Ayesha Harruna Attah '05 - Ghana/Senegal

MH Global Alum Alliance
4 days ago
3 min read

We are delighted to share our latest Global Alum Alliance feature interview, as we celebrate the lives and achievements of alums around the world. This In the Spotlight interview focuses on Ayesha Harruna Attah of '05, an award winning writer from Ghana currently living in Senegal.

Please get in touch if you feel your story would be of interest, or would like to recommend a fellow alum!

Spotlight on…

Name: Ayesha Harruna Attah

Class Year: 2005

Country: Ghana/Senegal

Major: Biochemistry

Profession: Writer

Ayesha Harruna Attah - Award-winning author — Ayesha Harruna Attah Class of 2005 | Photo courtesy of Dirk Skiba

"We need storytelling more than ever. Storytellers hold the world’s memory and imagination, and we need to remind the world of what’s come before and how patterns repeat themselves. Stories also help us imagine our futures."

Ayesha's work centers on remembering what has been forgotten and sharing it with her readers. She loves books, long walks, green tea ice cream and staring at the ocean. When she is not writing she churns and sells delicious ice creams. Read on!

1) Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I have published five novels, including The Hundred Wells of Salaga, and I am about to release Bitter Sweet, my first non-fiction book. I have also written literary and historical fiction and for young adults. My work centers mostly on West Africa and shining a light on the untold parts of our history. I currently live in Popenguine, Senegal, where I also run an ice-cream shop.

Ayesha Harruna Attah '05 serving ice cream — Ayesha Harruna Attah serving up the latest scoop at her ice cream shop | Photo courtesy of Dirk Skiba

2) Was there a particular event or time that you recognized that writing would be your life and your living?

Probably when I released my third book, The Hundred Wells of Salaga. That was when I realized I was in the writing business for the long haul. Maybe because of its international reach, I thought, well, if there are many people out there in the world who want to read what I have to say, I have to keep going!

3) What books have been most inspiring or influential to you and why?

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is the book I go to when I’m feeling shaky as a writer. I love its humor and encouraging admonitions. I love Toni Morrison’s body of work as well, for language, and for the way she tells big stories using everyday people.

4) What is your perspective on the role of storytelling in today's world?

We need storytelling more than ever. Storytellers hold the world’s memory and imagination, and we need to remind the world of what’s come before and how patterns repeat themselves. Stories also help us imagine our futures.

5) What has been one of the most rewarding moments in your career as an author?

I have loved going on book tours and to festivals all over the world. I’ve met readers from all walks of life in libraries, in cafes, in universities, over food, and each encounter has shown me just how connected we are, even if I’m writing specifically for and about West Africa.

6) How would you describe how your West African experience influences your oeuvre?

West Africa is home and my muse. I love its dense forests and sparse savannas. I love its people and how our lives are filled with stories, sometimes joyous, sometimes difficult. Everything I write is anchored in this space.

7) What stories or themes are you hoping to explore next?

I would love to continue writing about the past and to find a way to pull the threads from there into a futuristic novel.

8) What advice would you give to young women today who want to pursue writing as a profession?

Learn to be creative, not only in what you write about, but also in how you live your life. It makes for rich storytelling. Takes as many notes as you can. You never know when that random thought will lead to a big novel.

Ayesha Harruna Attah with MHC Alums — Ayesha Harruna Attah at a meet-up with fellow MHC alums

9) How did your MHC experience contribute to your writing career and life aspirations?

It was at MHC that I started to explore what a writing life could look like. I sometimes wrote for the MHC News, and I took lots of writing classes, with Sven Birkerts, North Cairn, Stephanie Grant. They taught me the power of reading and laid the foundations of how I write today.