After feeding readers with thought-provoking write-ups in the New African magazine for three years, Radio and TV personality, Akua Djanie has finally compiled her column writings into a book.
The Morning Ride host popularly known as Blakofe, has launched her maiden book titled “Reflections of an ordinary African Woman. Vol. 1”
The non-fiction book piece engages readers in some real life experiences as it discusses the everyday lives of the Ghanaian- from music, dressing, dance and lifestyle in general.
In its opening chapter, Blakofe talks about the nudity in Ghanaian music videos and its implications on young children. “….when I came home that night I saw my children watching porn. I was shocked. I immediately turned off the television and asked them what they were watching. ‘Mummy, we were watching the new music DVD you bought for us.”
The book does not only criticize these bad practices, but also portrays it in a rather interesting and thought-provoking manner that gets readers to question some of our attitudes as Ghanaians.
In another chapter, the writer is quite appalled by the adoption of some western culture by the youth especially. She writes “……We celebrate Halloween in Ghana by dressing like witches and wizards. If this was coming from Nigeria, Ghanaians would have called it juju, evil and all sort of bad names but we have embraced it because it is western. If we want to celebrate witches and wizards, why don’t we have an awards ceremony to honour those at Gambaga?”
As a columnist for the New African Magazine, Blakofe disclosed that she was inspired by positive feedback from her write-ups and then decided to channel them into a book. “I didn’t think about writing a book actually.
The editor of the New African magazine called me one day to say that my column was the most read and so I should consider writing a book- eventually I did” she told Citi News.
Blakofe who won the ‘Best Journalist’ by the Ghana Society, UK appealed to the public to support her work and help purchase copies at any Total shop as ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Brandon Foundation and Lila’s Childcare Foundation.
The event which was held at the British council was attended by some media personalities and actresses like Pascaline Edwards, Gifty Anti and deputy minister for tourism, culture and creative arts, Dzifa Gomashie.
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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/ghana