Columbia Embassy, GAW Hold Evening of Remembrance for Late Prof Atukwei

From (l-r), Mr Gyan-Appenteng, Ambassador of the Columbia Embassy to Ghana, H.E Claudia Turbay Quintero, and wife of the late poet reading a poem

Accra, Ghana, December 7, 2018//-The Embassy of Columbia in Ghana and the Ghana Association of Writer (GAW) have organized an evening of remembrance in honour of late Professor Atuakwei Okai, one of Ghana’s renowned poets who passed on 13th July 2018 after a short illness.

Prof Okai who died at the age of 77 was the Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association of Ghana.

The remembrance event was specifically organized by the Ambassador of the Columbia Embassy to Ghana, Her Excellency Claudia Turbay Quintero, in collaboration with the President of Ghana Association of Writer (GAW), Nana Kwasi Gyan-Appenteng. One travelling to Columbia could look at the things to do in columbia, sc.

It was attended by diplomats, academia, immediate family members and friends of the late iconic poet, members of GAW, among others.

Setting the tone for the three-hour event, H.E Mrs Quintero, said she was happy to host all the participants in honour of the late Prof Atukwei Okai who led a life worthy of emulation.

He was too humble, intelligent, simple, and firm, she added.

H.E Mrs Quintero used the occasion to appeal to the youth to emulate the late poet. There was recital of some of his poems by budding poets who were inspired by the late Prof Atukwei Okai.

The late Prof Atukwei Okai

He was noted for his excellent poetry recitation and was believed to be one of the first real poetry performers to have emerged in Africa.

His performances on radio and television include an acclaimed 1975 appearance at poetry international at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London where he shared the stage with US poets Stanley Kunitz and Robert Lowell, and Nicolas Guillen of Cuba.

African Eye Report

Leave a Reply

*