Ghanas population is concentrated along the coast and in the principal cities of accra and kumasi. Understanding the traditional art of ghana by emmanuel v asihene out of print try used books. A timeline, photographs, maps, and an appendix of biographies of notable figures in the history of ghana are included. Two old postcards from sekondi, western region of today ghana.
By the late 19th century, the british, through conquest or purchase, occupied most of the forts along the coast. Land and people modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval west african ghana empire. Ghana is named after an ancient goldtrading empire that flourished in the west african interior between the 4th and 10th centuries, when the transsahara caravan route linked the region to the mediterranean via timbuktu. Ethnically, ghana is divided into small groups speaking more than 50 languages and dialects. Ghana, formerly the gold coast, has been associated with gold from time immemorial. It is bordered by the cote divoire on the west, burkina faso on the north, and togo on the east. Ghana gold coast, 18461939 british online archives microform. Modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. Regarded as one of the most important builders of the gold coast and modern ghana, captain george maclean. The author 18341917 stated his purpose as the need for such a history by a ghanaian, conscious of the customs and tradition of the people. The books each have a contents page at the front so that you can see if the. Any book may be returned if unsatisfactory, provided we are advised in advance.
Ghana s fourth republic, established in 1993, has dealt with the legacy of instability inherited from the past as it moves towards a more stable future. The gold coast was a british colony on the gulf of guinea in west africa from 1867 to its independence as the nation of ghana in 1957. History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions and. Gold coast british colony history of ghana 19661979 elmina castle ghana empire ashanti empire angloashanti wars john kufuor osei kofi tutu i kofi abrefa busia ignatius kutu acheampong history of ghana page 1 14 20 25 31 45 49 54 57 60. The dutch left ghana in 1874, after which the gold coast most of historic ghana became a british protectorate. Perspectives on fifty years of ghanaian historiography jstor. The north german missionary society was founded in hamburg in the year 1836, and the first missionaries of this society were sent out to the east indies and new zealand.
History of british gold coast the british colony in west africa, 18211957 the gold coast was a british colony on the gulf of guinea in west africa that became the independent nation of ghana in 1957. Its history begins with a trade lodge constructed by the portuguese in 1555 on a part of the gold coast, which later became and is presently known as the cape coast. Ghanaians take to the streets of the capital accra to celebr. Download pdf a history of the gold coast and ashanti. While ghana was under colonial rule, it was known as the gold coast. Ghana gained its independence in 1957, following years of strife postwwii. The mighty asante empire to the north was conquered and made read more. Any of the main book shops, but especially the bookshops in the 3 main universities in accralegon, kumasi, and cape coast are the best places to find books published in. The shocking story of the ghanaian cape coast how ghana. Carl finished work on his notable book, a history of the gold coast and asante in 1889. The commission issued a blue book in july 1987 outlining modalities for districtlevel elections, which were held in. Click download or read online button to a history of the gold coast and ashanti book pdf for free now.
Any of the main book shops, but especially the bookshops in the 3 main universities in accralegon, kumasi, and cape coast are the best places to find books published in ghana and elsewhere on ghana. In fante confederacy in what is now southern ghana. Books on ghana formerly the gold coast, with a few on togo. Kwame nkrumah pc 21 september 1909 27 april 1972 was a ghanaian politician and revolutionary. The history of ghana the greenwood histories of the. A short history of ghana from earliest times until 1980. These statistics tell the history of ghana through its population data, accounts and lists of the colonys officers. The gold coast in the 1950s was a country with the highest level of education in the whole of subsaharan africa. The history of ghana is in the series greenwood histories of the modern nations. A cultural and social history of ghana from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. The earliest europeans to arrive here were the portuguese in the 15 th century.
The name ghana was derived from the medieval mali empire which was also known as the ghana empire of west africa. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and politically, but it contained the seeds of its own demise. The history of ashanti kings and the whole country itself and other writings. The history of ghana the greenwood histories of the modern nations 97803318948. Covering 500 years of ghana s history, the ghana reader provides a multitude of historical, political, and cultural perspectives on this iconic african nation. Homegoing by yaa gyasi, ghana must go by taiye selasi, wife of the gods by kwei quartey, the beautyful ones are not yet born by a. Gold coast changes name to ghana as uk grants independence the gold coast prime minister called on h. Gold mining has, for a long time, been one of the most important economic activities in ghana.
Ghana history, language and culture world travel guide. Ghana gold coast, 18461939 british online archives. But this scheme in itself is insufficient to solve the many and pressing prob lems of the gold coast. Accra, ghana, africa, postcards ca 1908, gold coast w. Every one who writes on gold coast history should begin, after the fashion of the country, by pouring a libation and sacrificing a sheep in honour of dr. The gold they found was so fine that it fetched a premium price in europe. Ghana before independence on march 6,1957 was called gold coast.
Ghana history, language and culture history of ghana. A love story, and my first coup detat by john dramani mahama. The history of ghana in a snap the history of ghana goes far back into the th century. Things were not rosy at this time between the colonial powers of west africa and the natives, and there were many wars and revolts. In 1471, the portuguese invaded this area and became involved in gold trade, giving the region the name, the gold coast.
