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The Girl Who Can
In The Girl Who Can , the irrepressible Ama Ata Aidoo looks at the roles and rules, and the games people find themselves playing, often unwillingly. She analyses African women's struggle to find their rightful place in society. Her stories raise issues of choice and conflict, teasing about the issues with disarming frankness. How do people behave in cross-cultural relationships? In the modern world, where a plastic label identifies us, what is our identity? Will African women be in the driving seat in the twenty-first century? With the zest and humour, Aidoo raises these questions and provides some challenging answers. In this collection of short stories, Aidoo elevates the mundane in women's lives to an intellectual level in an attempt at challenging patriarchal structures and dominance in African society. Written from a child's perspective, Aidoo subverts the traditional beliefs and assumptions about the child's voice. Her inimitable sense of style and eloquence, explores love, marriage and relationships with all the issues they throw up for the contemporary African woman. In doing so, she manages to capture the very essence of womanhood.
151 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
66 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Ama Ata Aidoo
39 books402 followersAma Ata Aidoo was a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, politician, and academic. She was Secretary for Education in Ghana from 1982 to 1983 under Jerry Rawlings's PNDC administration. Her first play, The Dilemma of a Ghost, was published in 1965, making Aidoo the first published female African dramatist. As a novelist, she won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1992 with the novel Changes. In 2000, she established the Mbaasem Foundation in Accra to promote and support the work of African women writers.
(from Wikipedia)
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 23, 2015
Ama Ata Aidoo presents a collection of short stories which portrays the lives of women in traditional, colonial and post colonial settings. She writes insightfully about the effects of colonialism, drawing parallels between the past and the future and seamlessly moving through different time periods. She gives prominence to the role of the grandmother, which is not very common. The way in which Aidoo shows traditional gender roles is authentic, and something I can easily relate with as a Ghanaian.
Add the beautiful writing style which sometimes breaks into poetry and is peppered with local words and proverbs and you have a truly compelling read. Definitely a 5 star collection.
Add the beautiful writing style which sometimes breaks into poetry and is peppered with local words and proverbs and you have a truly compelling read. Definitely a 5 star collection.
May 26, 2022
The Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo presents an incisive analysis of patriarchy in African communities, ranging from pre-colonial to post-colonial lives. From the point of view of children and young people, she subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) ridicules traditional preconceptions, and eloquently analyses the conventions of marriage and community relationships.
The direct address to readers is unnerving at times, and constantly challenges the assumptions made by even the most progressive of men and women. Grandmothers loom large as the latent matriarchal power in families is too often suppressed by conventions that are outmoded and in many cases simply bigoted.
The author writes with simple fluidity and ease, charming the reader into having a second look at the most innocent-seeming of assumptions. Most enjoyable reading, this is.
The direct address to readers is unnerving at times, and constantly challenges the assumptions made by even the most progressive of men and women. Grandmothers loom large as the latent matriarchal power in families is too often suppressed by conventions that are outmoded and in many cases simply bigoted.
The author writes with simple fluidity and ease, charming the reader into having a second look at the most innocent-seeming of assumptions. Most enjoyable reading, this is.
March 30, 2021
Only read the story "The Girl Who Can"
December 31, 2013
Classic West African feminism in folky but modern stories. I passed the book along to my partner with the suggestion that this is Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood in small doses.
December 5, 2015
I love this short story. It's incredibly short but so inspiring.
"It's better this way. To have acted it out to show them, although I could not have planned it. "
I really liked Nana in the end. It was so cute.
Adjoa is such a cute innocent voice and protagonist bringing such important issues to the forefront.
Women don't just need to have strong hips for progeny *wipes a tear *
"It's better this way. To have acted it out to show them, although I could not have planned it. "
I really liked Nana in the end. It was so cute.
Adjoa is such a cute innocent voice and protagonist bringing such important issues to the forefront.
Women don't just need to have strong hips for progeny *wipes a tear *
December 9, 2015
The title story was so beautiful and inspiring that I definitely want to look at the rest.
July 23, 2023
The story is about a seven-year old girl who is expected by the grown-ups to realize the expectation of her family. It brings out gorgeously the role and the tussle of women in post-colonial Africa.
This tussle includes the tussle of African women to find an equitable place in society and how to be accepted in the society with all defectiveness in themselves.
The author, a feminist, uses the social background of a custom ridden traditional society in which the majority of its people think that a woman can be 'useful' if she has a 'normal' and 'same' body as the others. The protagonist's grandmother embodies society's typical expectation of the female.
The setting of the story is in the post colonial Ghana's fertile district Hasodzi where the soil is fertile and free from frequent droughts as occur in other parts of the land. The story is told from the point of view of a seven-year old girl who has to find out the meaning of existence. She is surrounded by a controlling grandmother and a dejected wordless mother.
