The idea for this challenge came to me randomly. Growing up, my favourite books were The Adventures of Tintin, Enid Blyton, Oliver Twist, Sweet Valley High and The Babysitter club. My first African book was The Gods are not to Blame by Ola Rotami - a compulsory reader for my older sister when I was in primary school. The reason I read it was that I had run out of books to read.
It was impossible for my tiny mind to fully comprehend and appreciate the plot and theme of the novel. Much later in Junior and Senior School, I discovered African Writers - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta, A Woman in a Prime by Asare Konadu, End of the Tunnel by Peggy Oppong, Mine Boy by Peter Abrahams, Ancestral Sacrifice by Kaakyire Akomsobo Nyantakyi, Houseboy Ferdinand Oyono, Blinkards by Kobina Sekyi, The Woman Who Can and other stories by Ama Ata Aidoo and Weep Not Child by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o; these were my compulsory and complimentary readers in school.
Ghanaian authors wrote books that resonated with me. I gained a new perspective on the world and my experiences.
Creating this reading challenge was my way of recognizing Ghanaian writers and authors and their lasting impact on global literature. It was important to me that #bookstagram discover, appreciate and celebrates Ghanaian writers. Writers who in the absence of publishing houses, agents, residency programs, grants, and workshops, have still managed to tell and preserve our stories.
This year, the #readghanaianchallenge has been divided into two parts; 12 reading prompts and a 7-day celebration on Social media. The Challenge will begin on the 1st to the 7th of March 2023. The goal is to celebrate the writers the week of the Independence Day Celebration.
The challenge is open to all. Remember to use the hashtag #readghanaianchallenge
1st March 2023: 5 books by 5 Ghanaian authors
2nd March 2023: A place in Ghana and a Ghanaian book
3rd March 2023: A Ghanaian meal and a Ghanaian book
4th March 2023: A Ghanaian poetry collection
5th March 2023: A Ghanaian Biography or Autobiography
6th March 2023: A Ghanaian historical fiction or a book that mentions Ghana’s independence
7th March 2023: A Ghanaian Short Story Collection
The 12 reading prompts cover a 12-month reading journey. The idea is to help people who want to read more Ghanaian books add at least one Ghanaian book to their monthly reading schedule.
A Ghanaian book with less than 200 pages
A Ghanaian poetry collection
A Ghanaian crime fiction, mystery or thriller
A historical fiction set in Ghana
A Ghanaian book published in 2023
A Ghanaian book based on mythology or folklore
A Ghanaian short story collection
A Ghanaian romance novel
A Ghanaian biography or autobiography
A Ghanaian book recommended by a friend or family
A Ghanaian book set outside Accra
A Ghanaian book for Young Adults
Remember to use the hashtag #readghanaianchallenge
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