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Voices of Ghana: Literary Contributions to the Ghana Broadcasting System, 1955-57 (Second Edition)
Ghana’s first radio programme of original literature, Singing Net, began in 1955 as part of the development of a national radio station in the years leading to independence in 1957. Its centralaim was to bring Ghanaian writers to the forefront of cultural programming as part of the Africanisation of radio in Ghana. It was a critical cultural expression of the radical changes that were unfolding across the colonial world. The programme successfully introduced listeners to a series of pioneering Ghanaian authors who would go on to become significant figures of Anglophone West African literature in the early postcolonial decades: Efua Sutherland, Frank Parkes, Amu Djoleto, Geormbeeyi Adali-Mortty, Albert Kayper-Mensah, Kwesi Brew, Cameron Duodu, J.H. Nketia and many others.
The anthology, Voices of Ghana (1958) is a collection of the poetry, short stories, play scripts and critical discussions that were aired on the Gold Coast (later Ghana) Broadcasting System (1954-1958).Both Singing Net and Voices of Ghana were edited by the BBC producer, Henry Swanzy.
The context of Ghana’s independence, the singularity of the anthology’s history, and the significance of many of the writers all contribute to the importance of this text. This second edition is a timely intervention into recent debates within postcolonial studies and world literature on the importance of broadcast culture in the dissemination of “new literatures” from the colonial world. It includes an unabridged version of the 1958 text, a new introduction and footnoted annotations,which draw on extensive research undertaken in Ghana and Britain. It will appeal to a general readership with an interest in Ghanaian literature, 1950s broadcast culture, the figure of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the making of a national literature in the era of decolonisation, as well as engaging scholars. The new edition presents a deeply insightful and engaging history of Voices of Ghana and reintroduces the original works on the occasion of the anthology’s 60th anniversary.
Victoria Ellen Smith is a Lecturer in the Department of History, University of Ghana, Legon
₵75.00 -
Lagos: City of the Imagination – Hardcover
“I don’t think you can be in Lagos without becoming aware of its potency; when Lagos gets itself organised it will be extremely powerful; and already – without organisation – it is very powerful.” Rem Koolhaas, 2002
Lagos is fast becoming a global city – a place people visit for curiosity and the vibe as much as for business or family. The mesmerising energy and intensity of the city have to be experienced to be understood. But what is the story of Lagos? When did the city begin? Who were the first inhabitants? When did it become the city of iniquity and wisdom that continues to confound all who encounters it? Who have been the key chroniclers of this real yet imaginary city?
Veteran journalist and writer Kaye Whiteman has given us a gem that answers these questions and more. Lagos: City of the Imagination explains the origins of Lagos as both outpost of the Benin Empire and also the city run by the White Cap Chiefs. Whiteman shows that Lagos was always multicultural and cosmopolitan, with the Portuguese and later educated returnees from Sierra Leone and artisans from Brazil adding to the eclectic mix.
The book examines the key moments in the history of Lagos: from the concerted attack by the British in the 1860s, Independence in 1960, the 1966 coup through to FESTAC and the assassination of Murtala Muhammed. Also included are vivid character portraits of some of the most powerful Lagosians in history, from Oba Kosoko and Madam Tinubu, to well-regarded colonial figures such as Sir Bernard Bourdillon and those – like Lord Lugard – not so fondly remembered.
As the name suggests, Lagos: City of the Imagination deals extensively in those for whom Lagos is the backdrop of their work, from highlife musicians and Fela Kuti to Wole Soyinka and, more recently, the American-Nigerian writer Teju Cole.
Lagos: City of the Imagination is an absorbing and delightful “must-read” for anyone with an interest in one of the most dramatic cities of the 21st century.
₵90.00 -
Spare (Hardcover) – Pre-Order
It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.
For Harry, this is that story at last.
Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.
At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.
Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .
For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.
₵590.00Spare (Hardcover) – Pre-Order
₵590.00 -
…Power to the People: Reflections on Retrogressive Politics
Published in 1984…Power to the People is a doctor’s medicine for Ghana’s ills. The pill is occasionally bitter, but is coated with a generous layer of therapeutic laughter, to help its message slide gently into the appropriate organs of the national digestive system.
Presented in the form of prose, poetry and cartoons, the first part of the book, subtitled The Past, covers the Nkrumah, Kotoka, Afrifa & Ankrah, Busia, Acheampong & Akuffo, Rawlings 1979 and Limann eras. The second part, subtitled The Present, covers the first three years of the second coming of Rawlings.
