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. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and politically, but it contained the seeds of its own demise. The empire appears to have broken up following the 1076 conquest by the almoravid general abubakr ibnumar. Modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former. 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. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial statehood in the area of west africa that would become ghana.
Essays on the akan and the kingdom of asante by ivor wilks ohio university press, 1993. Ghana s population is concentrated along the coast and in the principal cities of accra and kumasi. 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 gold coast, 18461939 british online archives microform. The gold coast in the 1950s was a country with the highest level of education in the whole of subsaharan africa. This was a colony run by people who rarely had the knowledge to run it. It is an historical overview the kind that every library needs as basic, general academic research material. A concise history from precolonial times to the 20th century. H379 asante, the gold coast and the british, 18071935 i module code. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval west african ghana empire.
As elsewhere in africa, the climate of ghana varied during the pleistocene epoch about 2,600,000 to 11,700 years ago. The history of ghana is in the series greenwood histories of the modern nations. There is evidence of human activity in the area of modernday ivory coast and ghana going back millennia. Claridge, whose monumental history of the gold coast and ashanti is not likely to be superseded. The empire became known in europe and arabia as the ghana empire after the title of its emperor, the ghana. Carl christian reindorf s history of the gold coast and asante has a special place in west african historiography. Two old postcards from sekondi, western region of today ghana. One reason is that it shows the level of progress of any body of knowledge or event, and the functions of a thing.
Highstreet left and ghana gold coast accra post office 1910s. 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. The 1956 election returned the cpp to power with 71 of the 104 seats in the legislative assembly. The name ghana was derived from the medieval mali empire which was also known as the ghana empire of west africa. This literary piece was originally written in the ga language. Most of my favorite books on ghana and west africa were found there, while i lived there. With greater precipitation, the forest spread northward and humans retreated toward the sahara. List of books and articles about ghana history online.
Carl finished work on his notable book, a history of the gold coast and asante in 1889. 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. Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coasts importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghanas brief period under british. H379 asante, the gold coast and the british, 18071935 i. 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.
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. These statistics tell the history of ghana through its population data, accounts and lists of the colonys officers. A short history of ghana from earliest times until 1980. They encountered a variety of african kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial deposits of gold in the soil. Covering 500 years of ghanas history, the ghana reader provides a multitude of historical, political, and cultural perspectives on this iconic african nation. This british officer was one of the many whose names have no place in the memory of most ghanaians. British reaction to the asante wars and the resulting instability and disruption of trade, and britains increasing preoccupation with the. Accra, ghana, africa, postcards ca 1908, gold coast w. Take a close look at the coast of ghana, and you will find myriad ancient castles and forts. This could be attributed to, perhaps, his brief stay on the seat of. Some groups, such as the akan, trace their history in the region to at least the 11th century. Ghana became an independent state on march 6, 1957, when the united kingdom relinquished its control over the colony of the gold coast and ashanti, the northern territories protectorate, and british togoland. Ethnically, ghana is divided into small groups speaking more than 50 languages and dialects. Ghana university press, ghana african universities, the private sector and civil society edited by george bennh ghana university press, ghana the akyem factor in ghanas history 17001875 by kofi affrifah ghana.
In 1471, the portuguese invaded this area and became involved in gold trade, giving the region the name, the gold coast. Claridge used, i have based great parts of my narrative on his. This course examines the history of the west african forest kingdom of asante in modern ghana. Ghana history, language and culture world travel guide. Government in the united kingdom to enact legislation to provide for independence. Author a conversation in ghana latterday women, june 1994, vol. Ghanas population is concentrated along the coast and in the principal cities of accra and kumasi. The history of ghana greenwood histories of the modern nations. An annotated bibliography, department of library studies, university of ghana, legon. List of best books in kumasi, ghana, top books in kumasi, ghana, books near me, best books. 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 the first european explorers to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471.
Most ghanaians descended from migrating tribes that probably came down the volta river valley at the beginning of the th century. By the late 19th century, the british, through conquest or purchase, occupied most of the forts along the coast. The english translation of the book was published in basel in 1895. The gold coast supplied many of the civil servants working in nigeria. History early history to independence in precolonial times the area of presentday ghana comprised a number of independent kingdoms, including gonja and dagomba in the north, ashanti in the interior, and the fanti states along the coast. Though i have gone direct to many of the sources which dr. 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. Gold coast changes name to ghana as uk grants independence the gold coast prime minister called on h.
Understanding the traditional art of ghana by emmanuel v asihene out of print try used books. Gocking provides a historical overview of ghana from the emergence of precolonial states through increasing contact with europeans that led to the establishment of formal colonial rule by great britian at the end of the 19th century. Ghana university press, ghana african universities, the private sector and civil society edited by george bennh ghana university press, ghana. The beautyful ones are not yet born by ayi kwei armah, ama ata aidoos changes. The records start in 1846, but ghana didnt have a trained statistician until 1949. It was a british colony until march 6, 1957, when it became independent as the state of ghana. Two major factors laid the foundations of british rule and the eventual establishment of a colony on the gold coast. History of the gold coast and asante classic reprint. The cape coast castle was one of many trading outposts, but its dark history as the last african stop in a global slave trade makes it a sobering tourism destination these days. 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. Gold coast and ghana old africa pictures and history. The gold coast of africa the gold coast, now known as ghana, is one of many civilizations of africa. Ghana university press, ghana african books collective. A timeline, photographs, maps, and an appendix of biographies of notable figures in the history of ghana are included.
Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coasts importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghanas brief period under british colonial rule, or the emergence of its modern democracy, the. Ghana history, language and culture history of ghana. Bear friends, the sole object of this publication is, to call the attention of all you my friends and countiymen, to the study and collection of our history, and to create a basis for a future more complete history of the gold coast. Marking the beginning of the slaves perilous journey during the era of the slave trade, these fortresses were the last memory slaves had of their homeland before being shipped off across the atlantic, never to return again. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The history of cape coast castle and the atlantic slave trade by. Buy the history of ghana greenwood histories of the modern nations by roger s. My husband is particularly interested in the gold coast. List of best books in accra, ghana, top books in accra, ghana, books near me, best books. This was a key theme in the early history of ghanas independence. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and. In 1482 the first european fort was established by the portuguese at elmina. Complex societies based on transsaharan trade in salt and gold had existed in the region since ancient times, but the introduction of the camel to the western sahara in the 3rd. 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.
A love story, and my first coup detat by john dramani mahama. To the educated coinmiiiiity in the gold coast colony. Other articles where history of ghana is discussed. 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. 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. Ghana gold coast, 18461939 british online archives. While ghana was under colonial rule, it was known as the gold coast. Regarded as one of the most important builders of the gold coast and modern ghana, captain george maclean. The three colors of the flag red, green, and black and the black star in the middle are all symbolic of the panafricanist movement. Carl christian reindorf, a history of the gold coast and.
The history of ashanti kings and the whole country itself and other writings. Land and people modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. Ghana succumbed to attacks by its neighbors in the 11th century, but its name and reputation endured. Read more about the shocking history of ghana s slave fortresses and their. Discover librarianselected research resources on ghana history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books. 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. Ghana from gold coast to independence by john carmichael out of print try used books. The history of ghana in a snap the history of ghana goes far back into the th century. 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. History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions.
Books set in ghana fiction and nonfiction books set completely or at least partially in ghana. Finally there came emancipation and the evolution of modern ghana. List of books and articles about ghana history online research. Ghana, officially republic of ghana, republic 2015 est.
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