Ama Ata Aidoo’s first play,
The Dilemma of a Ghost, was performed at the Open Air Theatre at the University of Ghana, Legon in 1964 and published in 1965. It is often seen as a companion piece to
Anowa(1970), Aidoo’s second play, and the two works have been published in a single volume (1985).
The Dilemma of a Ghostforegrounds issues which are central to Aidoo’s literary work and her criticism in its emphasis on the position of women and on Africa’s relationship to the African diaspora, especially with regard to heritage and the legacy of slavery. The play draws on Akan tradition and is framed within a variation of the traditional dilemma tale that encourages listeners to debate social and ethical issues.
The Dilemma of a Ghost was written while Aidoo was a student at the
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Citation: Dodgson-Katiyo, Pauline. "Dilemma of a Ghost". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=9399, accessed 26 December 2024.]