"Gladys-May-Casely-Hayford Alias Aquah Laluah" {May 11,1904 in Axim-October 1950 in Freetown}

Was a  Gold  Coast-born  Sierra Leonean  writer,daughter  of  Adelaide  Casely -Hayford.She started  the  Krio  language  literature

She studied  in Ghana  and  Wales,danced with a Berlin  jazz band,and returning to Africa  taught at her mama's  Girls' Vocational  School  in Freetown.Her first Poems were published  in the  Atlantic Monthly and  The  Philadelphia Tribune.Her  poetry  has been  widely  anthologized.

As  a child ,known  then  as Aquuah LaLuah,she did not like  textbooks  or arithmetic she was  a voracious  reader,devouring  Charles Kingsley's Heroes  from cover to cover at the age of seven.Gladys  could  sing,dance,and write  poetry  at an early age.Due to her upbringing  she could speak fluent English,Creole,and  Fante,(the language of her daddy).Gladys  had her primary  and secondary  school education  in Ghana  and went  to  Penrhos College,Colwyn  Bay,in  Wales,after turning  down  two other  competitive colleges  that wanted  her for her  talented  writing.Gladys  stopped her education there  and  travelled  with  a Berlin jazz band  as a dancer.She stayed  with them  for a long time,she started having breakdowns  and had  to go home.

Back home  in Africa,she taught  at her mama's Girls' Vcational  School  in  Freetown,Sierra  Leone.

Acquah  then got married.At the  school  she taught  African  Folklore  and Literature.She lectured extensively  by dwelling on her pet  messages  that  Native Africans  are not  inferior  to any race.She was  bold  in declaring  this because  she has  been privileged  to live  among  the Caucasians.Those messages  of racial  equality  found their way into poetry writings.Acquah  had very  deep African  roots  in poetry  and anthologists  of the Harlem renaissance  loved  her work.Gladys was  very energetic and free  in herself  as  well  as in her  writing.Gladys  May used her energy  and kindness to make better poetry.She used her  self-expression  to make  a change  in the  world through her writing.Gladys was not part of the  talented  tenth,she did write  about subjects  that were more  controlversial  at the time.Many of her  poems  emphasis  women  freedom and pride  and others  reflected  her life.She created  many  inspiring  and great writings;Her first  poems were published  in the Atlantic Monthly and The Philadelphia Tribune.Her poetry such as " Nativity"
(1927), "The Serving Girl" (1941) and  "Creation" (1926) has been widely  anthologized.