Ama Ata Aidoo: A Voice for African Women That Echoed Across Continents

Ama Ata Aidoo, a celebrated Ghanaian author and feminist, who through her work gave voice to the experiences of African women, has passed away at the age of 81. Her writings, a rich tapestry of narratives, explored the impact of colonialism, slavery, and the struggle for women’s rights, challenging Western stereotypes of African women along the way.

A Life Well-Lived

Aidoo was born on March 23, 1942, in Abeadzi Kyiakor, a central region of what was known in the West as the Gold Coast, the region’s colonial name. Her father, a local chief of the Fante people, was a strong supporter of education, building the village’s first schoolhouse. She called herself part of “a long line of fighters,” often citing her grandfather’s imprisonment and torture by British colonial authorities.

She received a degree in English from the University of Ghana in 1964, seven years after Ghana’s independence. Aidoo was awarded a two-year creative writing fellowship at Stanford University, then returned to Ghana in 1970 to begin a 12-year tenure as a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast.

A Voice That Echoed Across Continents

Aidoo’s voice was not just heard in Africa, but it echoed across continents. She was a writer-in-residence at the University of Richmond in 1989 and was a visiting professor in the Africana studies department at Brown University from 2003 to 2010.

Despite her global recognition, Aidoo always felt a strong connection to her homeland. “I have always felt uncomfortable living abroad: racism, the cold, the weather, the food, the people,” she said in a 2003 interview published by the University of Alicante in Spain. “I also felt some kind of patriotic sense of guilt. Something like, Oh, my dear! Look at all the problems we have at home. What am I doing here?”

A Literary Voice That Resonated Across Borders

Aidoo’s literary journey was a remarkable one, marked by her deep commitment to exploring West African society through the eyes of women and the ghosts of the past such as colonial rule and slavery. Her career spanned academia in the United States and political life in Ghana, where she served as the secretary for education in the early 1980s. These experiences shaped the characters and struggles in her novels, plays, short stories, and volumes of poetry.

Aidoo saw her work as an extension of the oral storytelling traditions used by African women to pass down lore and collective wisdom. She once said, “African women were feminists long before feminism,” a testament to her belief in the inherent strength and resilience of African women.

Unearthing Layers of History

Aidoo worked like a cultural anthropologist, sifting through layers of history — often rife with oppression and exploitation — in Ghana and other parts of West Africa. Nearly all her central figures were women trying to change their lives but facing challenges imposed by men or cultural forces bigger than themselves.

In her first play, “The Dilemma of a Ghost” (1964), a Ghanaian student returns home with his American wife, a Black woman who grapples with a new way of life, the historical weight of the slave trade and her ancestry, and the confusion of the post-colonial era.

Her 1991 novel, “Changes: A Love Story,” which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for best book from Africa, was about a woman who divorces after suffering “marital rape” and then unhappily becomes one of the wives of a Muslim businessman.

Challenging Western Stereotypes

Aidoo was not just a writer; she was a force that challenged the narrative around African women. She took offense at what she called Western stereotypes of the “downtrodden wretch” in Africa — women seen as incapable of taking control of their own lives and futures.

“When people ask me rather bluntly every now and then whether I am a feminist, I not only answer yes, but I go on to insist that every woman and every man should be a feminist,” Aidoo said at an African women’s conference in 1998, “especially if they believe that Africans should take charge of African land, African wealth, African lives, and the burden of African development.”

A Life Dedicated to Literature

A defining moment for Aidoo came when she was 15. A teacher asked her what type of career she envisioned. “Without knowing why or even how, I replied that I wanted to be a poet,” she recalled. Four years later, she won a short story contest and was dazzled by seeing her name in print. She bought herself a new pair of shoes with the prize money. “I had articulated a dream … it was a major affirmation for me as a writer,” she later wrote.

Aidoo’s life and work were a testament to her belief in the power of words and the importance of giving voice to those often unheard. Her legacy will continue to inspire and empower generations of African women and writers around the world.

A Stint in Politics and Academia

Aidoo’s career was not confined to the literary world. She served as Ghana’s secretary for education in the early 1980s, a role that allowed her to shape the characters and struggles in her works. However, frustrated by the slow pace of reforms, she resigned after 18 months in the post.

She then moved to Zimbabwe in 1983, working on curriculum programs for the country’s education ministry. During her time in the capital, Harare, she wrote a collection of poems, “Someone talking to sometime” (1985), and a children’s book, “The Eagle and the Chickens and Other Stories” in 1986.

A Champion for African Women

Aidoo was widely described as one of Africa’s most prominent feminists. She saw her mission as trying to change the narrative around African women. She took offense at what she called Western stereotypes of the “downtrodden wretch” in Africa — women seen as incapable of taking control of their own lives and futures.

“When people ask me rather bluntly every now and then whether I am a feminist, I not only answer yes, but I go on to insist that every woman and every man should be a feminist,” Aidoo said at an African women’s conference in 1998, “especially if they believe that Africans should take charge of African land, African wealth, African lives, and the burden of African development.”

A Legacy That Lives On

Aidoo’s legacy is not just in her written works but also in her efforts to support African women writers. In 2000, she founded the Mbaasem Foundation in Ghana, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the work of African women writers.

Her life and work have left an indelible mark on African literature and the global feminist movement. Her voice, a powerful advocate for African women, will continue to echo through her writings and the work of those she inspired.

A Legacy That Will Continue to Inspire

Aidoo’s passing is a great loss to the literary world, but her legacy will continue to inspire and empower generations of African women and writers around the world. Her life and work were a testament to her belief in the power of words and the importance of giving voice to those often unheard.

As we remember Aidoo, we celebrate not just her literary achievements, but also her courage, her resilience, and her unwavering commitment to giving voice to African women. Her words will continue to echo, her stories will continue to inspire, and her legacy will continue to shine.