German rule in colonial Ewedome (Ghana), 1890-1914

Abstract

Ewedome has a unique history; it experienced colonialism under two diametrically opposed colonial powers – Britain and Germany. Yet the colonial experiences of this region remained largely unexplored by historians. This article uses evidence from primary and secondary sources to argue that German colonial rule, though relatively short, shaped the historical trajectory of the Ewedome region in many profound ways. The German policy of direct rule, based on village units, entrenched divisive tendencies and led to the multiplicity of chiefdoms. But it also inadvertently led to the elevation of Awatime, Ho and Kpando above other towns in Ewedome. The collaboration between the Bremen Mission and German colonial officials led to the ‘standardisation’ of the Ewe language and set in motion a process towards fostering a wider Ewe identity. The article adds to the on-going debate on how colonialism reshaped African pre-colonial political organisation and created new identities and new nations