The Gyaman of Ghana and Côte D'ivoire In
Vol. 5(7), pp. 177-189, November, 2013 DOI: 10.5897/JASD12.049 Journal of African Studies and ISSN 2141 -2189 ©2013 Academic Journals Development http://www.academicjournlas.org/JASD Full Length Research Paper The people the boundary could not divide: The Gyaman of Ghana and Côte D’ivoire in historical perspective Agyemang, Joseph Kwadwo1 and Ofosu-Mensah, Ababio Emmanuel2* 1Institute of African Studies, P.O. Box LG 73, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra-Ghana. 2Department of History, P.O. Box LG 12 University of Ghana, Legon, Accra-Ghana. Accepted 19 September, 2013 This article aims at constructing the history of the Gyaman state before colonial rule. It is the first in a series of three papers to be published in the Journal of African Studies and Development. The current paper shall interrogate the pre-colonial political structures that culminated in the formation of the Gyaman state. It also discusses the socio-politico-economic activities of the Gyaman people before colonial domination by both the British and the French. The discussion of the early history of Gyaman and its constitution is important as it sets the background for understanding the Gyaman people and their history of resilience and also sets the background for understanding subsequent modern issues confronting this great West African traditional state. Key words: Gyaman, Ghana, La Côte d’Ivoire, traditional, state. INTRODUCTION A version of their traditional account states that the fifteenth century. Traditions tell us that after the death of Gyaman people left Akwamu in the first decade of the the fifth Hemang ruler, succession disputes compelled a seventeenth century and lived in Suntreso, now a suburb section of the community led by Otumfo Asare to migrate of Kumasi as Dormaa people.
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