followed by a discussion with director Yaba Badoe, Nana Ayebia Clarke (Ayebia Clarke Publishing Limited), Louisa Egbunike (SOAS) and Kwadwo Osei-Nyame (SOAS)

Organiser: Centre of African Studies, SOAS, University of London

Contact email: cas@soas.ac.uk

Contact Tel: 020 7898 4370

Twitter @HerbertEkweEkwe