Ghana mourns loss of celebrated poet Kofi Awoonor killed in Kenya mall attack

ACCRA, Ghana – The body of one of Africa's best-known poets, who was killed in the Kenya mall attack, has arrived back in his native Ghana.

Kofi Awoonor was shot down by Islamic extremists at the mall in Nairobi, where he was in town to take part in a literary festival.

On Wednesday, Awoonor's body was flown back to the Ghanaian capital. Mourners gathered at the airport sang funeral songs in his native Ewe language.

Awoonor is credited with translating the rhythms of his native Ewe people into English, using traditional dirges and wedding songs as the backbone of his poetry.

The 78-year-old poet and professor also had served as Ghana's ambassador to Brazil, Cuba and the United Nations.

Kenyan officials have said that more than 60 civilians were killed in the attack.