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The Mbaasem Foundation is a foundation established by Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo in Accra , Ghana, in 2000. It is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting and promoting the work of African women writers, [1] [2] to “establish and maintain a writing place for women “. [3] In 2002 the rented headquarters of the foundation was “likened to the transformation of Ernest Hemingway’s home in Chicago into a literary haven and museum”. [4]The Foundation states its mission to be “To support the development and sustainability of African women writers and their artistic output”, and to its goal: “To create an enabling environment for women to write, tell and publish their stories.” [1]
History
In January 2000 Ama Ata Aidoo started an initiative called Mbaasem (meaning “women’s words, women’s affairs” in Akan ) [5] based in Accra, Ghana, with the goal of building a women writers’ center and residency. [6] Subsequently, the Mbaasem Foundation is a non-governmental organization, based on its mission to develop and support the sustainability of the work of African women writers who are usually sidelined in the industry. [7]
In 2012 Mbaasem launched a three-year project to develop a literacy manifesto to improve literacy in Ghana. [8] Other activities include organizing the “Mbaasem Writing Contest for Girls”, funded by the US Embassy of Ghana and The Royal Bank Ltd., with GHC 1000 as the top prize. [9] [10]
The Mbaasem Foundation has also been involved in international conferences for women writers. In 2013, she collaborated with the Organization of Women Writers of Africa (OWWA), New York University (NYU), and the Spanish Fundación Mujeres por África (Women for Africa Foundation) to present a major conference in Accra, Yari Yari Ntoaso: Continuing the Dialogue – An International Conference on Literature by African Ancestry , held from 16 to 19 May. [5] Ghanaian writers and scholars including Ama Ata Aidoo, Amma Darko , Ruby Goka , Mamle Kabu , Esi Sutherland-Addy and Margaret BusbyWere Invited to speak at the event, and notable Among participants from other parts of the world Who Attended Were Angela Davis of the USA, Tess Onwueme of Nigeria, Natalia Molebatsi of South Africa, Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro of Puerto Rico, Véronique Tadjo of Coast Ivory, and Évelyne Trouillot of Haiti. [5]
References
- ^ Jump up to:a b “Welcome To Mbaasem” , Mbaasem Foundation.
- Jump up^ Aidoo, Ama Ata (2002). The Girl Who Can: And Other Stories . Heinemann. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-435-91013-6 .
- Jump up^ Banham, Martin; James Gibbs; Femi Osofisan , eds. (2002). African Theater: Women . James Currey Publishers. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-85255-596-5 .
- Jump up^ West Africa . West Africa Publishing Company, Limited. 2002. p. 35.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c “Yari Yari Ntoaso: An International Conference in Ghana on Literature by Women of African Ancestry” . Creative Writing Ghana. April 20, 2013 . Retrieved 5 October 2016 .
- Jump up^ Annual Report 1999-2000, Women’s WORLD.
- Jump up^ Kundai Mugwanda-Nyamutenha,”Women’s History Month Profile: Ama Ata Aidoo”,This Is Africa, 30 March 2015.
- Jump up^ Marian Ansah,”Mbaasem Foundation Launches Manifesto To Bridge Literacy Gap”, 8 March 2012.
- Jump up^ “Mbaasem Writing Contest for Girls”,GoWoman, 8 December 2014.
- Jump up^ “Rosebella Thompson tops Mbaasem Writing Contest for Girls” . Citifmonline.com. May 9, 2015 . Retrieved 5 October 2016 .