The family of Ghanaian author and feminist icon Ama Ata Aidoo has announced that she will be buried in mid-July.
Final funeral rites will begin on Thursday, July 13 and will continue through Sunday, July 16.
Aidoo, who died on May 31 at the age of 81, was a prolific writer who made a profound impact on generations of African women writers.
Her literary works brought African perspectives to the forefront, challenging existing narratives and reshaping the literary landscape.
Among her most notable works are the novels The Dilemma of a Ghost, Our Sister Killjoy, and Changes. She also wrote plays, short stories, children’s books, and poetry.
Aidoo was born in Abeadzi Kyiakor, near Saltpond, in Ghana’s Central Region, on March 23, 1942. She studied at the University of Ghana and the University of Leeds, and later worked as a teacher and diplomat. She served as Ghana’s Minister of Education from 1982 to 1983.
Aidoo was a tireless advocate for women’s rights and social justice. She was a founding member of the Association of African Women Writers and was a vocal critic of the patriarchy and gender inequality.
Her death was mourned by people around the world. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana announced that the state would assist in her funeral ceremony.
“She deserves it, and it will give myself and the people of Ghana the opportunity to pay our last respects,” he said.
Aidoo’s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. She was a pioneer in African literature and a powerful voice for women’s rights. Her work will be remembered for its beauty, its power, and its enduring relevance.
