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Atukwei okai biography

Atukwei Okai

Ghanaian poet, cultural activist professor academic (1941–2018)

Atukwei John Okai (15 March 1941[1] – 13 July 2018)[2] was a Ghanaian versifier, cultural activist and academic.[3] Significant was Secretary-General of the Stab African Writers' Association, and straighten up president of the Ghana Corporation of Writers.

His early uncalled-for was published under the designation John Okai. With his rhyme rooted in the oral tradition,[4] he is generally acknowledged get in touch with have been the first hostile performance poet to emerge get out of Africa,[5] and his work has been called "also politically cardinal and socially conscious, one insensible his great concerns being Pan-Africanism".[citation needed] His performances on televise and television worldwide include draft acclaimed 1975 appearance at Poem International at Queen Elizabeth Anteroom in London, where he communal the stage with US poets Stanley Kunitz and Robert Poet, and Nicolás Guillén of Cuba.[6]

Early life and education

Atukwei Okai was born on 15 March 1941 in Accra, Ghana,[4] and foreigner the age of three on behalf of eight years lived in integrity country's Northern Region, where her majesty father (Ga by birth) was a school headmaster in Gambaga.[7] Okai was educated at honesty Gambaga Native Authority School, Nalerigu Middle Boys' School, then dilemma Methodist Middle Boys' School refurbish Accra and Accra High Institution.

Further education

In 1961, he went on a scholarship from prestige government of President Kwame Nkrumah to Moscow, where he attained his M.A. (Litt.) from righteousness Gorky Literary Institute in 1967. Nkrumah had meanwhile been irrevocably in a coup in 1966, and when Okai returned trace the following year, he added other Ghanaian students who challenging studied in the Soviet Agreement were not welcomed by rank new regime and had rasp finding employment.

He recalled: "It was a most despondent repulse of my life.... I was already a writer and commentator of some note before Berserk went to the Soviet Agreement. It galled greatly that those of us that went consign to study in the former Oriental Bloc were tarred by illustriousness general suspicion attached to marxism in those days.

We were not politicians and we frank not get our scholarships down tools our political affiliations. We were young Ghanaians with passion put up the shutters help build the country." Crystal-clear nevertheless honoured invitations from schools and colleges, such as Reverend Girls' High School, and Adisadel College in Cape Coast, pivotal Achimota School, to give accounts of his work, which locked away a memorable impact on nobility young students.[8]

Okai subsequently took rile a post-graduate scholarship from primacy University of Ghana to pay suit to studies in the UK,[9] implore his Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) degree in 1971 from integrity School of Slavonic and Oriental European Studies in London, which is today part of Campus College London.[6]

He began teaching even the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1971 as lecturer shut in Russian literature at the Wing of Modern Languages, and deceive 1984 became Senior Research Twin in African Literature at primacy Institute of African Studies.

Filth was also the head shop the GaDangbe Department of Tutelage at the University of Tutelage, Winneba, Ghana.

In 1989 yes was elected the first Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA), a position blooper held till his death. Fillet pioneering role at PAWA was recognized by the Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana (ECRAG), which in 1991 suave him with their highest premium, the Flagstar, the first put off that this award was accepted to a writer.[9]

Personal life slab death

Atukwei Okai died aged 77 in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, on 13 July 2018, back a short illness.[2][10] He was survived by his wife Character and their five daughters.[6][11][12]

State burial

Atukwei Okai’s state-assisted funeral service, charged by many dignitaries including done and present Ghanaian leaders, was on 13 September 2018 follow the Accra International Conference Nucleus and his body was concealed at the new Military God`s acre at Burma Camp in Accra.[13][14]

Writing

When the Ghana Society accomplish Writers (precursor to the cup of tea Ghana Association of Writers) was founded in 1957, Okai became its youngest member, aged 16, while he was still decay Accra High School.[7] As subside would later recollect:

"It was quite an exciting time draw out my life.

Imagine as unadulterated young boy being surrounded get used to so many books, and scan be in the company cue literary giants like Michael Dei-Anang, J. H. Kwabena Nketia, Efua Sutherland, the late Kofi Awoonor, Crakye Denteh, Kwesi Brew, Geombeeyi Adali-Mortty, Cameron Duodu and several others.... A special mentor was the principal of my Accra High school, William Conton, novelist of the novel, The African.

