“Coat and Uncoat!”: Satire and socio-political commentary in My Book of #GHCoats

Abstract

Research related to creative expression has examined the form and nature of satire in both oral and print poetry in West Africa but is yet to adequately consider digital poetry. This essay examines Nana Awere Damoah’s My Book of #GHCoats, arguably the first example of African conceptual poetry. A collation of humorous fictional quotes by Ghanaian Facebook users, #GHCoats allows for analysis the context of socio-political satire. In exploring the presence and utility of satire in #GHCoats, this essay analyzes the features of conceptual poetry as used via social media to present digital poetry as a developing force of creative expression.