Kofi Awoonor

Kofi Awoonor (1935-2013), born George Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor-Williams, was a Ghanaian writer, poet, novelist, critic, and playwright. He was Professor of English literature at the University of Ghana. He founded the Ghana Playhouse and managed Ghana’s film industry. He left Ghana for London in 1967, then the United States, where he became a professor of comparative literature. Returned to Ghana in 1975, where he was arrested for supposed political offenses, but released upon worldwide appeal. He works often concern the traditional Ewe culture, and relationship between African oral traditions and the European written ones. His best-known works include "Night of My Blood" and the "Breast of the Earth".

Wisdom & Quotes

• In our beginnings lies our journey's end.

- Salvation

• Where lies our salvation? You asked.

We do not need any salvation.
Does not our end lie on this beginning shore?
- Salvation

• Let us return to the magic hour of our birth for which we mourn.

- This Earth, My Brother

• On such a day

who would dare think of dying?
So much Freedom means
that we swear we'll postpone dying
until the morning after.
- memoir written in prison

Peter Enahoro