RESISTING COLONIALISM (GHANA)

• 1. What did Ghanaian historian A. AduBoahen mean when he said,"Independence was not given on a silver platter but won by blood"?

  • african (sometimes, to an extent bc it needed to be, violent) resistance led to african independence 
• 1. Who was Yaa Asantewaa, and what did she do that made her famous?

  • Yaa Asantewaa was a queen of the Ashanti Empire in present-day Ghana
  • she is famous for leading the Asante rebellion known as the War of the Golden Stool against British colonialism in 1900
  • she rallied the Ashanti people against British rule, demonstrating courage and leadership in the face of oppression
• 1. What was the Golden Stool of Asante? Why did the British want it? Did they get it in the end?


  • symbol of the asante state
  • british wanted it bc it would mean the end of the asante kingdom if the golden stool was taken
  • the british never got it in the end… instead, they got a fake stool
• Why was a lot of anti-colonial resistance actually aimed at chiefs and kings?

  the british had indirect rule within the asante empire, so that meant there was colonial rule through appointed local chiefs or princes
• 1. What kind of resistance did the UGCC (United Gold Coast Convention) organize after the Second World War?

  • boycott of british goods
  • servicemen march
• 1. Why did Ghanaian veterans, who had fought for Britain during the war, march in 1947, and what happened to them?

  • they had no money or jobs after the war, which is why they decided to march
  • the ghanian veterans were shot from british colonial authorities, even thought the ghanians had a peaceful protest
• What was Kwame Nkrumah’s strategy of positive action? Why was he such an effective leader?

  Kwame Nkrumah's strategy of positive action involved nonviolent protests and civil disobedience to demand Ghana's independence from British colonial rule. He was an effective leader due to his charisma, strategic vision, and ability to mobilize people towards a common goal
• 1. Compare the processes by which various peoples pursued independence after 1900 in Ghana.


  • The Ashanti people, led by Yaa Asantewaa, resisted British rule through armed rebellion in the early 20th century
  • Later, Kwame Nkrumah adopted a strategy of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to achieve independence, which culminated in Ghana gaining independence in 1957
  • Each approach reflected the unique circumstances and leadership of the time but shared the common goal of liberation from colonial rule
• Ghana focuses on some big acts of resistance. Do you think these acts represent most common forms of resistance? If not, what is missing?


  While big acts of resistance in Ghana like Yaa Asantewaa's rebellion and Nkrumah's protests are notable, they may not represent the most common forms of resistance. Everyday acts of noncooperation, sabotage, and cultural preservation likely played a significant role in the struggle for independence, though they are less well-documented in history