For us Africans, literature must serve a purpose: to expose, embarrass, and fight corruption and authoritarianism.
AMA ATA AIDOOLife is inspirational; sometimes it comes from the most unlikely places.
More Ama Ata Aidoo Quotes
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Its a sad moment, really, when parents first become a bit frightened of their children.
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I always wanted to write poetry, even when I was very young.
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Love is fine for singing about and love songs are good to listen to, sometimes even to dance to. But when we need food for our stomachs and clothes for our backs, love is nothing. Ah my lady, the last man any woman should think of marrying is the man she loves.
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the best way to sharpen a knife is not to whet one side of it only. And neither can you solve a riddle by considering only one end of it.
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They had always told me that I wrote like a man.
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It is a matter of some interest, that the only other volume A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt reminds one of is Ake, by Wole Soyinka. What is it about these Yorubas?
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Once an interesting idea or theme occurs to me then I would want to write a poem about it. The rest, frankly, is not difficult.
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Humans, not places, make memories.
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O yes, everyone gets lonely some time or other.
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There are powerful forces undermining progress in Africa. But one must never underestimate the power of the people to bring about change.
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After all, if we look closer into ourselves, shall we not admit that the warmth from other people comes so sweet to us when it comes, because, we always carry with us the knowledge of the cold loneliness of death?
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Life is inspirational; sometimes it comes from the most unlikely places.
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No matter what anybody says, we can’t have it all. Not if you are a woman. Not yet.
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Sometimes a word or an argument will trigger a poem.
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Things are working out… towards their dazzling conclusions.
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