Kofi Anyidoho, a professor of literature at the University of Ghana, and the new president of the African literature association, will read from his works at WPI on Tuesday, April 7, at 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Higgins House. A reception will precede the reading at 2:00 p.m. in International House, 28 Trowbridge Road.
Anyidoho, who earned a doctorate in comparative literature at the University of Texas, is the author of many books, including the poetry collections A Harvest of Our Dreams and Elegy for the Revolution, essays on African literature, a bilingual (Ewe/English) play for children, and dozens of critical articles on literary relationships with politics, music, and religion. His recent focus has been on bilingual and multicultural production. He continues to write poetry in English, but also does significant work in his first language, Ewe. Equally important, he has begun to practice as both a writer and an oral artist. Cassette and CD recordings of his performances in Ewe as both poet and singer are scheduled for release in 1998. He was invited by WPI by Humanities and Arts Department Head Lee Fontanella. The visit is also a reunion for the two men, who met when Fontanella was graduate advisor in comparative literature at the Texas university.
The University of Texas and Northwestern University are sponsoring Anyidoho's visit to the United States, where his itinerary includes his inauguration as the first Africa-based president of the Africa Literature Association, an international organization, "We are proud to welcome Kofi Anyiodoho to WPI," says Fontanella. "His visit is a wonderful opportunity for members of the WPI and Worcester communities to hear his words and to meet this respected scholar and poet."