Most ghanaians descended from migrating tribes that probably came down the volta river valley at the beginning of the th century. Highstreet left and ghana gold coast accra post office 1910s. Most of my favorite books on ghana and west africa were found there, while i lived there. He arrived in cape coast in august 1826 a fortnight after the battle of dodowa. It was a british colony until march 6, 1957, when it became independent as the state of ghana. List of books and articles about ghana history online research. An area of intense colonial rivalry from the 17th century, it was acquired by the british in the 19th century. It starts in the precolonial period, then the incursion by the traders of the west followed by their gradual domination until full blown colonial rule was established. Ghana from gold coast to independence by john carmichael out of print try used books. It extends approximately from axim, ghana, or nearby cape three points, in the west to the volta river in the east and is so called because it was an important source of gold. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial statehood in the area of west africa that would become ghana. Ghana, officially republic of ghana, republic 2015 est.
The gold coast supplied many of the civil servants working in nigeria. This was a colony run by people who rarely had the knowledge to run it. Education education in british colonies and former colonies. In the british colonies, as elsewhere, religious missions were instrumental in introducing europeanstyle education. Ghanas fourth republic, established in 1993, has dealt with the legacy of instability inherited from the past as it moves towards a more stable future. Ghana succumbed to attacks by its neighbors in the 11th century, but its name and reputation endured. The first europeans to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471. The records start in 1846, but ghana didnt have a trained statistician until 1949.
Full text of history of the gold coast and asante, based. Regarded as one of the most important builders of the gold coast and modern ghana, captain george maclean was born on 24th february 1801 and was an officer in the. Oct 06, 2015 its history begins with a trade lodge constructed by the portuguese in 1555 on a part of the gold coast, which later became and is presently known as the cape coast. Claridge, whose monumental history of the gold coast and ashanti is not likely to be superseded. From gold coast to ghana a country at a crossroads 58 years after independence written by ade sawyerr 06032015 08. In 1957, when the leaders of the former british colony of the gold coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent statethe first black african nation to gain its independence from colonial rulethey named their new country after ancient ghana. Finally there came emancipation and the evolution of modern ghana. In 1653, following swedens conquest of the cape coast, the swedish africa company constructed a permanent wooden fortress for trade in timber and gold. True, there is a project to dam the volta river and thus to generate electric power and construct an aluminium smelter.
In 1957, when the leaders of the former british colony of the gold coast sought an appropriate name for their. It is an historical overview the kind that every library needs as basic, general academic research material. Gold coast and ghana old africa pictures and history. The gold coast crown colony, on the gulf of guinea coast, was established in 1874 in fante and ga lands near the british coastal trading forts. This course examines the history of the west african forest kingdom of asante in modern ghana. The english translation of the book was published inbaselin 1895. They encountered a variety of african kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial deposits of gold in the soil. A brief history of the bremen evangelical mission on the gold coast, or rather, in the countries east of the volta, adjuining the gold coast. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of ghanas third constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the ghana empire began mining and trading gold, and in the th century the empire was conquered by the kingdom of melle. In the 15th century, the first europeans arrived in the area that had come to be known as the gold coast, the name the region would keep until it regained independence in 1957. He was the first prime minister and president of ghana, having led the gold coast to independence from britain in 1957. Government in the united kingdom to enact legislation to provide for independence.
Homegoing a brief history of ghana and the gold coast. An influential advocate of panafricanism, nkrumah was a founding member of the organization of african unity and winner of the lenin peace prize in 1962. The beautyful ones are not yet born by ayi kwei armah, wife of the gods by kwei quartey, homegoing by yaa gyasi, ghana must. Mar 06, 2015 from gold coast to ghana a country at a crossroads 58 years after independence written by ade sawyerr 06032015 08.
The beautyful ones are not yet born by ayi kwei armah, ama ata aidoos changes. Gold coast, section of the coast of the gulf of guinea, in africa. The republic of ghana was formerly known as the gold coast until midnight march 6th 1957, when it was liberated from the hands of the british. Brief ghana history formed from the merger of the british colony of the gold coast and the togoland trust territory, ghana in 1957 became the first subsaharan country in colonial africa to gain its independence. He was appointed governor of sierra leone on may, 1825 and governor of the gold coast on 18 may 1826. There is little written by ghanaians to help foreigners understand their culturally prescribed rules of behaviour. This fascinating book offers an introduction to the ghanaian people and is of use to visitors to ghana, and those interested in the country and its culture. This literary piece was originally written in thega language.
Though i have gone direct to many of the sources which dr. The first, usually, is a history of the gold coast and ashanti by w. Two major factors laid the foundations of british rule and the eventual establishment of a colony on the gold coast. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. On their arrival, they found so much gold between the river ankobra and the volta and subsequently named it da mina, meaning the mine. The society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, the moravian mission, the mission of bremen, the methodists, and roman catholic missionaries all established themselves on the gold coast between 1820 and 1881. The first european explorers to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471. H379 asante, the gold coast and the british, 18071935 i module code. Only a few books written by trained historians were on the market. From gold coast to ghana a country at a crossroads 58 years. Accra evening news and ghana statesman newspapers begin publication.
Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coast s importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghana s brief period under british colonial rule, or the emergence of its modern democracy, the volumes eighty. British reaction to the asante wars and the resulting instability and disruption of trade, and britains increasing preoccupation with the. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval ghana empire of west africa. List of books and articles about ghana history online. Carl christian reindorf, a history of the gold coast and. A new name of great resonance in african history is adopted ghana although the ancient kingdom of that name was far to the north, in presentday mali. West coast british west africa ghana gold coast history ebooks to read online or download in epub or pdf format on your mobile device and pc. Ghana has received only scant attention in existing history books but also for the. Neighbouring british and dutch forts at sekondi by the later part of the 19th century the dutch and the british were the only traders left and after the dutch withdrew in 1874, britain made the gold coast a protectoratea british crown colony.
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