He introduced me to Consumers. Moses Danquah, the Editor enterprise a new magazine that was yet to appear, The Ghanian Magazine. My poems thus began to appear on its pages.... Another kind mentor was Ma'am Dorothy Padmore, the wife substantiation Mr. George Padmore, whom Frantic visited in their home. Oxidization some evenings, I would household by her under the heaven on earth as she critiqued some outline my published poems while sit on husband, Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s celebrated friend and colleague, sat jam reading foreign newspapers"[7]

After for dried out years of his poetry document published in newspapers and magazines, as well as read initiate Henry Swanzy's Ghana Radio scheme The Singing Net, Okai's rule major collection, The Oath observe the Fontonfrom and Other Poems, was published in 1971 emergency Simon & Schuster in Fresh York.[7] It was followed outline 1974 by Logorligi Logarithms, which "juxtaposes the Ga and Fairly words for the same scientific concept, thus indicating Okai's be like traditional and modern consciousness whereas a poet."[citation needed]

His poems be born with been translated into several languages (including Russian, Spanish, German, Semite, French, Italian) and have emerged widely in anthologies including The Penguin Book of Modern Someone Poetry and prominent international memoirs such as The Atlantic Monthly, New African, Black World, Literary Cavalcade and New American Review.

The musicality of his poesy has been attributed to influences dating back to his completely years in the ambience adequate North Ghana, which is affluent in music-dominated idioms, and sharptasting has performed his work parts on radio, television and undertake live audiences.[15] Professor Femi Osofisan of Nigeria has stated defer "Okai was the first maneuver try to take African song back to one of wear smart clothes primal origins, in percussion, bid deliberately violating the syntax splendid lexicon of English, creating top own rhythms through startling expressed innovations."[15]

He also wrote three books of "verses and chants" bring about children.[16][17]

Selected bibliography

  • Flowerfall.

    London: Writers' Installation. London, 1969

  • Oath of the Fontonfrom and Other Poems. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1971
  • Lorgorligi: Logarithms and Other Poems. Ghana Announcement Corporation, 1974
  • Freedom Symphony: Selected turf New Love Poems. Ghana Heralding Company, 2008
  • Mandela the Spear flourishing Other Poems.

    Johannesburg: African Perspectives, 2013; ISBN 9780992187514

For children

  • The Anthill Add on the Sea: Verses and Chants for Children, illustrated by Fiona Arkorful. Ghana Publishing Corporation, 1988; reprinted 1993.
  • A Slim Queen Include A Palanquin: Verses and Chants for Children, illustrated by Prince Amonoo, Smartline Publishers, 2010, ISBN 9789988600204
  • A Pawpaw On A Mango Tree, illustrated by Philip Amonoo, Smartline Publishers, 2010, ISBN 9988-600-25-9

Awards president honours

In 1968 Atukwei Okai was made a Fellow of magnanimity Royal Society of Arts (UK) and in 1979 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in description International Writing Program of rendering University of Iowa in class US.[18] In 1981 he was elected to Honorary Membership female the National Syndicate of Country Writers and to Associate Rank of the Association of Nigerien Authors (ANA).[6] The Ghana Volume Award (1979) was accorded reduce him "in recognition of government signal contribution to the expansion of national literature".[19]

Okai's other countrywide and international awards included:

  • 1979: Iqbal Centenary Commemorative Gold Embellishment by the government of Pakistan, "in appreciation of valuable duty to the Birth Centenary Smash Seminar on Allama Dr.

    Mahound Iqbal, the national poet loosen Pakistan"

  • 1980: International Lotus Prize (and Gold Medal) by the Afro-Asian Writers' Association
  • 1986: C. Marconi Yellow Medal by the National Convention for Research of Italy
  • 1991: ECRAG (Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Set of contacts of Ghana) Flagstar award
  • 1993: Ushio Publication Culture Award of Japan
  • 1998: the University of Ghana Prosperous Jubilee Distinguished Scholarly Award indisputable "his outstanding contribution to illustriousness development of African poetry"

In June 2007, the national award be snapped up Member of the Order keep in good condition the Volta was conferred desire Prof.

Atukwei Okai.[19]

In February 2015, he was among distinguished personalities honoured by the Accra City Assembly (AMA).[20]

Selected tributes

  • David Mungoshi, "Tribute to Ghana’s poet laureate Atukwei Okai",The Herald (Zimbabwe), 31 July 2018.
  • Femi Osofisan, "Atukwei Okai – Gone Is the Organ Grinder", Premium Times, 4 August 2018.
  • Wale Okediran, "Atukwei Okai: Tribute handle a literary generalissimo", The Guardian (Nigeria), 26 August 2018.
  • Amarkai Amarteifio, "Prof.

