USA Africa Dialogue Series - Rhythms of Dignity by Akwasi Aidoo

Rhythms of Dignity

Akwasi Aidoo

"Akwasi Aidoo's Rhythms of Dignity is a remarkable, bold first

collection. There is a rich diversity in range of form, expressiveness,

experience, and passion. Reading through this work is a journey through the

undercurrents of experience that reflect on living through the charged

realities of the 'post-colonial' decades of our modern African not only

with an intimate Pan-African awareness of history but also with a poignant

sensibility of brotherhood, sisterhood and belonging. Clearly evocative of

the age the poet has lived through, these poems have both a sharp clear eye

on history, and an abiding tender trust in human relationships." – Abena

P.A. Busia, Professor of literature, and poet.

"Akwasi Aidoo weaves together in warm and passionate verses our timeless

dreams of freedom, dignity and humanity which shall neither be deferred nor

deterred regardless of what they say and what their SAPs ('sanitize

African passion'!) and Davos prescribe. Enjoy the dreams of 'life and

joy' that is the Rhythms of Dignity. Akwasi is one of Africa's foremost

poets. Akwasi, you make us proud as Africans and as a part of humanity in

what you sing and what you pen. May your Rhythms continue to inspire us and

light the road to freedom." – Issa Shivji, Emeritus Professor of Public

Law & First Julius Nyerere Professor of Pan-African Studies, University of

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

"Akwasi Aidoo's Rhythms of Dignity is that unusual of literary artefacts

that combines large scale Pan-Africanist observations with the most minute

attention to everyday details. There are poems here to read in quiet and

reflection, some to rage to, and yet others to call out to our next door

neighbor on a Sunday morning and say: 'Hear this!'" – Ato Quayson,

Professor of English, Stanford University, USA.

"Expansive and personal, Aidoo's writing carries us from intimate scenes

in the doctor's office to contemplation on the African continent's

fallen heroes. From Addis to Dakar then across the Atlantic, we travel with

him through music, love, politics, the whole gamut of human relations. The

poems read like a love letter and leave the reader with a strong dose of

hope for the future." – Ayesha Harruna Attah, author of The Hundred

Wells of Salaga and The Deep Blue Between, etc.

"Akwasi Aidoo's poems are 'dances, dreams and struggles' in verses

that tread both light and heavy steps across memories, accidents and

emotions twisting, swirling and twirling movements in different shapes,

sizes and colour. These poems croon our histories, drum our prejudices, clap

our hopes and mock in lilting tones our oppression". – Tade Akin Aina,

Executive Director, PASGR.

"In this collection of poems covering Africa, meditation and memory and

everything in between, we hear Akwasi Aidoo's voice mingled with the

voices of our ancestors, our past and our future, calling to us to reflect

as 'life streaming hurriedly to us'. Woven within the lyricism of the

words, the poems are a political and social commentary on life that evoke

Langston Hughes and reminds us of the stories we tell and are told about us.

Buy it, read it and be discomfited and comforted in turn." – Ayisha

Osori, Executive Director, OSIWA, and author of Love Does Not Win Elections.

Akwasi Aidoo is a philanthropy professional, human rights and peace

advocate, and poet. He is a Senior Fellow at Humanity United, and serves on

the Boards of several international organizations. In 2015, he received the

Africa Philanthropy Award. Akwasi was educated in Ghana and the USA and

received a PhD in Sociology from the University of Connecticut in 1985. He

has taught at universities in Ghana, Tanzania, and the USA.

ISBN 978 2 35926 100 4, broché, $18.95 • £14.95 • €16.50 • CFA7500

Format: 216 x 140 mm, 136 pages • Amalion 2020.

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