n P R O J E CT R E P O R TS THE ASHANTI RESEARCH PROJECT 9 at The project was formally launched at its first preparatory conference held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasl, in May 1963. It involves research in various fields relating to the develop- ment of society and culture in that area which/ historically, fell within the Ashanti sphere of influence. The geographical area of the project is therefore not limited to the present Ashanti Region. It covers other areas, not only in Ghana, but in adjacent countries, which culturally, politically and economically were linked with the old Ashanti Empire. Specific fields in which the project is interested include:- (a) History: The social, political, economic and military history of Ashanti. (b) Government: the structure and evolution of the Central Government; provincial administration and local government; constitutional and political institutions; political theory. (c) Social and Economic Institutions: the structure and organization of craft guilds; the organization of trade; the structure of the economy of Ashanti, etc. (d) Music, Literature and Art. (e) Archaeology. (f) Traditional Architecture. The Institute now holds a collection of stool histories recorded by Mr. J. Agyeman-Duah, who works for the Institute as a part-time research assistant. Basic data on one hundred and forty stools have so far been recorded. n PROJECT REPORTS This series of reports constitutes the IAS/AR series. The following is a list of the first forty Items accessioned; further lists will appear in future numbers of Research Review. AR 1 AR2 AR3 AR4 AR5 AR6 AR7 AR8 AR9 ARIO AR11 AR12 AR13 ARM AR15 AR16 AR17 AR18 AR19 AR20 AR21 AR22 AR23 AR24 AR25 AR26 AR27 AR28 AR29 AR3O AR31 AR32 AR33 AR34 AR35 Asokwa: Ankobia: Ananta: Asrampong: Adum: The Atumpam drums. Asamang: Akydwkrom: Atipin: Lake Bosumrwi. Ejisu. Dadiesoaba: Adwomfuohene: Asomfuo: Gyaase: Juaben: Akwaboa: Ohwim: Nkabom: Nkabom linguist: Atene Akuapong: Nsumankwa: Boakye Yam: Odurugya horns. The Kwadwom singers Ntahera homs. Abrafo : Oyokohene: Ntutia: Nkonguasoafo: Kronti and Akwamu d Atutue: Ceremony of enstoolrr Antoa: Kaase: c Gyaase division of Kumasi Ankobia division of KumasI Gyaase division of Kumasi Manwere division of KumasI Akwamu division of Kumasi Adonren division of Kumasi Adonten division of Kumasi Ankobia division of Kumasi Gyaase division of Kumasi Kyidom division of Kumasi Kyidom division of Kumasi Gyaase division of Kumasi Kronti division of Kumasi Akwamu division of Kumasi Manwere division of Kumasi Manwere division of Kumasi Ankobia division of Kumasi Gyaase division of Kumasi Gyaase division of Kumasi Independent stool of Kumasi Oyoko division of Kumasi Gyaase division of Kumasi Gyaeue division of Kumasi sions of Kumasi. Oyoko division of Kumasi t of OtupfiJb Ascmtehene. Adonten division of Kumasi Gyaase division of Kumasi 9- PROJECT REPORTS 13 AR36 AR37 AR38 AR39 AR40 Mpaboahene of Kumasi. Kodua Topa: Akwamu: Bantama: Bantama (cont.): Gyaase division of Kumasi Akwamu division of Kumasi Kronti division of Kumasi Kronti division of Kumasi Another research assistant, who will work full-time, will be appointed as soon as a grant promised by UNESCO is released, and this will facilitate the expansion and development of the work started by Mr. Agyeman-Duah. The Institute is grateful to the Asantehene for allowing it access to the records of the Kumasi State Council. Copies of the proceedings in a number of important constitutional and land cases - valuable source material for the historian - are being made, and have been deposited in the Institute. This forms-the series IAS/AS/CR, and a list of the forty cases so far accessioned will be published in a later number of Research Review. The Institute has also been concerned with the purchase of microfilms of archival and other material relevant to the Ashanti Research Project from European and other sources. German, Arabic, etc., of texts relating to Ashanti. Works so far translated includei It has also undertaken to finance the translation from Dutch, Danish, (i) The Journal and Correspondence of H. W. Deehdals, Governor- General of the Netherlands Settlements on the Coast of Guinea (1815-1817). /From Dutch/ ,00" Klose's Journey to Northern Ghana 1894; pp. 285-544 of Togo unter deutscher Flagge, 1899. /From Germaa7 Work is now in progress on a translation of .the Danish Tilforladelig Efterretning om Kysten Guinea, 1760, by L. F. Romer. It is expected that more post-graduate students will take full advantage of the documentary-material being collected and the oral traditions being recorded, and submit the results of their studies either in part fulfilment of the requirements of the M.A. degree in African Studies, or for doctoral degrees. PROJECT REPORTS The Institute is also working out a scheme for the study of traditional architectural patterns in Ghana. This scheme, which will be within the Ashanti research project, will be directed and guided by the school of Architecture and Town Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. THE VOLTA BASIN SURVEY With the imminent flooding of many parts of *he Volta Basin, the Institute evolved an emergency scheme for the recording of basic ethnographic and historical data from the towns and villages to be inundated. Since the Volta Basin Research Project was unable to offer any financial assistance, the Institute operated a modified scheme from its own finances. Mr. E. Y. Aduamah has been working mainly in the Ewe parts of'the flood-area, Mr. Kwabena Ameyaw in the Afram plains, and Mr. J. E. K. Kumah within the Kete Krachi area. It has thus been possible to obtain a considerable quantity of field material from those areas already, or about to be, flooded, and after processing, this data will be made available. Plans are now in hand to extend this work over the more northerly areas which will be flooded within the next two years, and also into the Bui area, where a second dam is in course df construction. In addition, several expeditions have visited the Kete Krachi area to study the libraries of the maloms there, for the Muslim community Is likely to become dispersed after the evacuation of the town (see report on the Arabic collection below). The field reports on the Ewe-speaking areas so far accessioned cover the following areas: 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. 11. K pa lime Botoku Wusuta Aveme Ewes in the Buem-Akan Afram Plains area 2. 4. 6. 8. 10. 12. Tonkor Tsoho Awate and Jufaji Tsyome Dodi-Anum area The migrant Tongu fishermen Lists of reports from other areas within the flood basin will be published in subsequent issues.