Ghanaian Literature III November 11 to 17, 2013

There are lots of options for short stories by authors from Ghana.  One suggestion I have is to look at the stories that have been finalists in The Caine Prize for African Literature. If you Google "short stories from Ghana" a number of options will be found.  I mostly only E read so I did a search on the Amazon Kindle Store for the IPAD.  I found a very interesting reasonably priced collection by a physician and well known writer:

The Watchman's Daughter and Other Stories from Ghana, West-Africa ~ Rukaya Ibrahim

Rukaya Ibrahim is a Ghanaian born writer and physician. She has been writing since she was in her teens. Her short stories have been published in The Mirror,Ghana's most prestigious national weekly newspaper . The title story, "The watchman's Daughter" was published in Crossing Borders Magazine Issue Eleven. She aims to share realistic, thought-provoking, entertaining, stories about contemporary Africa.

For my participation in this event I read and will post on the lead story in the collection.  Just like here in the Phillipines, middle class and above neighborhoods in Accra full of "invisible" people that make life easy for the people in the big houses.  Many work for the same family for years without the members of the family ever knowing their last name.   The story is told my a daughter relaying the struggles of her family to survive and then prosper when they migrated to Accra from the countryside.  Her grandfather can find work only as a night watch man.  He has to sleep in the yard in front of the house he guards. Her mother had four children and worked as a civil servant for decades.   She wonders if the life she had was the one she dreamed about or did her mother ever dream?   

"The Watchman's Daughter" was a very moving story.   It made me think more about the invisible people of the Phillipines.

Ghana Lit Week.

November 11 to November 17, 2013 - Year Three

Hosted by Kinna Reads

I have been following Kinna Reads for a long time.  I am very happy to be participating for the third year in her event, Ghanaian Week. She is especially encouraging the reading of short stories by authors from Ghana. There are numerous reading suggestions on her blog. To me this is the kind of event that makes the international book blog community such a wonderful resource.  If you want to expand your knowledge of Ghanaian literature, Kinna Reads is the place to start.

 The official announcement for the event is below.  

 Ghana Lit Week.

Tomorrow, November 11, marks the start of Ghanaian Literature Week.  I will focus on literature from Ghana and on other Ghanaian literary and bookish issues.  My plan for this year includes:

• Ghanaian stories for Short Monday
• Reviews of works by Kojo Laing, Efua Sutherland and Boakyewaa Glover
• Focus on the poetry of Kofi Awoonor
• A look at the state of Children’s literature in Ghana
• A side eye to Ghanaian non-readers
• A giveaway or two.
• Guest posts (Please let me know if you’d like to post on this blog during the week)

It should be fun.  As happens a lot on this blog, specific plans are subject to change!

Do join in if you can.  The full post on the “rules” of participation here: Ghana Lit Week.

For ideas on what you can read, please see the wrap-up posts for the two previous editions of Ghanaian Literature Week:

• 2010 Wrap-up
• 2011 Wrap-up