In a satirical treatment of our history over almost 30 years, this book sheds a great light onto the paths that Ghana traversed in those heady years, in a form that is easy to read, reflect on and learn.
In the author’s own words, “in recording these…my hope is that others would be induced to ponder over and question loudly some of those short-comings, lapses and omissions in our national character and situation which are stifling our growth and retarding the country’s progress. If our questions get loud and irritating enough to cause discomfiture in our policy makers, then the reader wouldn’t have been bored for nothing.”
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King Alboury Cooks the Best Jollof (Africa’s Little Kings & Queens)
Age Range: 3 – 8 years
A must-have for every child’s library. Loved by children around the world and teaches them the importance of kindness and community.
King Alboury Cooks the Best Jollof is a fictional story inspired by King Alboury Ndiaye, the last King of the Jollof Kingdom in Senegal. A must-have for every child’s library.
In this story, King Alboury loves to cook and his favourite meal to make is his famous jollof rice. His ancestors invented the recipe, and so he is the only one who knows the secret. However, King Alboury has a problem, his troublesome neighbours, the Chuchus people. Every time the King cooks his special Jollof rice, their tummies start to rumble so loud that they become jealous. Rumour has it that they are plotting against the Jollof Kingdom, but don’t worry, King Alboury has a plan!
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The Legislative System of Ghana
This book focuses on the legislative system of Ghana. It contains sixteen chapters, each focusing on a unique aspect of the legislative system of Ghana. It outlines the rules, the practice, and procedure that govern the conduct of business and Members in the Parliament of Ghana and its committees, and the various actors involved in the organisation of the legislative business. It breaks into minute forms, the procedural norms, and attitudes that influence members’ behaviour and the various parliamentary outcomes.
“This study is well researched and presented in a very lucid form…. Indeed, it is a very useful source for students, parliamentarians, and academics on the parliamentary history, procedure, and practice of Ghana’s Parliament.” – Hon Dr. Benjamin Kunbour, Former Majority Leader, Former Minister of Defence and Senior Lecturer, University of Ghana School of Law
₵300.00The Legislative System of Ghana
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Red Oak Heroes Series: Dr. J. B. Danquah
*Available from 15 August 2023
Age Range: 10 – 14 years
Yirivie and his friends meet a historian on a bus while they are going to school and when the historian starts educating the passengers on Dr. J. B. Danquah, they become interested and ask for his contact. Back in school, they give the contact to their History teacher and ask her to invite the historian to come to the school to tell them more. The teacher agrees and books an appointment with Mr. Ofori, the historian.
On the day of the appointment, it doesn’t look like Mr. Ofori will show up. Yirivie and his two friends who promised their class a great time with the historian are caught in a fix but things turn around in the most unexpected way.₵25.00 -
Sense of Grace and Mission
John Samuel Pobee studied at Adisadel 1950-56 obtaining both the Cambridge School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. Subsequently, he studied at University of Ghana and Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. He had his priestly formation at Westcott House, Cambridge. At the University of Ghana, he was Head of Department for the Study of Religions, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Admissions and Examinations.He later worked at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. He was Emeritus Professor at the University of Ghana. He was married to Martha, a career diplomat of the Ghana Foreign Service.He served as the Vicar-General of the Anglican Diocese of Accra.Prof Pobee died in Ghana in January 2020 at the age of 82.₵100.00Sense of Grace and Mission
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Women’s Leadership in Post-Conflict Liberia: My Journey (Hardcover)
The realities of trying to institutionalize reform in Liberia after 14 years of civil war comes alive in this book, particularly given the capacity constraints the author had to work with – what she describes as the “no money syndrome” coupled with the human and institutional capacity challenges she faced after a prolonged absence of almost 25 years working and living in the Diaspora.
This book is a must-read for all women (and men) who need guidance and mentoring on the challenges, consequences and sacrifices required to stand up for one’s convictions.
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Pilgrims of the Night: Development Challenges and Opportunities in Africa (Hardcover)
Africa’s development process has and continues to be like walking through a thick forest made obscure by institutional weakness, social challenges and capacity gaps. Sustainable development should be in the hands of Africans and outside support as a critical compliment. Getting the navigation right is paramount in the face of emerging challenges so well covered in this undoubtedly important and highly recommended book. The authors argue that Africa must control its own precious natural resources, reform its government institutions, modify its trade and economic relations and form new relationships with emerging economies in order to improve conditions on the continent.
