Ghana, country of western africa, situated on the coast of the gulf of guinea. Thus claridges book, a history of the gold coast and ashanti, will be dealt with here with no. A love story, and my first coup detat by john dramani mahama. 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.
The gold coast of africa the gold coast, now known as ghana, is one of many civilizations of africa. These statistics tell the history of ghana through its population data, accounts and lists of the colonys officers. 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. List of books and articles about ghana history online. In the late 1940s, brisbane journalists called the coast, south of brisbane, the gold coast it was the place to buy and sell land in the postwar real estate boom. It is an historical overview the kind that every library needs as basic, general academic research material. 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. At the time of the mapping, queensland was not a state but was still part of. Gold mining has, for a long time, been one of the most important economic activities in ghana. 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. In 1960 ghana became a republic, with nkrumah as president, and in 1964 a oneparty state, the cpp being. While ghana was under colonial rule, it was known as the gold coast. 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. A cultural and social history of ghana from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century.
A history of the gold coast accessrestricteditem true addeddate 20190517 12. Gold coast is a former british colony in west africa known today as the republic of ghana. The beautyful ones are not yet born by ayi kwei armah, ama ata aidoos changes. The name ghana was derived from the medieval mali empire which was also known as the ghana empire of west africa. Page 2 the same shall exist between the subjects of the kings of ashantee and dwabin, and all nations of africa residing under the protection of the companys forts and settlements on the gold coast, and, it is hereby agreed, that there are no palavers now existing, and that neither party has any claim upon the other. Finally there came emancipation and the evolution of modern ghana.
The gold they found was so fine that it fetched a premium price in europe. Carl christian reindorf, a history of the gold coast and. To the educated coinmiiiiity in the gold coast colony. History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions and historical facts.
Gold coast, section of the coast of the gulf of guinea, in africa. Ethnicity and the making of history in northern ghana international african library s. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially. 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. The gold coast presentday ghana was comprised of the gold coast colony, bordering the gulf of guinea, and two inland territories, ashanti and the northern territories protectorate. Buy the history of ghana greenwood histories of the modern nations by roger s. He was the first prime minister and president of ghana, having led the gold coast to independence from britain in 1957. The gold coast in the 1950s was a country with the highest level of education in the whole of subsaharan africa. The history and heritage of the gold coast is important to us, and so we celebrate and preserve it for future generations. Kwame nkrumah pc 21 september 1909 27 april 1972 was a ghanaian politician and revolutionary. The author places these items of philatelic history in the context of the overall history of the region, from the first visit by portuguese explorers in 1471, through the republic of ghanas. 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. We have a unique and diverse cultural heritage which has been shaped by indigenous ownership, european settlement, two world wars. A political history of ghana the rise of gold coast.
It is bordered by the cote divoire on the west, burkina faso on the north, and togo on the east. Take a close look at the coast of ghana, and you will find myriad ancient castles and forts. According to the history books, 100 years ago on sept. An area of intense colonial rivalry from the 17th century, it was acquired by the british in the 19th. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The world, which is showing an everincreasing consciousness of african affairs, has evinced much interest in this new state, the first british colony in tropical africa. The gold coast in the age of transatlantic slave trade. A short history of ghana from earliest times until 1980. On 6 march 1957 the former gold coast colony came to the end of its road to independence and celebrated its entry into the family of autonomous nations as the state of ghana. Carl christian reindorf s history of the gold coast and asante has a special place in west african historiography. Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coasts importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghanas brief period under british. The history of ghana greenwood histories of the modern nations. Accra, ghana, africa, postcards ca 1908, gold coast w.
The rise of gold coast nationalism, 18501928 as want to read. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial statehood in the area of west africa that would become ghana. Ghana, formerly the gold coast, has been associated with gold from time immemorial. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval ghana empire of west africa. Land and people modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. The history of ghana is in the series greenwood histories of the modern nations. Ghana gold coast, 18461939 british online archives microform.
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. Understanding the traditional art of ghana by emmanuel v asihene out of print try used books. In the transatlantic slave trade era, europeans identified the region as the gold coast because of the large supplies of. The history of ghana the greenwood histories of the. A man called thomas birch freeman, who came into gold coast in 1838 is said to have expanded christianity in ghana. Returning african christians in mission to the gold coast.
Based on records, he took methodism from the coastal areas to kumasi in the asante hinterland of the gold coast between 1838 and 1857 and also founded methodist societies in nigeria with the help of william degraft. The book includes sections on physical and political geography, political history, social and political conditions, and economic conditions. A history of the gold coast of west africa alfred burdon ellis snippet view 1971. 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. 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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Although relatively small in area and population, ghana is one of the leading countries of africa and is celebrated for its rich history. An area of intense colonial rivalry from the 17th century, it was acquired by the british in the 19th century. The work has been used as an authority in the law courts of ghana, where customs and their usages are relevant to interpretation of the law. 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. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and politically, but it contained the seeds of its own demise.
Ghana, officially republic of ghana, republic 2015 est. Trade was begun, largely in gold and slaves, and intense competition. The gold coast hinterlands supply of cedar began drawing timber cutters to the region in large numbers in the mid 1800s and in 1865 the inland township of nerang named after the local aboriginal word neerang, meaning shovel nosed shark was surveyed and established as a base for the industry the surrounding valleys and plains were quickly developed as cattle, sugar. List of books and articles about ghana history online research. The first european explorers to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471. The local council thought that it was a good promotional name and on 23 october 1958, the south coast town council adopted the name gold coast town council. 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. Modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. The history of ghana the greenwood histories of the modern nations kindle edition. Ghana from gold coast to independence by john carmichael out of print try used books. Gold coast and ghana old africa pictures and history. Read more about the shocking history of ghanas slave.
In 1471, the portuguese invaded this area and became involved in gold trade, giving the region the name, the gold coast. Two old postcards from sekondi, western region of today ghana. History of the gold coast and asante classic reprint. Modernday ghana was formed when the britishadministered part of togoland voted to join the gold coast in an independent state, in a unsupervised plebiscite in may 1956. It highlights the pivotal role they played in setting an example of a christian lifestyle.
The gold coast supplied many of the civil servants working in nigeria. This literary piece was originally written in the ga language. The postal history of gold coast smithsonian libraries. 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. Ghana achieved independence within the commonwealth on 6 march 1957. The history of ashanti kings and the whole country itself and other writings. 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. Ghana during the colonial period and when it achieved. The english translation of the book was published in basel in 1895. In 1482 the first european fort was established by the portuguese at elmina. Carl finished work on his notable book, a history of the gold coast and asante in 1889. This 500page book is a collection of round postal markings postmarks stamped on envelopes, from the gold coast region of africa modernday ghana. 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. A timeline history of the gold coast, queensland australia.
He arrived in cape coast in august 1826 a fortnight after the battle of dodowa. The gold coast republic of ghanas history 19451966 under the first prime minister and then president osagyefo dr. History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions. A brief history of the basel mission in the gold coast the basel mission bm was founded in the swiss city of basel in 1815. He was appointed governor of sierra leone on may, 1825 and governor of the gold coast on 18 may 1826. British business strategies in the gold coast, author. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and. It was a british colony until march 6, 1957, when it became independent as the state of ghana.
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