The Neglected Aspects of the Activities of the Gold Coast Aborigines Rights Protection Society

Abstract

DISCUSSION RELATING to Gold Coast Aborigines Rights Protection Society (A.R.P.S.), which was formed in 1898 as a protest movement against local government's Lands Bill of 1897, has hitherto tended to concentrate exclusively on Society's role in local politics of Gold Coast.1 It is not commonly appreciated that Society also looked beyond limits of its immediate objectives,2 and took interest in, and identified itself with, worldwide movement of colored peoples and, following World War I, vigorous assertion of race-consciousness in America and West Indies. nationalism of early twentieth century Gold Coast was more complex than that of nineteenth century. Its leaders thought of themselves as belonging to a race which would, in due course, try conclusions with white peoples of world. This article will attempt to discuss extra-Gold Coast activities of Aborigines movement, with particular emphasis on its steady contacts with anti-imperialists and pan-Africanists abroad culminating in its participation in 1945 Pan-African Congress held in Manchester. Almost throughout period of its existence, pan-African consciousness was very much evident in thought and activities of Aborigines Society. leaders of Society were keenly aware of their membership in Negro race and were desirous to maintain integrity and to assert equality of that They identified themselves with problems affecting African continent as a whole and developed a sense of affinity with national movements in other parts of world. Thus, since its inception, Society received tremendous impetus from news from abroad about such outstanding events as Japanese defeat of imperial Russia, one of most formidable powers of conquering Europe, in January, 1905.3 Not long before formation of Society there had been similar news about severe defeat which Italians suffered at hands of Ethiopians at Adowa on March 1, 1896. This was in effect first great victory of an African over a European power since Carthaginian army marched in valley of Po so many centuries earlier. From time to time news came, through * main sources for this article are Sekyi Papers and Aborigines Rights Protection Society Papers at Regional Archives, Cape Coast, Ghana. See, for example, D. Kimble, A Political History of Ghana, 1850-1928 (Oxford, 1963), pp. 330403. only published work on some aspects of activities of A.R.P.S. in 1930s is article by Samuel Rohdie, The Gold Coast Aborigines Abroad, Journal of African History, VI, No. 3 (1965), 389-411. 2 objects of A.R.P.S. can be found in Aborigines Papers, ACC.73/64. 8 interest which Aborigines took in this event is published in organ of Society, Gold Coast Aborigines (Cape Coast), January 7, 1905. This mouthpiece of A.R.P.S. declared as its goal, the safety of public and welfare of race.