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The Fall of The Asante Empire: The Hundred -Year War for Africa’s Gold Coast
In 1817, the first British envoy to meet the king of the Asante of West Africa was dazzled by his reception. A group of 5,000 Asante soldiers, many wearing immense caps topped with three foot eagle feathers and gold ram’s horns, engulfed him with a “zeal bordering on phrensy,” shooting muskets into the air. The envoy was escorted, as no fewer than 100 bands played, to the Asante king’s palace and greeted by a tremendous throng of 30,000 noblemen and soldiers, bedecked with so much gold that his party had to avert their eyes to avoid the blinding glare. Some Asante elders wore gold ornaments so massive they had to be supported by attendants. But a criminal being lead to his execution – hands tied, ears severed, knives thrust through his cheeks and shoulder blades – was also paraded before them as a warning of what would befall malefactors. This first encounter set the stage for one of the longest and fiercest wars in all the European conquest of Africa. At its height, the Asante empire, on the Gold Coast of Africa in present-day Ghana, comprised three million people and had its own highly sophisticated social, political, and military institutions. Armed with European firearms, the tenacious and disciplined Asante army inflicted heavy casualties on advancing British troops, in some cases defeating them. They won the respect and admiration of British commanders, and displayed a unique willingness to adapt their traditional military tactics to counter superior British technology. Even well after a British fort had been established in Kumase, the Asante capital, the indigenous culture stubbornly resisted Europeanization, as long as the “golden stool,” the sacred repository of royal power, remained in Asante hands. It was only after an entire century of fighting that resistance ultimately ceased.
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‘The History of Ashanti Kings and the Whole Country Itself’ and Other Writings
The History of Ashanti Kings and the Whole Country Itself is a key text for understanding the history of the great West African kingdom of Asante (now in Ghana). It is also an early–and perhaps the earliest–example of history writing in English by an African ruler and his amanuenses. It was begun in 1907 in the Seychelles on the instructions of the Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I, who had been in British captivity with his family since 1896, during which time he had acquired proficiency in English.
The chief source of information was his mother the Asantehemaa Yaa Kyaa, who possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the oral history of her own lineage, which was also the royal dynasty of Asante. The result is an indispensably detailed document that charts the history of the Asante monarchy from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. Context is provided by the inclusion of other writings by or about Agyeman Prempeh, together with four introductory essays by the world’s leading scholars of Asante history.
This fascinating volume evokes the rich historical experience of a renowned kingdom, and is of compelling interest to all concerned with the production of indigenous historical knowledge in Africa.
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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.
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All’s Well (Feehi): Living A Life Guided By Grace And Goodness
The book chronicles the life of a man who rose from humble beginnings to the highest level of academic leadership, illustrating how the Grace and Goodness of God led his life.
Price range: ₵300.00 through ₵400.00All’s Well (Feehi): Living A Life Guided By Grace And Goodness
Price range: ₵300.00 through ₵400.00 -
The Silver Stool Stabilised
The Silver Stool, Asante Mampong, occupies an important position within the hierarchy of Asanteman. The occupant is the second-in-command after Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene. This book is a commemorative project exploring the history of Asante Mampong, a roll call of the previous occupants of the Silver Stool. The current occupant, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene has experienced a stable reign for over 25 years; the distinguished profile of Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, and persons who have contributed to the stable and successful reign for the Silver Stool are also profiled. Finally, the book explores the impact of stability for the Traditional Area and Asanteman.
₵300.00The Silver Stool Stabilised
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The UT BANK Story: Fateful Decisions – Volume 3 (Hardcover)
When a successful financial institution faces an unexpected downfall, what decisions lead to such a dramatic turn? In The UT BANK Story Vol.3 : Fateful Decisions, Capt. Prince Kofi Amoabeng(Rtd) pulls back the curtain on the meteoric rise and shocking fall of UT Bank, one of Ghana’s most celebrated homegrown financial institutions. This gripping volume takes you behind the scenes, revealing the high-stake decisions, unexpected regulatory battles, and leadership challenges that defined the fate of UT Bank.
From moments of triumph to a rather dramatic government takeover that stunned the nation, Amoabeng shares his personal journey of resilience, reflecting on the lessons of leadership, risk-taking, and navigating crises. A story of ambition, trust, and the cost of survival. Fateful Decisions offers a rare inside look at the world of banking, corporate governance, and the intersection of business and politics in Ghana.
This book is essential reading for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone who wants to understand the fine line between success and failure in the corporate world.₵300.00 -
Mr. Music Man: The Journey
From the breath-taking mountains, rolling hills and ranges of Obo, Kwahu, to Suhum and Darkuman, then traversing the nook and crannies of the country (Ghana) several times over, storming several West African countries, particularly Ivory Coast (now Cote D’Ivoire), before journeying to Europe to eke out a living through music by performing in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, this is the phenomenal, thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable memoir of the legendary, evergreen music icon, Kojo Antwi aka Mr Music Man.
