Atukwei Okai facts for kids

Atukwei John Okai (born March 15, 1941 – died July 13, 2018) was a famous Ghanaian poet. He was also a cultural activist and a university teacher. People knew him as the first true performance poet from Africa. This means he didn't just write poems; he performed them with rhythm and energy.

His poems were often about Pan-Africanism, which is the idea of all African people working together. He performed his work on radio and TV around the world. One famous performance was in London in 1975. He shared the stage with other well-known poets.

Early Life and Schooling

Atukwei Okai was born in Accra, Ghana, on March 15, 1941. When he was three, he moved to Ghana's Northern Region. He lived there for eight years. His father, who was from the Ga group, was a school headmaster in Gambaga.

Atukwei went to school in Gambaga and Nalerigu. Later, he attended Methodist Middle Boys' School and Accra High School in Accra.

How Atukwei Okai Continued His Education

In 1961, Atukwei Okai received a special scholarship. This was from the government of President Kwame Nkrumah. He went to Moscow to study. In 1967, he earned his Master's degree from the Gorky Literary Institute.

When he returned to Ghana in 1967, things were different. President Nkrumah had been overthrown in 1966. The new government was not friendly to students who had studied in the Soviet Union. It was hard for Atukwei and others to find jobs.

He remembered this time as very difficult. Even though he was already a known writer, he struggled. But he still accepted invitations to perform his poems at schools. Students at places like Wesley Girls' High School and Achimota School loved his performances.

Later, he got another scholarship from the University of Ghana. He went to the UK to continue his studies. In 1971, he earned another Master's degree. This was from the School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London. This school is now part of University College London.

Atukwei Okai as a Teacher and Leader

In 1971, Atukwei Okai started teaching. He became a lecturer at the University of Ghana. He taught Russian literature. In 1984, he became a Senior Research Fellow. This was in African Literature at the Institute of African Studies. He also led the GaDangbe Department of Education. This was at the University of Education, Winneba.

In 1989, he was chosen as the first Secretary-General. This was for the Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA). He held this important job until he passed away. His work at PAWA was recognized with a special award. It was called the Flagstar award in 1991. This was the first time a writer received this award.

His Life and Passing

Atukwei Okai passed away on July 13, 2018. He was 77 years old. He died in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a short illness. He was survived by his wife, Beatrice, and their five daughters.

State Burial for Atukwei Okai

Atukwei Okai had a special state-assisted funeral. Many important people attended, including past and present Ghanaian leaders. The service was held on September 13, 2018. It took place at the Accra International Conference Centre. His body was buried at the new Military Cemetery in Burma Camp, Accra.

His Writing Journey

Atukwei Okai became the youngest member of the Ghana Society of Writers. This was in 1957 when he was just 16. He was still attending Accra High School. He remembered this as an exciting time. He was surrounded by books and famous writers. These included Efua Sutherland and Kofi Awoonor.

His school principal, William Conton, was a mentor. He helped Atukwei get his poems published. His poems started appearing in The Ghanaian Magazine. Another kind mentor was Dorothy Padmore. She was the wife of George Padmore, a friend of Kwame Nkrumah. She would help him improve his poems.

Atukwei's poems were published in newspapers and magazines. They were also read on Ghana Radio. His first big collection of poems came out in 1971. It was called The Oath of the Fontonfrom and Other Poems. In 1974, he published Logorligi Logarithms. This book mixed Ga and English words. It showed his connection to both traditional and modern ideas.

His poems have been translated into many languages. These include Russian, Spanish, and French. They have also appeared in famous books and magazines. Some of these are The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry and The Atlantic Monthly.

People say his poetry has a musical quality. This comes from his early life in North Ghana. That area is rich in music. He performed his work often on radio, TV, and live stages. A Nigerian professor, Femi Osofisan, said Atukwei Okai was special. He tried to bring African poetry back to its musical roots. He did this by changing English words and sounds to create new rhythms.

Atukwei Okai also wrote three books of poems and chants for children.

Awards and Special Honours

Atukwei Okai received many awards and honors for his work.

• In 1968, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK.
• In 1979, he received an Honorary Fellowship. This was from the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in the US.
• In 1981, he became an Honorary Member of Spanish Writers. He also became an Associate Member of the Association of Nigerian Authors.
• He won the Ghana Book Award in 1979. This was for his important contribution to national literature.

Other awards he received include:

• 1979: Iqbal Centenary Commemorative Gold Medal from Pakistan. This was for his contribution to a seminar about their national poet.
• 1980: International Lotus Prize (and Gold Medal) from the Afro-Asian Writers' Association.
• 1986: C. Marconi Gold Medal from Italy.
• 1991: ECRAG Flagstar award (as mentioned earlier).
• 1993: Ushio Publication Culture Award from Japan.
• 1998: University of Ghana Golden Jubilee Distinguished Scholarly Award. This recognized his great work in African poetry.

In June 2007, he received a national award. He was made a Member of the Order of the Volta. In February 2015, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly also honored him.