₵80.00 -
Frantz Fanon (Panaf Great Lives)
Required reading for all interested in the Algerian Revolution, and in Fanon’s brief but highly productive contribution. A close study is made of the relationship between Fanon’s ideological development and the content and impact of his political philosophy.
₵270.00Frantz Fanon (Panaf Great Lives)
₵270.00 -
Two Views from Christiansborg Castle Vol I: A Brief and Truthful Description of a Journey to and from Guinea
Selena Axelrod Winsnes has been engaged, since 1982, in the translation into English, and editing of Danish language sources to West African history, sources published from 1697 to 1822, the period during which Denmark-Norway was an actor in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It comprises five major books written for the Scandinavian public. They describe all aspects of life on the Gold Coast [Ghana], the Middle Passage and the Danish Caribbean islands [US Virgin Islands], as seen by five different men. Each had his own agenda and mind-set, and the books, both singly and combined, hold a wealth of information – of interest both to scholars and lay readers. They provide important insights into the cultural baggage the enslaved Africans carried with them to the America’s.
One of the books, L.F. Rømer’s A Reliable Account of the Coast of Guinea was runner-up for the prestigious International Texts Prize awarded by the U.S. African Studies Association.
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Around Ghana: Mmo Ne Yɔ Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (Souvenir Issue, 1999)
A collector’s item. A souvenir issue of the popular Around Ghana Magazine, to commemorate the installation of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Published in 1999. With some memorable pictures of Barima Kwaku Dua (before and when he became Asantehene) and key Asante relics and symbols.
Contents
Front piece
The Making of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
The Life and Times of Barima Kwaku Dua
A Bird’s Eye View of Modern Asante
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An Aroma Of Policing: A Life Of Service In Law Enforcement and Global Peacekeeping (Hardcover)
Former Inspector General of Police of Ghana (IGP Rtd.) Mr. Mohammed A. Alhassan has written a fascinating book, set out in readable form, about a “Police Barracks boy” born into the Police and, by dint of hardwork, focus and determination, rising to the pinnacle of the Ghana Police Service.
At a time of multiple security challenges, banditry, impunity, indiscipline and the rise of various social movements, when the role of the Police in maintaining law and order has often been under scrutiny, it is refreshing to read the story of a reformist Police Officer averse to political interference, who put service to citizens, communities, integrity, competence and professionalism as the lodes star of his distinguished career.
By the time he attained the apex position, (IGP Rtd.) Alhassan had served in several senior international positions and at the United Nations Police (UNPOL) at UN Headquarters. Indeed, he played an important role together with his colleagues at the time, in its conversion from a Unit into a Division under the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
This background inspired his reforms designed to implant international best policing practices within the Ghana Police Service to make it agile, crime-prevention oriented and people friendly.
He devotes the concluding sections (pp 621-638) to Proffering bold recommendations to improve the performance of the Police. They pertain to constitutional amendments of the Police Commission, appointment of the IGP to insulate the process from parochial “partisan politics,” institutional restructuring, culture change, community policing, all women Formed Police Units to address pertinent gender issues, among others.
I fully endorse the book and recommend it as compulsory reading for Police Training Courses at all levels, but also to students of Security Sector Reform, Policy Makers, all serving personnel and the general public at large.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas
African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa, Former President ECOWAS Commission (2006-2010)
₵500.00 -
The Unforgettable: My Journey in Philanthropy, Entertainment & Politics
Available from 9th September, 2024
“The Unforgettable: My Journey in Philanthropy, Entertainment & Politics” – A Riveting Biography by Grace Omaboe
Step into the extraordinary life of Grace Omaboe, a Ghanaian icon, as she shares her captivating story in this deeply personal and insightful memoir. With unflinching honesty and warmth, Maame Dokono takes you on a journey through her remarkable experiences, achievements, and lessons learned across three pivotal domains: Philanthropy, Entertainment, and Politics.
Discover the driving force behind her tireless charitable efforts, and how her work has transformed education and healthcare in Ghana. Relive her journey in the Ghanaian film and television industry, highlighting her trailblazing roles and achievements that have left an indelible mark.
Witness her transformation into a dedicated politician, as she shares her time in Parliament and her unwavering commitment to addressing social and community issues. This book is a testament to the power of resilience, passion, and dedication, offering a unique glimpse into the life of a true Ghanaian legend.
“The Unforgettable” is more than just a memoir – it’s an inspiration, a call to action, and a reminder that one person can make a difference. Join Grace Omaboe on this unforgettable journey, and be inspired to create your own legacy.
₵300.00