It is a painstaking account of how this highly decorated music star and cultural icon was chosen by music and his hitherto undocumented story of how he began his career as a singer in a band in the mid 1970s through to the late 1980s, an eventful journey which culminated in him becoming a solo artiste.
Mr Music Man: The Journey is an exciting and eye-opening account which lays bare bold and intimate details of the making of the man we have come to love, respect, and cherish for nearly five decades
₵300.00Mr. Music Man: The Journey
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See What They’ve Done To Our SunRise : New Poems from an Old Loom
In See What They’ve Done to Our SunRise, Anyidoho continues to push the boundaries of poetic expression, crafting a unique voice that is both personal and universal. The title of the collection is itself a powerful statement, suggesting the disillusionment that has befallen Africa, while also hinting at the possibility of renewal and rebirth. Through the poems, Anyidoho invites readers to reflect on the past, engage with the present, and imagine a future that is both uncertain and full of promise. Thus, the “sunrise” in the title is both a symbol and a metaphor, hinting at seed time (a muted echo of his recent compilation titled SeedTIME) and the truncation of the hope and aspirations birthed by the sunrise. The sorrow and pain inflicted by malevolent forces who have stolen the people’s laughter are expressed in the title poem “See What They’ve Done to Our SunRise”: “They brought in Clouds from Foreign Skies / Filled Our Air with Acid Rain /that / Chokes the Breath with Blood / Blinds the Eye with Cobra’s Spit.” However, there is a window of redemption in “Rebirth of Our Land”, a testament to the poet’s ability to balance sorrow and hope. Thus, as in his earlier collections, the poems in See What They’ve Done to Our SunRise express a deep sense of sadness and loss, but they also affirm the resilience of the human spirit. For instance, in this collection, nostalgia, or distance, is not necessarily loss, but a disconnection from relationships, places and landmarks, tempered by time and circumstances, now and again reclaimed from the mist of memory and celebrated through poems on the theme of love: “I Must Learn to Let Go SomeTimes / Though So Strong So Deep My Love… / Knowing the Winds and the Trains / Will Bring Them Back Again and Again/ Though Just for a While Each Time” (“They Will Be Gone”). This balance is reflected in the poet’s use of imagery, where the darkness of suffering is illuminated by the light of hope and laughter; a testament to Anyidoho’s skill as a poet and his commitment to exploring the complexities of the human experience.
One significant thing about the collection is its arrangement in “movements”—not an entirely new format in the Anyidoho repertoire. It is a deliberate structural choice, similar to a musical composition, lending further weight to the poet’s immersion in Anlo musical traditions which have defined him as a poet-cantor straddling both tradition and modernity, as well as the page and the stage. This structure conveys various meanings and symbolism. It reflects thematic development and narrative progression in which the poems tell a story or explore a theme in a progressive manner. It also creates an emotional arc, with each movement evoking a specific mood or atmosphere. Also, the movements’ musical analogies insinuate a sense of rhythmic flow, with each movement building upon the previous one. In this way, harmony and discord are arranged to reflect the complexities of life and further enhance the import of the journey motif that undergirds the entire collection—the movements representing a journey or pilgrimage, with each poem marking a stage or milestone; also reflecting the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, or the cyclical nature of human experience. There are four movements in all: Movement One: Nostalgia; Movement Two: Blues for the Land; Movement Three: A Bouquet for Ancestral Souls; and Movement Four: Husago.₵300.00 -
Reparations: History, Struggle, Politics and Law
This book is born out of a longstanding wound, one etched deep into the soil, psyche, and soul of Africa. It is a wound that bleeds across centuries of slavery, colonial violence, and economic theft. But it is also a call to action, a demand for Repair, Justice, and transformation.
As an African committed to decolonization, Pan-African Unity, and socialist liberation, I have long felt the absence of a comprehensive framework that ties together the historical crimes committed against Africa with the concrete proposals for restitution. This book aims to fill that void. It is not a work of abstraction. It is a fierce, unapologetic, and urgent call for reparations.
This work is written not just for academics or politicians but for activists, students, community leaders, and the African Youth. It draws upon the insights of Pan-African revolutionaries, Marxist theorists, anti colonial fighters, and Contemporary grassroot movements. It seeks to expose the systemic roots of underdeveloped and articulate a bold vision for what reparative justice could mean in practice.
I offer this work as a contribution to an ongoing struggle, a struggle that demands not only memory, but mobilisation.₵330.00 -
Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities (African Humanities Series)
Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities by Kwesi Yankah is the first title in the newly established African Humanities Association (AHA) publication series.
