On 25 May, 2021, as a climax to the 2021 edition of “Ghana Reads with Africa!” a literary event dedicated to the commemoration of African Union Day, there will be a zoom reading moment with Okyeame Kwame. The book of focus will be “LOVE LOCKED DOWN”, authored by Okyeame Kwame and his wife with a foreword by Uncle Ebo Whyte. ‘ZOOM READING OF “LOVE LOCKED DOWN” WITH OKYEAME KWAME & OTHER DIGNITARIES’ as the session dubbed, comes soon after another interesting one on Saturday, 23 May, “Africa Reads on Zoom!” (which featured literary/creative arts personalities from different parts of Africa in reading “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe).
“ZOOM READING OF ‘LOVE LOCKED DOWN’ WITH OKYEAME KWAME & OTHER DIGNITARIES” promises to be an exciting session. One which will leave a lasting memory in the minds of participants as three Members of Parliament—Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie (MP, Ketu South & fmr. Deputy Minister, Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts), Hon. Gizella Agbotui-Tetteh (MP, AwutuSenya West Constituency) and Dr. Emmanuel Marfo (MP. Oforikrom Constituency)—are set to join Mrs Ama SerwahNerquaye-Tetteh (Secretary-General, Ghana Commission for UNESCO), Ms Kate Addo (Head of Public Relations, Parliament of Ghana), Mr. Carl Ampah (National Programme Officer, Culture), Mrs. Ethel Sakitey (Regional Manager, World Reader) and Apiorkor (Poet, and media practitioner with Citi fm/television) for the read. Valerie Danso (Broadcast Journalist, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation) will be the moderator.
“Ghana Reads with Africa!” besides the above mentioned segments also featured other sessions which ran on 22 and 24 May, 2021. One was on zoom and the other, a physical session. The Zoom session, “Pre AU Day Zoom Literary Conversation” was on 22 May, 2021 at 6:00 pm (GMT). The session created a platform for a conversation on the theme “The Africa we want; from the Literary Perspective”. The panelists were Mrs Ethel Sakitey, (Regional Director, World Reader Ghana), Dr. Wale Okediran (Secretary-General, Pan African Writers Association), Blakk Rasta (Radio Presenter, Author &Musician) and Dr. Obadele Kamboh (Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies).
The 24 May’s session was a physical one and featured Oswald Okaitei, Project Ambassador of Ghana Reads Initiative in a reading session with the students of Knowledgeworth Premier School located in Chorkor, Mamprobi.
Indeed, there is no better way to commemorate the AU Day than having a Reading experience with the Rap Doctor, especially when the book to be read is based on hismarriage life experience. Participation is free. One can join by via zoom (Meeting ID: 970 1010 2040; Passcode: 584744) or through facebook (@worldreaderghana). For more information, one can contact +233 244 174 908.
Ghana Reads Africa was organized by Ghana Reads Initiative in partnership with World Reader Ghana and supported by Graphic Showbiz,Adwinsa Publications Ghana Ltd, Socialist Forum of Ghana, Coca Cola Ghana Ltd, Celmar Travel and Tours, Play House.kom, Insight Newspapers, Nayram Language Centre, Ghana Book Club and Uni Leaf Foundation.