Quote by Kofi Awoonor: “The road to freedom is paved with the courage of the oppressed.”

This statement means that achieving liberation from oppression requires the brave actions and determination of those who are suffering. It highlights that freedom is earned through struggle and defiance, not given freely.

In *The Breast of the Earth* (1975), Awoonor emphasized the agency of African peoples in their liberation struggles. This quote encapsulates the pan-Africanist spirit of self-determination prevalent during a period when many nations were still fighting for or solidifying their independence.

Ghanaian poet, novelist, and diplomat who drew on the oral traditions of the Ewe people to create a unique voice in African poetry. His 1964 collection Rediscovery is a landmark of Ghanaian literature. He served as Ghana's Ambassador to the United Nations and was killed in the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi.