UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN KUMASE, 1874-1960. BY TONY YEBOAH Thesis submitted to the Department of History, of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy degree in History. MARCH 2017 Digitized by UCC, Library DECLARATION Candidate’s Declaration I hereby declare that this study is the result of my own original research and that no part of it has been presented for another degree in this University or elsewhere. Signature……………………… Date…………………... Candidate’s Name: Tony Yeboah Supervisors’ Declaration We hereby declare that the preparation and presentation of the thesis were supervised in accordance with the guidelines on supervision of thesis laid down by the University of Cape Coast Signature:………………………….Date:…………………... Principal Supervisor’s Name: Prof. De-Valera N.Y.M. Botchway Co-Supervisor’s Name: Dr. Collins AdjeiMensah Signature:…………………………..Date:……………………. ii Digitized by UCC, Library ABSTRACT This thesis examines the development of architecture in Kumase from 1874 to 1960. In other words, the study focuses on the rebuilding of the built environment of Kumase from 1874 to 1960. Using qualitative evaluation of archival documents, interviews with Asante chiefs, owners of houses, heads of families, trustees of households etc., and some secondary sources of historical information, this work discusses the traditional architecture of Kumase and, how the British colonial government and its agents joined forces with the Asante political authorities and the entire citizenry to architecturally reconstruct the city. The collaboration between the local people and the Europeans produced striking alterations within the built space of Kumase. This study shows that the alteration of the traditional Kumase architecture did not only affect the city’s built environment, but it also had impact on the cultural values of Asante. This is because British and European building technology did not completely and entirely support the observation and performance of some aspects of Asante cultural values and practices which found customary expression within the domain of a built environment. This thesis is a contribution to architectural history and the history of built environment which as fields of study are burgeoning within the historiography of Ghana. iii Digitized by UCC, Library KEY WORDS Akan Courtyard Architecture Asante Building Built environment Kumase iv Digitized by UCC, Library ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe special thanks to my supervisors, Prof. De-Valera N.Y.M.Botchway, for the immediate interest and enthusiasm in supervising the thesis, and Dr. Collins AdjeiMensah, who encouraged me in a friendly manner. I am particularly grateful to Dr. S.Y. Boadi-Siaw and Mr. Bruno Osafo for their advice, support, and assistance. I am similarly grateful to Prof. Edmund Abaka for the amazing display of love towards me. My sincere thanks also goes to the faculty of the Department of History, particularly Prof. Kwame OseiKwarteng, and Mr. AdjeiAdjepong, who reposed great deal of confidence in me. I also wish to express my appreciation to my parents, Mr. AkwasiYeboahNkansah and TheresahYeboah, who have supported me both spiritually and materially. I cannot forget my sweet and adorable sister, Ivy Boakye, and brother, A.B.Kyerematen for their unflinching support throughout the study period. Inside my heart is a box of memories for the wonderful deeds for the Osafos which made my postgraduate study enjoying. I appreciate the support and generosity of my friend and pastor, Clifford Ashun. The study has significantly benefited from conversations and suggestions from Mr. Peter Boakye, and Mr. Joseph Kachim for which I am grateful. I am similarly grateful to my friends, Daniel AduBoakye and Victoria A. Marcourt and my mates. Finally, I wish to express my sincere thanks to my informants includingBaffourAsabreKogyawoasuAbabioIII,OpokuFrefre III, Mr. KojoDarko-Asante and Mr. Justice Brobbey. The last goes to the staff of the Public Records and Archives Administration Department, (PRAAD), Kumase. v Digitized by UCC, Library DEDICATION To my grandmother, Akosua Nkrumah vi Digitized by UCC, Library DEFINITION OF TERM Asante/Asanteman- Asante can also be called Asanteman, which literally means Asante nation. In this regard, the thesis would use Asante, Asante nation and Asanteman interchangeably for the nation/society/state. vii Digitized by UCC, Library TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DECLARATION ii ABSTRACT iii KEY WORDS iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v DEDICATION vi DEFINITION OF TERM vii LIST OF PLATE xi INTRODUCTION 1 Background to the Study 1 Statement of the Problem 5 Literature Review 8 Purpose of the Study 26 Methodology and Sources 27 Significance of the Study 34 Organisation