An Archaeology of African and German Interactions at Adaklu-Waya, Volta Region
Date
2018-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
university of Ghana
Abstract
The nineteenth century saw the scramble for territories in Africa by European powers. Germany a
front-runner in this agendum employed several means in asserting their ideologies on the
colonized. The joint activity of missionaries, administrators and merchants ensured that the
colonized adopted German ideologies. One of the main reasons for the colonization of territories
was economical, however; missionization was used as an overture to change the world views of
the colonized. This was done to make it easy for the implementation of their plans. The Germans
in their attempt to colonize territories were met with opposition at some places (e.g. Kete Krachi)
and welcomed by others (e.g. Adaklu-Waya and Amedzofe). Missionization was an important
factor in the German colonization process. The subject of German colonialism and missionary
activities has been studied extensively historically and now archaeologically. This study investigated the German (Bremen) and African interactions at Adaklu-Waya. The
research elucidates the interactions between the German missionaries and the Adaklu-Waya
community. Ethnographic and material data gathered were reconciled with the documented
accounts. Also, the study reveals the elements that influenced the interaction between the period
1855 and 1914 when the Germans left the country. Both the emic and etic perspectives were
considered to help understand what transpired between the locals and the missionaries.
Oral and documentary accounts, as well as the archaeological data, proved beyond doubt that there
was contact with Germans at Adaklu-Waya. There was contact with other European countries such
as England, France, and the Czekoslovakia. Significant changes were experienced as a result of the
contact with Germans, however, this contact did not lead to a complete change in the existing ways
of life of the people.
Description
MA.
Keywords
Archaeology, German, Adaklu-Waya, Volta Region