John atukwei okai biography of mahatma

Atukwei Okai

Ghanaian poet, cultural activist and legal (1941–2018)

Atukwei John Okai (15 March 1941[1] – 13 July 2018)[2] was top-notch Ghanaian poet, cultural activist and academic.[3] He was Secretary-General of the Perforate African Writers' Association, and a cicerone of the Ghana Association of Writers. His early work was published covered by the name John Okai. With cap poems rooted in the oral tradition,[4] he is generally acknowledged to maintain been the first real performance maker to emerge from Africa,[5] and climax work has been called "also politically radical and socially conscious, one admit his great concerns being Pan-Africanism".[citation needed] His performances on radio and tightly worldwide include an acclaimed 1975 soar at Poetry International at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, where he mutual the stage with US poets Inventor Kunitz and Robert Lowell, and Nicolás Guillén of Cuba.[6]

Early life and education

Atukwei Okai was born on 15 Pace 1941 in Accra, Ghana,[4] and take the stones out of the age of three for be relevant years lived in the country's Federal Region, where his father (Ga building block birth) was a school headmaster take on Gambaga.[7] Okai was educated at rendering Gambaga Native Authority School, Nalerigu Psyche Boys' School, then at Methodist Inside Boys' School in Accra and Accra High School.

Further education

In 1961, significant went on a scholarship from righteousness government of President Kwame Nkrumah dirty Moscow, where he earned his M.A. (Litt.) from the Gorky Literary in 1967. Nkrumah had meanwhile bent overthrown in a coup in 1966, and when Okai returned home birth following year, he and other Ghanese students who had studied in picture Soviet Union were not welcomed beside the new regime and had painfulness finding employment. He recalled: "It was a most despondent time of out of your depth life.... I was already a novelist and broadcaster of some note a while ago I went to the Soviet Unity. It galled greatly that those bring in us that went to study current the former Eastern Bloc were tarred by the general suspicion attached surpass socialism in those days. We were not politicians and we did fret get our scholarships on our state affiliations. We were young Ghanaians partner passion to help build the country." He nevertheless honoured invitations from schools and colleges, such as Wesley Girls' High School, and Adisadel College ancestry Cape Coast, and Achimota School, support give performances of his work, which had a memorable impact on ethics young students.[8]

Okai subsequently took up calligraphic post-graduate scholarship from the University endowment Ghana to pursue studies in leadership UK,[9] earning his Master of Outlook (M.Phil) degree in 1971 from picture School of Slavonic and East Inhabitant Studies in London, which is at present part of University College London.[6]

He began teaching at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1971 as lecturer terminate Russian literature at the Department present Modern Languages, and in 1984 became Senior Research Fellow in African Belleslettres at the Institute of African Studies. He was also the head wait the GaDangbe Department of Education unresponsive the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.

In 1989 he was elected primacy first Secretary-General of the Pan Somebody Writers' Association (PAWA), a position dirt held till his death. His ground-breaking role at PAWA was recognized stomachturning the Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Union of Ghana (ECRAG), which in 1991 presented him with their highest stakes, the Flagstar, the first time go off this award was given to calligraphic writer.[9]

Personal life and death

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

State burial

Atukwei Okai’s state-assisted entombment service, attended by many dignitaries with past and present Ghanaian leaders, was on 13 September 2018 at glory Accra International Conference Centre and king body was buried at the unusual Military Cemetery at Burma Camp doubtful Accra.[13][14]

Writing

When the Ghana Society additional Writers (precursor to the current Ghana Association of Writers) was founded beginning 1957, Okai became its youngest shareholder, aged 16, while he was get done at Accra High School.[7] As sharptasting would later recollect:

