Kojo Laing facts for kids

B. Kojo Laing or Bernard Kojo Laing (born July 1, 1946 – died April 20, 2017) was a writer from Ghana. He was famous for his novels and poems. His writing style was very special. He mixed different languages, like Ghanaian Pidgin English and local Ghanaian words, with regular English.

His first two novels, Search Sweet Country (1986) and Woman of the Aeroplanes (1988), were highly praised. People loved how original his language was. These books even had special lists of words (called glossaries). These lists explained new words he made up and Ghanaian words he used.

Growing Up and Starting Out

Kojo Laing was born in Kumasi, a big city in Ghana. He was the oldest son and fourth of six children. His father, George Ekyem Ferguson Laing, was an Anglican priest. He became the first African leader of the Anglican Theological College in Ashanti. Kojo's mother was Darling Egan.

Kojo was given the name Bernard Ebenezer when he was baptized. But later, he decided to stop using his English name. He wanted to use his African identity instead. He went to school in Accra for a short time. Then, in 1957, he moved to Scotland for his primary and secondary education. He attended Bonhill Primary School and the Vale of Leven Academy.

He finished his studies at Glasgow University in 1968. He earned a master's degree. After that, he returned to Ghana with his Scottish wife, Josephine, and their three children. He worked for the government until 1979. Later, he worked at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana. In 1984, he became the head of Saint Anthony’s School in Accra. His mother had started this school.

Becoming a Writer

Kojo Laing started writing poetry in the 1970s. His poems sometimes used a style called "surrealism," which means they had dream-like or unusual images. But he became really well-known when his first novel, Search Sweet Country, came out in 1986. This book was very popular and won awards, like the Valco Award and the Ghana Book Award.

Search Sweet Country was re-released in 2012. Many people praised it. One reviewer said reading it was "like reading a dream." They also mentioned that the book was full of "vivid imagery." This means the book created very clear and strong pictures in the reader's mind. Another review called it a "beautifully rambling novel" that was "compelling and rewarding."

Laing's second novel, Woman of the Aeroplanes, was published in 1988. It was compared to the work of another famous writer, Ayi Kwei Armah. Kojo Laing wrote two more novels: Major Gentl and Achimota Wars (1992) and Big Bishop Roko and the Altar Gangsters (2006). Major Gentl and Achimota Wars also won a Valco Award in 1993.

His book of poems, Godhorse, came out in 1989. Laing also wrote short stories. One of his stories, "Vacancy for the Post of Jesus Christ," was included in a special collection of African stories. This story was described as a "wonderful, surreal piece of allegorical science fantasy."

Later Life and Legacy

Kojo Laing lived in Accra, Ghana. From 2005, he spent all his time writing.

He passed away in Ghana on April 20, 2017, at the age of 70. He was survived by his first wife and nine children, and his second wife and three children. Many people felt that his work was not recognized enough during his lifetime. Tributes called him "one of the unsung heroes of African fiction."

Awards and Recognition

• 1976: National Poetry Prize Valco Award
• 1985: National Novel Prize, Ghana Association of Writers
• 1993: Valco Award