AFAJATO: STORIES AROUND THE VOLTA LAKE.

 Renowned Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang revealed that the inspiration for launching his memoir on his birthday stemmed from a desire to break the conventional pattern of waiting until the later stages of one's career to share wisdom and experiences during an interview hosted at African University College of Communication.

"Well, the inspiration behind writing this book was that I wanted to break the cycle of getting to the end of your career or when you’ve seen it all, done it all at an old age, then you write a memoir, a biography, autobiography, and all that," Anang expressed passionately. "And I thought that that would be a bit late because the people who are walking your path, the people who are about to make the same mistakes you made, the people who need guidance, a word of encouragement now, and so waiting for how many years would not do them any good."

The book delves into Adjetey Anang's life prior to, during, and following the commencement of his career. It aims to offer encouragement, advice, and insights into pivotal choices that can either build or hinder one's journey, drawing from his experiences and lessons learned from mistakes.

"What I wish that they take out of this amongst the many things would be that life throws at you all kinds of things and you must be prepared to withstand whatever challenges or difficulties that are thrown at you. You must know that you are fallible, you have weaknesses, and you must be sincere about your weaknesses and seek help. Especially coming from an epitomical area of culture of masculinity and all that, it’s tough for people to own up to their shortfalls because they’re considered as weaklings, especially for guys. So, for me, for them to own up to their mistakes and also be better versions of themselves,"

The actor explained. 

Adjetey Anang went on to share insightful reflections on his guiding principles and career aspirations, emphasizing the importance of leaving a meaningful impact through selflessness and setting personal boundaries as an actor.

 "Well, a few of the lessons or principles that have guided me, I mean, one of which would be that I see life as, you know, for what we leave behind. It’s not what is written in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of people. For me, people are a first point of call. Being selfless and knowing that your service to humanity is what will bring you the rewards and favor," He stressed the value of selflessness and service to humanity, believing that this brings true rewards and favor. 

"And of course, another would be having boundaries" He added. " "Everyone must have their personal boundary... If you don’t have boundaries, then you leave yourself too open, and therefore anything goes." Adjetey Anang emphasized the importance of maintaining clarity and respect in relationships, including those with fans.

Looking ahead, Anang expressed his vision for the next phase of his career, saying, "I intend to make an impact based on the lessons I’ve learned, strengthening my faith and ensuring that I leave my mark felt in people’s lives. Playing the character Pusher has been humbling and has shaped my career in a number of ways. It has made me more sensitive to the needs of others." He emphasized continuous learning and inspiring young people to surpass current achievements.

Anang expressed gratitude towards his fans, acknowledging their role in his success, stating, "I should be humble enough to realize that it is because of them that I am in the light. It is because of their patronage. It’s because of their words." He emphasized the importance of staying grounded and connected with his fan base.

The interview was followed by a Q&A session with fans, who asked about the actor's personal life, management, married life, and themes from the actor's memoir. This was followed by a photo session and networking among the guests.

Naa Kokor Aadzieoyi I, the Queen Mother of Adabraka Otuapai, officialy launched the highly anticipated new anthology of the Ama Atta Aidoo Centre, "AFAJATO: Stories From Around the Volta Lake", highlighting the cultural significance of the anthology and its crucial role in showcasing the rich heritage of the Volta region.

In her address, the Queen Mother emphasized the importance of narrating indigenous stories to preserve and nurture prosperity. She stressed that "Afajato: Stories From Around the Volta Lake" would serve as both a reference and a guide in representing the region's diverse culture. According to her, understanding a community's story is vital for appreciating its values and identity.

"I am delighted to be part of this significant event. We must share our narratives to guide and safeguard our prosperity. Afajato: Stories From Around the Volta Lake, will be a valuable resource for representing our region," announced the Queen Mother during the launch.

With her endorsement, the book made its debut in the literary world, symbolizing a milestone in the preservation and celebration of the Volta region's cultural legacy. Also present at the Book launch of the Aidoo Centre's third regional anthology hosted at the African University College of Communication (AUCC) in Accra, were esteemed guests  Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong; the President of AUCC, Prof. Abeku Blankson; the Registrar of AUCC, Miss Juliana Owusu-Ansah; Acting Vice President of AUCC, Kemi WaleOlaitan; Heads of Departments (HODs) of AUCC; students, staff of AUCC, and the authors of the Afajato Anthology.

"AFAJATO:STORIES FROM AROUND THE VOLTA LAKE, is a very important book because we all saw what happened around the volta lake. And so to have creative minds who get together to write stories about it, I think it is worth reading and pondering over it. Let's see what we can use these stories for and pass these stories on," spoke the President of AUCC, Prof. Abeku Blankson.

"And for the writers, I always say that whenever you put pen on paper, and whenever you publish anything, it becomes immortalized. In the sense that even when you are gone, when you leave this earth, whatever you produced would stay here. As we speak we continue to read creative works of people who have left. People like Ama Atta Aidoo. We still continue to read and pick inspiration from her," he went on to add.

The "Afajato: Stories From Around the Volta Lake" anthology features a compelling collection of short stories set in Ghana's Volta region, written by 15 authors and was curated and edited by Nana Sandy Achampong, the Anthologist and director of the Ama Atta Aiddo Centre for Creative Writing. Signed copies of the anthology were donated to the school and sold to audiences present.

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