Ivana Akotowaa Ofori is a Ghanaian storyteller. She is a weaver of words in many forms, including fiction, non-fiction and spoken-word poetry. An alumna of the Clarion West writing workshop, Akotowaa has been shortlisted for various awards, including the Miles Morland Writing Fellowship and the Nommo Awards. Her work has appeared in anthologies such as Tor.com’s Africa Risen, Clinamen Editions’ Daring Shifts, and Flame Tree Publishing’s African Ghost Short Stories. Her work also appears in online magazines such as Jalada Africa and AFREADA. Her debut novella, The Year of Return, was published in 2024 by Android Press (USA) and Smartline Publishers (Ghana).
She lives in Accra, Ghana, and the spider, a symbol of wisdom and creativity in Akan culture, is her chosen totem.
This July, the African Book Festival will celebrate all kinds of speculative fiction from Akotowaa’s native Ghana and beyond, taking us to other worlds. Stay tuned and follow @akotowaa and @abfberlin on Instagram if you don’t want to miss any news.