This setting is a fertile ground to the final eloquent discussion on the role of women in the society where Nana, a strong matriarch, insists on carrying on old customs and traditions.
In such a society the role of a woman has been reduced to rearing children and nurturing women. Only a rebel like Adjoa can carve out their career and show the world what potential a woman has, which is not limited to being just a mother or a wife.
The title of the story is related to the vast potential of a girl who can achieve something beyond what a tradition-ridden society can think of. In this story. Adjoa, a seven-year old child, is asked not to air her views openly.
She has to confront the criticism and opposition of her grandmother Nana.
She is made to experience a tribulation for her thin legs which her Nana believes are a handicap in rearing children.
Adjoa does not openly compete against her Nana's views, though she believes that Nana is just following her old views. She thinks that her legs do not pose any threat to her achievements. She covers a distance of five miles daily to go to school.
She does not lag behind others despite her lean legs. When she is selected to represent her school in the district games for juniors and by winning in the race, she shows her potential to achieve anything with her thin legs. A woman or any other person 'can' accomplish great things of determination and strong will are with them.
The author dwells on the theme of conflict, incorruptibility, self-determination, diffidence, connection and pride, all through the protagonist's collaboration with the two aging women, one her grandmother who is controlling and a sponsor of patriarchy and the other her own mother who feels smothered and burdened at the hands of her own mother and her good-for-nothing husband who has deserted her.
So there to the generational skirmish with the three generations trying to get a denotation of existence.
This tussle includes the tussle of African women to find an equitable place in society and how to be accepted in the society with all defectiveness in themselves.
The author, a feminist, uses the social background of a custom ridden traditional society in which the majority of its people think that a woman can be 'useful' if she has a 'normal' and 'same' body as the others. The protagonist's grandmother embodies society's typical expectation of the female.
The setting of the story is in the post colonial Ghana's fertile district Hasodzi where the soil is fertile and free from frequent droughts as occur in other parts of the land. The story is told from the point of view of a seven-year old girl who has to find out the meaning of existence. She is surrounded by a controlling grandmother and a dejected wordless mother.
This setting is a fertile ground to the final eloquent discussion on the role of women in the society where Nana, a strong matriarch, insists on carrying on old customs and traditions.
In such a society the role of a woman has been reduced to rearing children and nurturing women. Only a rebel like Adjoa can carve out their career and show the world what potential a woman has, which is not limited to being just a mother or a wife.
The title of the story is related to the vast potential of a girl who can achieve something beyond what a tradition-ridden society can think of. In this story. Adjoa, a seven-year old child, is asked not to air her views openly.
She has to confront the criticism and opposition of her grandmother Nana.
She is made to experience a tribulation for her thin legs which her Nana believes are a handicap in rearing children.
Adjoa does not openly compete against her Nana's views, though she believes that Nana is just following her old views. She thinks that her legs do not pose any threat to her achievements. She covers a distance of five miles daily to go to school.
She does not lag behind others despite her lean legs. When she is selected to represent her school in the district games for juniors and by winning in the race, she shows her potential to achieve anything with her thin legs. A woman or any other person 'can' accomplish great things of determination and strong will are with them.
The author dwells on the theme of conflict, incorruptibility, self-determination, diffidence, connection and pride, all through the protagonist's collaboration with the two aging women, one her grandmother who is controlling and a sponsor of patriarchy and the other her own mother who feels smothered and burdened at the hands of her own mother and her good-for-nothing husband who has deserted her.
So there to the generational skirmish with the three generations trying to get a denotation of existence.
February 28, 2024
It's a short story about how someone's "negative" body feature may turn out to be their greatest strength.
The story takes place in Ghana where having wide hips and "meaty" calves to support it for a girl is the standard. It's the requirement for bearing children.
Our main character/narrator, on the other hand, has thin "spindly" legs which is the reason for the major disagreement between her mother and grandmother (Nana).
We witness her grandmother's worried anger and her mother's sadness about her future. Though her mother tries to defend her with little courage, it vanishes the moment her grandmother disdainfully mentions her mother's choice of husband.
The story goes on to show how her Nana's mentality about her legs changes. Instead of verbally convincing, the narrator presents her the results. In turn, her grandmother cannot help but cry while her mother becomes speechless about the whole affair.
It's obvious how much her grandmother and mother love the narrator. Because of it, they worried about her future in a patriachal society where she would have had to face discrimination if unable to have children because of her body features.
It's an inspiring story showing the struggle against the beauty standards. The context may be different but it is undeniable that at the core, it exists in every culture in the world where the society sets a series of rules and standards to follow and the anomaly to these remain as an outcast.