By integrating his own biography into a critique of the global politics of knowledge production, Yankah, through a collection of essays, interrogates critical issues confronting the Humanities that spawn intellectual hegemonies and muffle African voices. Using the example of Ghana, he brings under scrutiny, amongst others, endemic issues of academic freedom, gender inequities, the unequal global academic order, and linguistic imperialism in language policies in governance.
In the face of these challenges, the author deftly navigates the complex terrain of indigenous knowledge and language in the context of democratic politics, demonstrating that agency can be liberatory when emphasising indigenous knowledge, especially expressed through the idiom of local languages and symbols, including Ananse, the protean spider, folk hero in Ghana and most parts of the pan-African world.
“Fascinating snapshots from an engaged scholarly life in Africa, valuable as an archival resource for the understanding of this period of higher education in Africa.” – John Higgins, Arderne Chair in Literature, Department of English Literary Studies, University of Cape Town
“This book is unique and gives a powerful rendition of the state of the Humanities in Africa (with Ghana as a case in point). It grapples with some of the pertinent issues dogging the Humanities in Africa. It comments on the Humanities scholarship in Africa, and subtly throws a challenge for future scholarship. It draws on African traditions, communal heritage, and governance in discussing the role and place of the Humanities in Africa. It also brings into the analysis the ever-changing imperatives and modernity in re-configuring African Humanities.” – Mark Benge Okot, Head of Department, Literature, Makerere University, Uganda
“Beyond the Political Spider’ effectively draws, in a unique fashion, from literature, history, linguistics and other cognate disciplines in the African Humanities.” – Sati Umaru Fwatshak, Department of History, University of Jos, Nigeria
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Ahead of the Game: Afare Donkor and Ghana’s Financial Renaissance – Hardcover
Ahead of the Game shines a light on the financial and economic history of Ghana as encountered by one man – Afare Donkor – and the intricacies that have come to characterise the political and corporate world of Ghana.
As a pathfinder in Ghana’s modern day financial services, Afare Donkor’s exploits have spanned decades of dedication and commitment to a specific course, leading to reformation and development in the sector.
His adventures have come to represent a giant leap in the country’s financial history and established him as a man undimmed in the silver sunshine of Ghanaian admiration.
“In a carefully orchestrated delivery, written in an engaging, humorous and concise style, Ebenezer Amankwah has produced a great insight into the myriad of issues that one might face when treading along the path to success and achievement.” ~ Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (in the foreword)
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Ephraim Amu: Nationalist, Poet and Theologian (1899-1995)
“This book about Owura Amu is at once history and theology, a fitting tribute to a man who started ‘doing’ African theology before the academic theologians of Africa came on the scene to ‘invent’ and name it…All who have told or heard ‘the legend’ of preaching in Ntama must read the full debate.” — Mercy Amba Oduyoye, Director, Institute of Women in Religion and Culture, Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon
“Ephraim Amu — teacher, preacher, patriot and musician — was a significant representative figure in the movement from colonial to independent Africa. Dr Laryea provides a fascinating portrait of a remarkable man, illuminating the cultural, social and religious issues of Amu’s times and the dynamics of his relations with others. Amu’s Christian faith and practice are explored in a most helpful way; one begins to realise why the portrait of this church teacher came to appear on Ghanaian currency notes.” — Andrew F Walls, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Akropong; University of Edinburgh and Liverpool Hope University
“I will like to congratulate Dr Laryea for undertaking this detailed study of Amu, first for the painstaking manner in which he conducted his research and the comprehensive nature of the oral and documentary sources of information on the varied aspects of the life of Amu he brings together, which makes this study a veritable compendium of data for both scholars and writers interested in the humanistic story of this great personality.” — J.H. Kwabena Nketia, Emeritus Professor
“This book makes an excellent contribution to studies on Ephraim Amu’s philosophy of culture and his reflections on the relation between African culture and Christian theology, a relation that has been a resilient theological problem. This book is rewarding reading.” — Kwame Gyekye (FGA), Emeritus Professor of Classics and Philosophy
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Booknook Leadership Pack: They Call Me Archie, The Bold New Normal, Broken for Use (3 Exceptional Ghanaian Leaders)0
Get these 3 books by three amazing Ghanaian leaders and enjoy free shipping across Ghana!
*This Free shipping offer does not apply to destinations outside Ghana
They Call Me Archie
There are some life stories you just cannot beat. Each time the names of such champions drop, one might as well perform a rite of acknowledgment…any. Their lives have graced hundreds of lives, and hundreds of lives continue to be redeemed through them. They have seen it all. Done it all. They love and they are loved. These individuals have given, and still have more in store. According to the Canon of the Classics, these persons, even the gods envy.
