With some few months after a year ago since the demise of the Ghanaian literary legend, Professor Atukwei Okai, the 6th Ghana Poetry Festival, opened with a conversation about him. The session dubbed, “The Lorgoligi Logarithm Conversation: Spotlight on Prof. Atukwei Okai”, had high profiled personalities who were connected to Prof. Atukwei Okai (in different ways) sharing narratives about his life.
Hon. Nathaniel Nuno Amarteifioo (Former Mayor of Accra), Dr. Mawuli Adzei (Senior Lecturer at the English Department, University of Ghana), Nana Kwesi Gyan Apenteng (Former President, Ghana Association of Writers), Anumyam (a Performance/literary friend of Prof. Atukwei Okai) and Klortsoo Okai (daughter of Prof. Atukwei Okai) led this narratives. “The Lorgoligi Logarithm Conversation: Spotlight on Prof. Atukwei Okai” designed to touch different aspects of Prof. Atukwei Okai’s life also featured reading/performances of his poems (and of others as tribute to him) as well as cultural and musical performances in between the narratives.
The session was held on Friday, 08 November, 2019 at 4:00 pm at the Accra City Hall (e-Ananse Amphitheatre) and the Chairperson for the day was Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur (former Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana). She was joined by the family of Prof. Atukwei Okai (immediate and extended), other dignitaries including Prof. Akilagpa Sawyer, wife, Madam Korkor Amarteifio (former Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Ghana) among others and the Old students and administration of Accra High School (Prof. Atukwei Okai’s former school).
“The Lorgoligi Logarithm Conversation: Spotlight on Prof. Atukwei Okai” was a beautiful one and featured thrilling performances from poets as Onukpa Nii Amarkine Amarteifioo, Abednego Ntreh, students of Josephus Memorial School, University of Ghana Basic School ‘Atentenben’ group, the Russian Department of University of Ghana and the amazing Choir and Cultural group of Accra High School. It was evident on the evening that Prof. Atukwei Okai’s story is too huge for just two hours. Hence, making time for only few audience submission to end the Opening of the 6th Ghana Poetry Festival.
The following day, Saturday, 09 November, 2019, ended the festival with different activities at Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) House, Roman Ridge from 10:00 am to 6:00pm. These included ‘Poetry Connect’ with Prof. Lade Wosornu, ‘Poetry Therapy’ with Mrs Naa Kwaale Dove, Master class with Dr. Mawuli Adzei (How To Review A Poem), Master class with Mr. Woeli Dekutsey (Poetry Writing & Publishing), Poetry Reading with Abednego Ntreh (Poetry in Mother Tongue), Workshop with Dr. Martin Egblewogbe (How to Write Prose Poetry), Copyright Workshop with Bnoska (Copyright Protection of Poetry works), Conversation with Rhyme Sonny, Oswald Okaitei (Contemporary trend in Ghanaian Poetry), The “Matriach’s Verse Experience” with Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong Abbey and moderated by Chieff Moomen and a Conversation moderated by Hondred Percent and Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong Abbey on Uniting the Ghanaian Poetry Frontier. Also present at the session was Blakk Rasta (a famous Ghanaian Reggae musician, dub poet, author and Radio host).
In all, the festival recorded almost over thousand participation for the two days. This comprise adult lovers of poetry/literature and students from the basic, senior high and tertiary schools. The festival was organised by Values for Life-Ghana in partnership with e-Ananse Libraries and Ghana Reads Initiative. The next edition of the festival, 7th, is scheduled to be in November next year.