Jacob A. Osae: Science Fiction, Creativity, Afrofuturism and Teaching

Jacob A. Osae is a Ghanaian poet, screenwriter, sci-fi writer, and the founder of TEAM VOLVOX – a creative writing group on the University of Ghana campus. As a self-taught writer, Jacob built a foundation in creative writing and storytelling through an Afro-futuristic lens. He further studied with the Writers Project of Ghana Creative Writing Café and his published works include ‘Oaks of Definition (2016), A walking Rainbow (2019), and The Raven (2020).Jacob believes that the African continent is awash with stories that need to be told on the biggest screens by writers who relate best to these stories – African writers. He shares from his experiences as a young writer, that a surefire way to develop more prolific writers for the next generation of Africans is a more intentional approach through the creation of creative writing groups in Senior High Schools to help nurture and harness the abilities of young writers.We touch on his role as a Senior High School Tutor, at which point he intimates about the state of senior high school education in Ghana, and the unintended double-edged contribution of inclusive policies such as the ‘Free Senior High School’ policy. Jacob thinks that the educational system needs an overhaul, with compulsory periodic pedagogical training for teachers and an introduction of a younger, forward-looking generation of teachers.We discuss his literary journey, the erroneous yet widely held belief that science fiction stories should be the preserve of the West, and the inspiration and process behind his recently published sci-fi book situated in Africa, ‘The Raven’. Jacob asserts that stories such as these need to be intentionally introduced to young African children to broaden their horizons and to teach them of the limitless possibilities out there in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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