Rosina Aboagye Acheampong is one such mortal. From the precocity of her childhood, her dance with life has been one amazing ball of faith … and chance, nay, destiny. These captivating pages reel out the adventures of a pathfinder, a mould breaker and a pacesetter. Yes, her name might be synonymous with Wesley Girls, but be it at the national or community level, to list what she has achieved is to embark on the impossible.
Beautifully, however, Archie the Matriarch does not seem to see the power of her influence. She only wants to give thanks and praise.
Broken For Use
Broken for Use is a moving, intimate memoir which takes you on a truly tumultuous journey with Rev’d Akua. By the time she takes you from her early days in school, through the various turns in her life that finally bring her to the priesthood, you feel you have experienced many lifetimes. She tells her story as it is, straight and unadorned.
Reverend Akua Buabema Ofori-Boateng is an expressive clergy and philanthropist with a strong belief in excellence.
The Bold New Normal
Have you ever wondered what it will take to transform each African country into a prosperous nation where each citizen has a real opportunity to thrive? Africa’s narrative has been shaped by a vision of the future that remains bleak. A vision that says a little more is okay for the African. It is time to challenge and change our paradigm of what great outcomes look like for an African country.
It is time for The Bold New Normal of an Africa where citizens of each country genuinely have the opportunity to prosper.
The formula for sustainable prosperity has been tried and tested world over. Why then do we continue to hope that a different method, that has thus far failed the continent, will create sustainable prosperity?
The Bold New Normal is a timely publication that coincides with the 400th anniversary of the start of slavery: the year of return. 400 years since the unraveling of African began, it is time to piece her back together and focus forward. It is surely the time for The Bold New Normal!
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The GIMPA Story: Transforming a Public Service Training School into a Self-Financing University of Leadership, Management, and Administration in Ghana
Driven by the passion of his vision agenda for the cause of his appointment as Director-General of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, GIMPA, from 1st January 2000 to December 2008, Stephen Adei (now Professor Emeritus), the first Rector of GIMPA, set out to do the seemingly impossible in the rough terrain of a predominantly patrimonial and static Ghanaian society.
With the encouragement of his first Council and despite fierce resistance to his vision and tenure from intransigent and powerful forces from within the Institute, a section of the media and political bigwigs, Stephen championed his vision cause with the unalloyed support of a loyal few from GIMPA, and importantly, with the support of his dear wife, and friend, Mrs. Georgina Adei, his steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus, the Bible-centered values and principles.
From January 2000 to December 2008, Stephen with his team chalked an enviable vision of success in transforming a public service training institution into a self-financing public university and a centre of excellence in leadership, management, and administration in Ghana.
In this revealing book, he evokes memories of that hard road to vision success, imparts valuable leadership lessons, and, importantly, shares this experience as “a testimony of what the Lord Jesus Christ…can do with His feeble servants.”
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The Law of Mortgages in Ghana
The Law of Mortgages in Ghana discusses the Law relating to the use of immovable property as security for the repayment of a loan or the performance of some other obligations. It explores the historical contours of mortgages tracing its evolution from ancient Roman times through its development in English Law and how it was received in Ghana as a legacy of colonization as well as statutory interventions in Ghana. It discusses the various ways in which a mortgage may be created under Ghanaian Law as well as the essential characteristics of a mortgage and the incidents captured in the maxim “once a mortgage, always a mortgage”.
In this regard, it also discusses the nuances and legal ramifications of mortgaging marital property or property belonging to a spouse, particularly married women, as well as the considerations of independent legal advice leading to the conclusion of a mortgage transaction.
This book also addresses the remedies available to a mortgage in the event of default. The remedies discussed include suing the mortgagor on his personal covenant to perform; sale of the mortgaged property (judicially and statutorily); exercise of the right of possession; and the appointment of a Receiver. These discussions are done in the context of the various relevant statutes such as the Mortgages Act, 1972 (NRCD 96), the Home Mortgage Finance Act, 2008(Act 770) and the Borrowers and Lenders Act, 2008 (Act778). It also discusses the vexed question of priority of mortgages which determines the sequence in which competing claims over a mortgaged property or sale proceeds of a mortgaged property are settled, particularly in the event that the proceeds of sale are not enough to pay all mortgages. Furthermore, it discusses technical concepts relating to priority of mortgages such as tacking, consolidation, marshaling, exoneration and contribution.
The book also treats the subject of transfer of mortgages by both the transferor and transferee; redemption of mortgages; and pledges. The last chapter of the book is the practitioner’s chapter which focuses on the intricacies of a mortgage action.
₵350.00The Law of Mortgages in Ghana
₵350.00