Ghana to celebrate the life of Prof Kofi Awoonor with symposium

What you need to know:

  • The same Friday the university will host an evening of poetry and testimonials from the people who knew and interacted with the late professor.

  • The country will also mark the date he died September, 21 with the unveiling of Awoonor Mausoleum at Wheta in the Volta Region.

Ghana will mark the first anniversary since Prof Kofi Awoonor, a poet and novelist, died at the Westgage Mall during the attack that left 67 people dead.

At the University of Ghana, memorial activities will start on Thursday, September 18, 2014, with an international symposium dubbed "Kofi Awoonor and the Challenge of History".

During the symposium, a literary award named after the poet will be launched to celebrate and recognise African talent.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to Kenya Kingsley Karimu told Nation.co.ke that the country was committed towards keeping the poet’s spirit alive by incorporating the launching of his book in the anniversary.

SYMPOSIUM IN HIS HONOUR

“On Friday, the symposium will continue and later his poetry collection book Promise of Hope will be launched,” he added.

On the same day, the university will host an evening of poetry and testimonials from the people who knew and interacted with the late professor.

The country will also mark the date he died, September 21, with the unveiling of the Awoonor Mausoleum at Wheta in the Volta Region.

“As he was a promoter of culture and loved traditional performances, there will be a performance of traditional dances,” said Mr Karimu.

He added that Prof Awoonor’s son, Afetsi Awoonor, who was shot in the shoulder during the attack, had recovered fully.

“I have been communicating with him, and he said since his late father wanted him to be strong, he was okay and going about his business with courage and high ambition,” he said.

Afetsi Awoonor had travelled to Nairobi to join his 78-year-old father, who was attending the Storymoja Festival, which brings together authors and literally lovers.