of the Study 35 Research Questions 36 CHAPTER ONE: TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF KUMASE 37 Introduction 37 Pre-colonial Architecture of Kumase 37 Foundation 42 Floor 42 Wall 43 Roof 50 viii Digitized by UCC, Library Notable Compartments within Traditional Kumase Structure 52 The Entrance Porch 52 The Courtyard (Aduho) 52 Construction Expression for Palaces and Shrines 55 Palace 55 Abosom Dan (Shrines) 68 Conclusion 77 CHAPTER TWO: ARCHITECTURAL ACCULTURATION OF KUMASE 78 Introduction 78 The Destruction of Kumase 79 Transitions in the Architectural Landscape of Kumase, 84 Kumase Housing Building Experiment 90 New Techniques of Building 93 Arguments for European Residential Areas 101 Conclusion 113 CHAPTER THREE: SELECTION, INCORPORATION AND APPROPRIATIONOF EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE IN KUMASE 115 Introduction 115 Factors that Encouraged the Appropriation of European Architecture 116 Population Growth, (1944-1960) 117 Trade and Commerce 118 Cocoa 121 Nuclear Family 123 First Gold Coast Building Society 125 The Hybrid Akan Courtyard House and its Characteristics 127 ix Digitized by UCC, Library Benefits Associated with the Hybrid Architecture 131 Settlement Pattern and the Relative Architectural Styles in Kumase 134 The Incentive for Building in Kumase 138 How the Hybrid Architecture Facilitated the Intentions of People 140 House Construction in Kumase; Individual or Corporate Responsibility 142 The Exclusion of African Residential Areas from the 1910 Building Regulations 144 Conclusion 146 CHAPTER FOUR: ARCHITECTURE AND THE CULTURAL VALUES OF ASANTE 147 Introduction 147 Architecture and Politics 148 The Interplay between Architecture and Social Institutions in Kumase 165 Architecture and Household Bond 169 Conclusion 177 CONCLUSION 178 BIBLIOGRAPHY 184 APPENDICES 195 x Digitized by UCC, Library LIST OF PLATES Plate Page 1.An undesignated pato at the Tano Yaw shrine house. However, in most cases, it received traditional leaders and other important personalities who called at the deity for diverse reasons. 47 2.An image showing a market centre in Kumase in 1908. This market was close to the Kumase Fort, in present-day Adum. The structures within which buying and selling took place were roofed with grass and palm fronds. 50 3.The palaver hall of the king’s palace at the time of the take-over of Kumase by the British in 1874. The open space is what has been described as aduho whereas the opening behind the man was a pato. 61 4. Drummers’ section at the Tano Yaw Shrine House, Besease 69 5. An illustration of the repeated decorative design of “garden and service compounds” 97 6. Building plan of a single family residential structure at Suntreso 100 7. European bungalow built on stilt at the Nhyiaeso residency 107 8.Plan of a one-room bungalow 109 9. Original plan of the bungalow, (built on stilt), which is now occupiedby the Subin Sub-Metropolitan Council in Nhyiaeso, Kumase 110 10. Three bedroom extension of the bungalow, (built on ground level), which is now occupied by the Subin Sub-Metropolitan Council in Nhyiaeso 111 11. Plan of an Omanhene’s Palace 151 12. Front view of the Manhyia Palace Musuem 158 xi Digitized by UCC, Library INTRODUCTION Background to the Study Architecture of human residence has a long history because of the fact that the thought of living in places has been with man since time immemorial. Rocks and trees served as shelter for early people. This was when people wandered and roamed about looking for edible wild foods in the forest during the day. Thus, people in this period were basically gatherers who were forced to retire to bed when dusk approached because of darkness and other unfavourable weather conditions. As time went on, humans made technological advancements which enabled them to put up enclosed structures, thereby, protecting them from any possible danger. The physical and social conditions existing in any environment determine the prevailing building technology. Thus, the level of technological advancement is conditioned on the available technological toolkit in view of the strong argument that it is the available toolkit which enables the people to effectively make the most of the available natural resources. Technology, therefore, aids and supports the development of architecture. As a consequence, the creation of architectural forms is the product of a combination of building technologies and building materials. In Africa, and for that matter Kumase, the building technology encompasses the specialisation of skills, the division of labour and the distinctions between individual and communal building processes. In Kumase for instance, theatakpame, which is the rammed earth type of construction abounded in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries