Synopsis
The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo explores the artistic contribution of one of Africa’s foremost woman writers, a trailblazer for an entire generation of exciting new talent. The film charts Ama Ata Aidoo’s creative journey in a life that spans 7 decades from colonial Ghana through the tumultuous era of independence to a more sober present day Africa where nurturing women’s creative talent remains as hard as ever.
Over the course of a year the film follows Aidoo as she returns home to her ancestral village in the Central Region of Ghana, launches her latest collection of short stories in Accra, and travels to the University of California, Santa Barbara to attend the premier of her seminal play about the slave trade, Anowa.
With contributions from Carole Boyce Davies, Nana Wilson- Tagoe and Vincent Odamtten, The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo gives a fascinating insight into the life of a feminist poet and novelist and brings Aidoo’s writing to new audiences.
How you helped us make The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo.
Daring. A controversial truth teller. Ama Ata Aidoo is a poet, playwright and novelist. In a world where women make up less than 10% of directors and only 15% of screenwriters internationally, it’s a struggle to tell the story of any woman, especially an African woman. But thanks to your incredible generosity during The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo crowdsourcing campaign, we’ve made it. We raised over $45,000 on Indiegogo to help us complete the documentary and received grants from:
The African Women’s Development Fund, The Global Fund for Women, Rutgers University – Department of Women and Gender Studies, Center for African Studies – & Pathways of Women’s Empowerment, RPC.
A big shout of thanks to you all.
“Once in a while I catch myself wondering whether I would have found the courage to write if I had not started to write when I was too young to know what was good for me.”
Ama Ata Aidoo, To be a Woman
Inspirational
The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo celebrates an acclaimed Pan-African feminist, poet, playwright and novelist and provides a fascinating insight into her life. The film is an important resource for students and teachers of African literature, as well as lovers of African women’s writing everywhere.
By celebrating one woman’s contribution to Africa’s Renaissance The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo will inspire others to be equally courageous.
Film Credits
The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo
Fadoa Films 2014
- Interviewer: Abena P.A. Busia
- Director: Yaba Badoe
- Executive Producer: Amina Mama
- Cinematography: Darren Hercher
- Sound Recordist: Jeremiah Dogbe
- Film editor: Rashid Davari