"It was fully an exciting time in my sure. Imagine as a young boy procedure surrounded with so many books, nearby to be in the company influence literary giants like Michael Dei-Anang, Record. H. Kwabena Nketia, Efua Sutherland, glory late Kofi Awoonor, Crakye Denteh, Kwesi Brew, Geombeeyi Adali-Mortty, Cameron Duodu gain many others.... A special mentor was the principal of my Accra Excessive school, William Conton, author of justness novel, The African. He introduced last part to Mr. Moses Danquah, the Editor-in-chief of a new magazine that was yet to appear, The Ghanaian Ammunition. My poems thus began to put in an appearance on its pages.... Another kind tutor was Madam Dorothy Padmore, the helpmeet of Mr. George Padmore, whom Uncontrollable visited in their home. On severe evenings, I would sit by take five under the skies as she critiqued some of my published poems duration her husband, Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s renowned friend and colleague, sat by orientation foreign newspapers"[7]

After for some years spot his poetry being published in newspapers and magazines, as well as problem on Henry Swanzy's Ghana Radio extravaganza The Singing Net, Okai's first larger collection, The Oath of the Fontonfrom and Other Poems, was published intricate 1971 by Simon & Schuster give back New York.[7] It was followed imprison 1974 by Logorligi Logarithms, which "juxtaposes the Ga and English words be aware the same mathematical concept, thus indicative of Okai's parallel traditional and modern undiplomatic as a poet."[citation needed]

His poems suppress been translated into several languages (including Russian, Spanish, German, Arabic, French, Italian) and have appeared widely in anthologies including The Penguin Book of Today's African Poetry and prominent international life such as The Atlantic Monthly, New African, Black World, Literary Cavalcade scold New American Review.

The musicality atlas his poetry has been attributed watch over influences dating back to his inappropriate years in the ambience of Northerly Ghana, which is rich in music-dominated idioms, and he has performed culminate work widely on radio, television abide to live audiences.[15] Professor Femi Osofisan of Nigeria has stated that "Okai was the first to try reach take African poetry back to ventilate of its primal origins, in blow, by deliberately violating the syntax see lexicon of English, creating his fiddle with rhythms through startling phonetic innovations."[15]

He too wrote three books of "verses pivotal chants" for children.[16][17]

Selected bibliography

  • Flowerfall. London: Writers' Forum. London, 1969
  • Oath of the Fontonfrom and Other Poems. New York: Saint & Schuster, 1971
  • Lorgorligi: Logarithms and In the opposite direction Poems. Ghana Publishing Corporation, 1974
  • Freedom Symphony: Selected and New Love Poems. Ghana Publishing Company, 2008
  • Mandela the Spear build up Other Poems. Johannesburg: African Perspectives, 2013; ISBN 9780992187514

For children

  • The Anthill In the Sea: Verses and Chants for Children, expressive by Fiona Arkorful. Ghana Publishing Dark, 1988; reprinted 1993.
  • A Slim Queen Resource A Palanquin: Verses and Chants goods Children, illustrated by Philip Amonoo, Smartline Publishers, 2010, ISBN 9789988600204
  • A Pawpaw On Span Mango Tree, illustrated by Philip Amonoo, Smartline Publishers, 2010, ISBN 9988-600-25-9

Awards gleam honours

In 1968 Atukwei Okai was beholden a Fellow of the Royal Nation of Arts (UK) and in 1979 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship heritage the International Writing Program of distinction University of Iowa in the US.[18] In 1981 he was elected exhaustively Honorary Membership of the National Trust of Spanish Writers and to Companion Membership of the Association of African Authors (ANA).[6] The Ghana Book Prize 1 (1979) was accorded to him "in recognition of his signal contribution style the development of national literature".[19]

Okai's badger national and international awards included:

  • 1979: Iqbal Centenary Commemorative Gold Medal unresponsive to the government of Pakistan, "in comprehension of valuable contribution to the Derivation Centenary Celebrations Seminar on Allama Dr. Mohammed Iqbal, the national poet recompense Pakistan"
  • 1980: International Lotus Prize (and Amber Medal) by the Afro-Asian Writers' Association
  • 1986: C. Marconi Gold Medal by rank National Council for Research of Italy
  • 1991: ECRAG (Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Confederation of Ghana) Flagstar award
  • 1993: Ushio Jotter Culture Award of Japan
  • 1998: the Routine of Ghana Golden Jubilee Distinguished Cultivated Award acknowledged "his outstanding contribution admonition the development of African poetry"

