Adabraka ACCRA. November 24, 2022: At African University College of Communications second TABON festival for arts and culture the Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing launched it’s fourth anthology of stories and poems.
The “Untold Stories Vol.I” is the fourth anthology edited and published Nana S. Achampong, himself an author and lecturer at African University College of Communications. The book is a collection of short stories and poems written by various students of African University College of Communications, Ghana Institute Of Journalism and Accra Technical University. Out of the many submissions received by the AAA Centre only nine stories and six poems were picked.
Nana S. Achampong, the anthologist for the “Untold Stories Vol.I” and Director of Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing urged avid readers to continue exploring the vast world of books and for writers to keep on writing and not miss an opportunity to respond to calls for submissions to have their stories published.
Launching the book, the Queenmother of Adabraka Naa Korkor Aadzieoyi I said this anthology is “unique because it is populated by submissions from students. It is also unique because it features some poetry. Most interestingly, it brings together writings from students from different colleges: it is after all a collection of short stories and poems by students from African University College of Communications, Ghana Institute of Journalism and Accra Technical University”.
The new authors are Nahnah Afi Dede LANGMER (Dead men tell no tales), Khadija Williams (Drama of Hypocrisy), Ruth Aryeh (Matters of The Heart), and Appiah Kofi GRAHAM (Dreams). The rest are Angelique Heymann Apedo (End of the Road), Innocence WORD (Voiceless), the sensational story teller Caris Adjei LONDON (Hidden) and Ursula M. Abanga (The Day Sparky Came Home). Contributing poets are Vanessa Okialey Vanderpuye, Emmanuella Otoo, Andrew Adeshina and Regina Dadson.
As should be expected, editing was sometimes invasive, but the editorial board went through the process with the integrity of each work as key; the voices and styles are the authors’. The editorial board particularly had to go deep on the GIJ submissions because they were originally written for the school’s book project and they had to be repurposed for this anthology. Much thanks to David Apau, the man in charge of GIJ’s creative writing program, whose department submitted stories for the board to choose from.
It is with much joy that the #AmaAtaAidooCentre presents the word with this fourth corps of incredibly independent new short story writers.
The project was made possible by #AUCC@20, #TabonFestival2022, AUCC-CfCA and the Ama Ata Aidoo Book Society at AUCC.
This anthology is dedicated to the lady in whose name this Centre is established: Ama Ata Aidoo. May you continue to inspire generations of story tellers with your craft and direction.
It is made possible because of the combination and focusing of many different efforts. The #AidooCentre is grateful to all for the different levels and types of support. In particular, it acknowledges the following without whom nothing would have started in the first place: AUCC Founder Hon. Kojo Yankah, former AUCC President Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright, current AUCC President Prof. Abeku Blankson, Discovery House Third Floor (Registry, Finance, Estate and Security), Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo, #AidooCentre Interns, our indefatigable archivists and publicists, and the regular members who attend our events.
Thanks also go to David Apau, in charge of GIJ’s creating writing program, who submitted stories from the board to choose from.
For all those who continue to support us in various ways – Adabraka Queenmother Naa Korkor Aadzieoyi I, Henry and Jane Abraham, Hajia Fauzia Hudu (Casta Diva Foundation), the volunteers at www.afronovaradio.com and all the patrons too many to name here – you know yourselves, and you know the love we have for you in return.
