Ama Asantewa Diaka Knihy

A bold, mesmerizing debut collection exploring womanhood, the body, mental illness, and what it means to move between cultures  Renowned for her storytelling and spoken-word artistry, Ama Asantewa Diaka is also an exultant, fierce, and visceral poet whose work leaves a lasting impact. Touching on themes from perceptions of beauty to the betrayals of the body, from what it means to give consent to how we grapple with demons internal and external,  Woman, Eat Me Whole  is an entirely fresh and powerful look at womanhood and personhood in a shifting world. Moving between Ghana and the United States, Diaka probes those countries’ ever-changing cultural expectations and norms while investigating the dislocation and fragmentation of a body—and a mind—so often restless or ill at ease. Vivid and bodily while also deeply cerebral,  Woman, Eat Me Whole  is a searing debut collection from a poet with an inimitable voice and vision. 

This collection offers a visceral and candid portrait of contemporary Ghanaian youth through interconnected short stories by acclaimed spoken-word artist Ama Asantewa Diaka. The narratives vividly capture the lives of young Ghanaians, exploring themes of friendship, passion, hope, and heartache. Characters like Opoku Sr. struggle to maintain his family's cocoa business after his father's death, burdened with caring for his younger siblings and a child whose mother has left. When his girlfriend reveals her pregnancy, he feels he has nothing left to give. Years later, Opoku Jr. grapples with his own challenges, including a girlfriend who suspects his infidelity and a secret relationship with another woman. Other characters, like John, share their experiences of unexpected connections, while Baaba navigates a tumultuous romance with her professor that leads to violence. Ayeley learns to embrace pleasure despite her upbringing. Diaka weaves together these interconnected lives in thirteen stories, addressing themes of economic hardship, trauma, and the complexities of the female body. Through their journeys, she highlights the hope and triumph found in everyday moments—love, art, and the bonds between women. Renowned for her lyrical prowess, Diaka reveals profound truths about her country and the universal human experience.