Akan Peoples in Africa and the Diaspora

Erscheinungsjahr 2015
ISBN: 978-1-55876-586-3
Verlag: Markus Wiener Publishers

Buch, Englisch, 400 Seiten, Hardback, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 236 mm, Gewicht: 674 g

This is a collection of key essays about the Akan Peoples, their history and culture. The Akans are an ethnic group in West Africa, predominately Ghana and Togo, of roughly 25 million people. From the twelfth century on, Akans created numerous states based largely on gold mining and trading of cash crops. This brought wealth to numerous Akan states, such as Akwamu, which stretched all the way to modern Benin, and ultimately led to the rise of the best known Akan empire, the Empire of Ashanti.

Throughout history, Akans were a highly educated group; notable Akan people in modern times include Kwame Nkrumah and Kofi Annan. This volume features a new array of primary sources that provide fresh and nuanced perspectives. This collection is the first of its kind.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Konadu, Kwasi

Über Autor(innen)

Kwasi Konadu is Associate Professor of History at The City University of New York, USA. He is the author of several books, including: The Akan Diaspora in the Americas (OUP, 2010). He is also the founding director of the non-profit publishing educational group, Diasporic Africa Press, Inc.