The story takes place in Ghana where having wide hips and "meaty" calves to support it for a girl is the standard. It's the requirement for bearing children.
Our main character/narrator, on the other hand, has thin "spindly" legs which is the reason for the major disagreement between her mother and grandmother (Nana).
We witness her grandmother's worried anger and her mother's sadness about her future. Though her mother tries to defend her with little courage, it vanishes the moment her grandmother disdainfully mentions her mother's choice of husband.
The story goes on to show how her Nana's mentality about her legs changes. Instead of verbally convincing, the narrator presents her the results. In turn, her grandmother cannot help but cry while her mother becomes speechless about the whole affair.
It's obvious how much her grandmother and mother love the narrator. Because of it, they worried about her future in a patriachal society where she would have had to face discrimination if unable to have children because of her body features.
It's an inspiring story showing the struggle against the beauty standards. The context may be different but it is undeniable that at the core, it exists in every culture in the world where the society sets a series of rules and standards to follow and the anomaly to these remain as an outcast.
February 20, 2023
Wow! I'm really looking forward to read more of books like this. Here, the author gave a lot of illustrations through her short stories about how much women or females matter in the society and why equal opportunities should be given to them.
There's no way you can know for sure, how much people matter or what they are capable of until you give them the benefit of the doubt, then you will be surprised. In the revised edition, published in 2002 (I wish to have a look at the first edition published in 1997) Ama made all these clear and in a good view should be considered by society.
There's no way you can know for sure, how much people matter or what they are capable of until you give them the benefit of the doubt, then you will be surprised. In the revised edition, published in 2002 (I wish to have a look at the first edition published in 1997) Ama made all these clear and in a good view should be considered by society.
September 16, 2025
As a Ghanaian, I am really ashamed that I am only now reading Ama Ata Aidoo’s books. There is this particular signature humor, sensitivity, and fondness with which she writes about women, independence, and Africa, and I am sincerely fascinated by it. She explores themes in ways that feel both intimate and universal.
My favorite story is Nutty, which is about the friendship between a Ghanaian student in North America and her American roommate, Blanche. It beautifully explores themes of food, home, and cultural connection.
This was a goodread!
My favorite story is Nutty, which is about the friendship between a Ghanaian student in North America and her American roommate, Blanche. It beautifully explores themes of food, home, and cultural connection.
This was a goodread!
April 27, 2021
This story "The Girl Who Can" explains the uprising of woman through her work. It is about an African child who is assumed with only one job which is to give birth. But her work changes the patriarchal idealism and gives her a shine which she deserves.
September 1, 2022
I found it interesting how the author - Ama Ata Aidoo - uses a number of short stories to depict the struggles of women in sub-Saharan Africa.
She has a unique writing style that left me pleasantly stunned whenever I got the point she was conveying through each story.
She has a unique writing style that left me pleasantly stunned whenever I got the point she was conveying through each story.
July 6, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable read with so many short stories that are relatable to black women and all women.
This was an enjoyable read with so many short stories that are relatable to black women and all women.
September 17, 2020
Hw can i read the book kindly help
Want to read
July 16, 2022love the books about Ama ata Aidoo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2023
2/5 stars
The rating above is only for "The Girl Who Can" short story.
The rating above is only for "The Girl Who Can" short story.
January 7, 2024
I really like this story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2024
Beautiful.
September 24, 2025
Ohhh this book! “She-who-would-be-king” and “Heavy News” melted my heart! Such great stories!
October 28, 2025
AAA doesn't disappoint. Her books always take me on a roller coaster of emotions and this one was just the same.
February 26, 2017
Aidoo's second book of short stories published in 1997. All the stories have female narrator's/protagonists and deal with issues ranging from feminism, to motherhood, to multi-generational women in one family, to intercommunication among women, to sexism and gender roles and the influences of colonialism. Aidoo has a very conversational style, and narrators often speak directly to the reader or are in the process of telling a story to someone. There are fable-like elements in several of the stories.
September 14, 2016
I love these stories as fiercely as I did nine years ago when I first read this book. Rich, complex, layered women. In many ways the same woman, just at different stages in her complicated life. These stories explore the motivations, compulsions, revulsions, pettiness, courage, confusion, strength and so much more of what makes up the mind and experience of today's African woman. Well told. Steeped in fast changing culture. To read this book is to see parts of myself.
AMA ATA AIDOO!!! Brilliant!
AMA ATA AIDOO!!! Brilliant!
September 19, 2015
A collection of short stories by a Ghanaian author. Some of them I absolutely loved, especially the title story and Choosing.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews