Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2019

Department

Department of Humanities

Abstract

The idea of “home” is a significant occurrence in postcolonial literature, as it connects to other ideas as identity, nationhood, and culture. This paper discusses “home” in Ghanaian poetry focusing on three well-regarded poets: Kofi Awoonor, Kofi Anyidoho, and Mawuli Adzei. These poets come from the Ewe ethnic group, and engage with the Pan-African project in both their scholarly and creative expressions. Drawing on John Berger, Sara Dessen, and Ewe thought on the afterlife, this paper suggests two major types of “home” in the works of these three poets: the physical, and the metaphysical. Physical “home” refer to the Wheta traditional area, Ghana, Africa and her Diaspora, while the metaphysical refers to tsieʄe or aʋlime - the afterlife. The paper also discusses why “home” is significant to these poets and how their portrayal of ‘home’ is a starting point for the next generation of Ghanaian poets.

Publisher's Statement

This is an Open Access journal. This means that it uses a funding model that does not charge readers or their institutions for access. Readers may freely read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles. This journal is covered under the CC BY-NC-ND license. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.3007

Publication Title

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Version

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