Cape Coast

Cape Coast is the capital of the Central Region and the Cape Coast Municipal Districts of Ghana. The city is located directly on the Gulf of Guinea and has 143 044 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2005). The Ghanaian name of the city, Oguaa, means " market " and their coat of arms shows a crab. The now common, English name of the city is a corruption of the original Portuguese name " Cabo Corso " (short cape). The majority of the inhabitants belong to the people of the Fante, whose eponymous dialect is also spoken there. Cape Coast is the seat of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast

History

Cape Coast was founded in 1380. The founders were probably Guang ( the ethnic association is not sure). They were part of the group that had migrated in the 14th century under the leadership of the Brothers Bonde and Gyan from the Kingdom of Bono in the south ( this happened during the reign of Nana Asaman ). In the hinterland of the coast had then in about 24 km distance from Aguafo ( leave shortly before Bono them the same Guang - group had already ) founded a new settlement, called the man " Awutu ", which literally means " mixed " means. From the name, then, " Effutu " or " Fetu " was later " Afutu ". When the fetus explored the coastal hinterland, they met the Etsi ( Atsi, Atty ), who settled here since about a century. They were regarded as " brothers of Bono ," which laid claim to have been the first to have lived in the local neighborhoods. Around 1380 a group Fetu be deposed under the leadership of EDWE and Etumpan and moved in an easterly direction, where on the coast Ogua ( UGWA, Gua, other name: Amanforo; later Cape Coast ) is based, as well Dwemma and Degho. (The name Degho is later transferred to the entire hinterland of Cape Coast. ) From Degho derived fetus founded in 1515 around further east along the coast Tumpa, later Winnebah. Although the inhabitants of these areas today generally considered Fantis ( Akan ) apply, so these early coastal states of the western and central part of the Gold Coast were (perhaps with the exception of Sabou ) probably mostly Guang - ups in which the akanische cultural element invaded at a later period and flourished.

Ogua was a fishing village in the first place. Only with the advent of the Portuguese, who at Cabo Corso, as they called it (literally " short cape "), a trading post established, the middlemen between the Europeans and the inland was added as an essential source of income. The Portuguese were followed at Cabo Corso, the British, Dutch, Swedes and Danes, one of which finally the British in 1664 permanently gained a foothold could. From 1664 to 1877 Cape Coast was the capital of the British possessions on the Gold Coast (later the British reserve, from July 24, 1874 colony) and the seat of the British governor.

An important monument of the city is Cape Coast Castle, initially founded as a trading post, then the starting point for the shipment of most of the slaves in the "New World ".

Education

Cape Coast is traditionally the center for education. Some of the most prestigious schools of Ghana are located in this city, and since 1962 there is the University of Cape Coast, which initially served only teacher training and now offers almost all subject areas. A school there was at Cape Coast Castle, however, since the earliest times, but primarily the training of mulatto children ( the children who witnessed the Europeans with native women) served, as well as the education of the children of kings and chiefs, if such was in the political interest of the British. For purposes of maintenance of the mulatto, it was customary among Europeans on the Gold Coast in the 18th century, to maintain a so-called Mulattenkasse. At least by the Danes is such reports, but it is very likely that the British and the Dutch had a similar scheme. Thus was of any European who lived with a local woman, a certain amount of his monthly remuneration for the Mulattenkasse withheld from the then the maintenance of the children was financed together with their education. In the case of the Danes, the governor was personally responsible for the management of Mulattenkasse in the 18th century. The first " Secondary School " was opened in Cape Coast in 1876 by the Wesleyan Church. The "Secondary School " presented the continuation of the " Elementary School " in the education of young Africans is under British suzerainty, and should (and should it even today ) empower the best of their visitors for university study. Later this school was then combined in Cape Coast with other schools " Mfantsipim " school.

City ​​festivals

The city's major festivals are Fetu Afahye (every year on the first weekend in September ) and the Panafest (every two years in August ), arriving to the numerous African-American tourists.