Maritime Culture and Everyday Life in Nineteenth– and Twentieth–Century Coastal Ghana

Ghana's coastal communities have a long and vibrant maritime culture. They resisted British imperialism through customary ritual performances, fishing, and concepts of ownership and land. Kwaku Nti's research shows how the Ebusua and Asafo local social groups became bastions of indigenous identity and traditions while also demanding a share of economic opportunities. This demonstrates the power of indigenous everyday life to complicate the reach of empire.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2024
Publisher: Indiana University Press

The coastal communities of Ghana are steeped in a rich and vibrant maritime culture that spans centuries. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the region faced the gradual encroachment of British imperialism and integration into the British Gold Coast colony. Historian Kwaku Nti, drawing upon a wealth of Ghanian archival sources, delves into how various aspects of traditional maritime daily life, including customary ritual performances, fishing, concepts of ownership, and land, served as a means of resistance and enabled residents to challenge and influence the socio-political transformations of the era.

Nti's research explores how the Ebusua (female) and Asafo (male) local social groups, particularly in Cape Coast, emerged as strongholds of indigenous identity and traditions during British colonial rule. At the same time, they functioned as focal points for advocating for a share of emerging economic opportunities. This compelling demonstration of the power of indigenous everyday life to complicate the reach of empire unveils a more comprehensive history of West African coastal communities.

The coastal communities of Ghana have a long and rich history of maritime trade and commerce. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the region experienced the gradual encroachment of British imperialism and integration into the British Gold Coast colony. Historian Kwaku Nti, drawing upon a wealth of Ghanian archival sources, delves into how various aspects of traditional maritime daily life, including customary ritual performances, fishing, concepts of ownership, and land, served as a means of resistance and enabled residents to challenge and influence the socio-political transformations of the era.

Nti's research explores how the Ebusua (female) and Asafo (male) local social groups, particularly in Cape Coast, emerged as strongholds of indigenous identity and traditions during British colonial rule. At the same time, they functioned as focal points for advocating for a share of emerging economic opportunities. This compelling demonstration of the power of indigenous everyday life to complicate the reach of empire unveils a more comprehensive history of West African coastal communities.

The coastal communities of Ghana have a long and rich history of maritime trade and commerce. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the region experienced the gradual encroachment of British imperialism and integration into the British Gold Coast colony. Historian Kwaku Nti, drawing upon a wealth of Ghanian archival sources, delves into how various aspects of traditional maritime daily life, including customary ritual performances, fishing, concepts of ownership, and land, served as a means of resistance and enabled residents to challenge and influence the socio-political transformations of the era.

Nti's research explores how the Ebusua (female) and Asafo (male) local social groups, particularly in Cape Coast, emerged as strongholds of indigenous identity and traditions during British colonial rule. At the same time, they functioned as focal points for advocating for a share of emerging economic opportunities. This compelling demonstration of the power of indigenous everyday life to complicate the reach of empire unveils a more comprehensive history of West African coastal communities.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 250 x 150 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253067920