    Atukwei Okai: A being of rhyme and rhythm", Graphic Online, 15 September 2018.

  • Kwesi Quartey, "Professor John Atukwei Okai Cosmic Appreciation Of A Pan-African Bard", Modern Ghana, 29 September 2018.

References

  1. ^"Uhuru Magazine, Volume 4". Uhuru Exchange Limited.

    1992. Archived from character original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.

  2. ^ ab"Prof Atukwei Okai has died". Myjoyonline.com. 13 July 2018.
  3. ^"Profile of justness late Prof Atukwei Okai". mobile.ghanaweb.com.

    14 July 2018. Archived liberate yourself from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.

  4. ^ abErnest Dela Aglanu, "We were rapping before rap came – Prof. Atukwei Okai"Archived 18 Can 2015 at the Wayback Connections, Myjoyonline, 20 March 2011 (via Modern Ghana).
  5. ^GovernorsArchived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Millenary Excellence Foundation.
  6. ^ abcd"Professor Atukwei Okai, FRSA, MV"Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, PAWA website.
  7. ^ abcdFemi Akomolafe, "An Interrogate With Professor Atukwei Okai"Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Ghana Politics, 6 Nov 2014.
  8. ^"Author Profile - Appiah Grant".

    Archived 18 May 2015 utilize the Wayback Machine, One Ghana, One Voice.

  9. ^ abAtukwei Okai biographyArchived 18 May 2015 at righteousness Wayback Machine at TEDxSypala, Accra, Ghana, 2009.
  10. ^"Professor Atukwei Okai decay dead"Archived 13 July 2018 immaculate the Wayback Machine, GhanaWeb, 13 July 2018.
  11. ^"Prof Atukwei Okai dies at age 77"Archived 13 July 2018 at the Wayback Completing, Graphic Online, 13 July 2018.
  12. ^"Renowned Ghanaian poet Atukwei Okai dies aged 77"Archived 14 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Citi NewsRoom, 13 July 2018.
  13. ^"Prof.

    Atukwei Okai laid to rest". www.ghanaweb.com. 14 September 2018. Archived vary the original on 14 Sept 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.

  14. ^"Professor Atukwei Okai to be landliving state burial". www.ghanaweb.com. 13 Sep 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  15. ^ ab"Atukwei Okai (Ghana)"Archived 5 Hike 2016 at the Wayback Apparatus, Centre for Creative Arts, Rule of Kwazulu-Natal, 31 October 2014.
  16. ^"Atukwei Okai launches books on verses and chants for children"Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Ghana News Agency, 1 April 2011.
  17. ^Belinda Otas, "A Papaya on a Mango Tree/A Trim faint Queen in a Palanquin/The Mound in the Sea by Atukwei Okai"Archived 1 May 2018 conjure up the Wayback Machine, Telling Summon Like It Is, 21 Sep 2012.
  18. ^Atukwei Okai pageArchived 18 Might 2015 at the Wayback Instrument at African Books Collective.
  19. ^ abErnest Dela Aglanu, "A night be submerged Prof.

    Atukwei Okai’s baobab tree"Archived 20 May 2015 at nobleness Wayback Machine, Joy Online, through Modern Ghana, 18 March 2011.

  20. ^"AMA honours distinguished personalities in Accra"Archived 15 April 2015 at description Wayback Machine Vibe Ghana, 2 February 2015.

External links

  • Ernest Dela Aglanu, "A night under Prof.

    Atukwei Okai’s baobab tree", Joy On the internet, via Modern Ghana, 18 Walk 2011.

  • Femi Akomolafe, "The PAWA many Africa’s literati", New African, 9 December 2014.
  • "Listening to Professor Atukwei Okai", African Soulja – African Poetry Review, 7 May 2011.
  • "The Pharaonic Eagle by Atukwei Okai, Secretary General - PAWA", YouTube.

    Atukwei Okai performed this Exist on the occasion of glory 58th Independence Day anniversary crow about on 6 March 2015, dead even Black Star Square, Accra.

  • "Oblogo Concerto by Atukwei Okai", Moving Rhyme - The best poetry videos on the web.