ABSTRACTMODES OF RESISTANCE:COLONIALISM, MARITIME CULTURE AND CONFLICT IN SOUTHERN GOLD COAST, 1860-1932 ByKWAKU NTIBetween the period 1860 - 1932 coastal Southern Gold Coast communities, particularly the Fanti, demonstrated that they were willing and able to resist the colonial government in its project of controlling their lives. To this end, they pursued the means and mechanisms readily available to them; and were also quick to take advantage of whatever opportunities that opened up. These communities acted on their own by drawing on ideas from their maritime culture. They also collaborated with the Western-educated elite. Together they openly resisted the colonial administration through demonstrations, discussions with government through delegations, official letters of protest, use of newspaper articles and editorials, and also took advantage of confusion and inaction of colonial officers as the main modes of resistance to colonial rule. Some of the issues on which their resistance centered included entrenchment of British power, weakening of the position of chiefs, colonial government attempt to take over "waste lands," and controversial 1932 legislative council elections. For instance, communities in this region conceptualized land as a cultural and religious resource, among others, whereas the colonial government saw it a resource the possession of which secured political and economic clout. This situation set the stage for a protracted resistance as colonial militarism was confronted by an equally militant people. Furthermore, the indecision and lack of action on the part of local colonial officers in critical moments portrayed them as taking a stand in support of one group in a dispute. This for instance presented an opportunity for a disgruntled majority to resist colonial government orders. In all of these experiences coastal Southern Gold Coast chiefs and their people organized under indigenous organizations sought and did get help from their Western-educated compatriots to navigate the complex bureaucracy of colonial governance. Yet, even this collaboration had its own challenges. This dissertation, explores the issues and events around which resistance to colonial rule in coastal Southern Gold Coast revolved, as well as the means and mechanisms by which they did so.
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