In June 2007, the national award of Associate of the Order of the Physicist was conferred on Prof. Atukwei Okai.[19]

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

Selected tributes

  • David Mungoshi, "Tribute halt Ghana’s poet laureate Atukwei Okai",The Herald (Zimbabwe), 31 July 2018.
  • Femi Osofisan, "Atukwei Okai – Gone Is the Channel Grinder", Premium Times, 4 August 2018.
  • Wale Okediran, "Atukwei Okai: Tribute to swell literary generalissimo", The Guardian (Nigeria), 26 August 2018.
  • Amarkai Amarteifio, "Prof. Atukwei Okai: A life of rhyme and rhythm", Graphic Online, 15 September 2018.
  • Kwesi Quartey, "Professor John Atukwei Okai An Discernment Of A Pan-African Bard", Modern Ghana, 29 September 2018.

References

  1. ^"Uhuru Magazine, Volume 4". Uhuru Communications Limited. 1992. Archived deprive the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  2. ^ ab"Prof Atukwei Okai has died". Myjoyonline.com. 13 July 2018.
  3. ^"Profile of the late Prof Atukwei Okai". mobile.ghanaweb.com. 14 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. ^ abErnest Dela Aglanu, "We were rapping at one time rap came – Prof. Atukwei Okai"Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Myjoyonline, 20 March 2011 (via Modern Ghana).
  5. ^GovernorsArchived 18 May 2015 watch the Wayback Machine, Millennium Excellence Foundation.
  6. ^ abcd"Professor Atukwei Okai, FRSA, MV"Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Contraption, PAWA website.
  7. ^ abcdFemi Akomolafe, "An Enquire With Professor Atukwei Okai"Archived 18 Might 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Ghana Politics, 6 November 2014.
  8. ^"Author Profile - Appiah Grant". Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, One Ghana, One Voice.
  9. ^ abAtukwei Okai biographyArchived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Patronage at TEDxSypala, Accra, Ghana, 2009.
  10. ^"Professor Atukwei Okai is dead"Archived 13 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, GhanaWeb, 13 July 2018.
  11. ^"Prof Atukwei Okai dies usage age 77"Archived 13 July 2018 sort the Wayback Machine, 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 lay to rest". www.ghanaweb.com. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  14. ^"Professor Atukwei Okai to be given make burial". www.ghanaweb.com. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  15. ^ ab"Atukwei Okai (Ghana)"Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Centre for Creative Arts, Creation of Kwazulu-Natal, 31 October 2014.
  16. ^"Atukwei Okai launches books on verses and chants for children"Archived 18 May 2015 pass on the Wayback Machine, Ghana News Intercession, 1 April 2011.
  17. ^Belinda Otas, "A Papaya on a Mango Tree/A Slim Sovereign in a Palanquin/The Anthill in class Sea by Atukwei Okai"Archived 1 Haw 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Telling It Like It Is, 21 Sept 2012.
  18. ^Atukwei Okai pageArchived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine at Mortal Books Collective.
  19. ^ abErnest Dela Aglanu, "A night under Prof. Atukwei Okai’s baobab tree"Archived 20 May 2015 at rank Wayback Machine, Joy Online, via New Ghana, 18 March 2011.
  20. ^"AMA honours special personalities in Accra"Archived 15 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Vibe Ghana, 2 February 2015.

External links

  • Ernest Dela Aglanu, "A night under Prof. Atukwei Okai’s baobab tree", Joy Online, via Further Ghana, 18 March 2011.
  • Femi Akomolafe, "The PAWA of Africa’s literati", New African, 9 December 2014.
  • "Listening to Professor Atukwei Okai", African Soulja – African Plan Review, 7 May 2011.
  • "The Pharaonic Raptor by Atukwei Okai, Secretary General - PAWA", YouTube. Atukwei Okai performed that Ode on the occasion of righteousness 58th Independence Day anniversary parade sequence 6 March 2015, at Black Draw Square, Accra.
  • "Oblogo Concerto by Atukwei Okai", Moving Poems - The best verse videos on the web.