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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Forest and the Twis
Author:Wilks, IvorISNI
Year:2004
Periodical:Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana (ISSN 0855-3246)
Issue:8
Pages:1-81
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Ghana
West Africa
Subjects:Akan
Abron
oral literature
drum language
history
ethnic groups
historical sources
History and Exploration
Education and Oral Traditions
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Anthropology and Archaeology
History, Archaeology
Twi (African people)
Akan (African people)
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/41406709
Abstract:Based on Odomankoma Drummers' tales (verbally rendered drum texts) and archaeological evidence, this paper on the Twi-speaking peoples of Ghana, the Akan and the Bron, argues that, prior to the arrival of the Portuguese on the Costa da Mina (later Gold Coast), Twi-speaking peoples were already caught up in developments of a far-reaching ('big bang') kind. The transition from foraging to cultivation was 'explosive' in that it made an impact on virtually all aspects of the way of life of the forest people. This 'big bang' had to do with the global shortage of gold; Muslim and Bron traders prospecting the forests for gold to supply the northern markets; the growth of the Akani trading organization and the massive expansion of both the extractive and distributive sides of the gold industry; the boom in building as old hunting grounds were parcelled out and villages founded; and, finally, the opening up of the forest and the creation of farms. (Definitive version of article later mistakenly published in: Journal des africanistes, t. 75, fasc. 1 (2005), p. 19-75.) Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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