Political, Economic and Social Transformation of Gyaman under the French Colonial Rule 1900-1950.

Abstract

Gyaman also spelt Jaman and usually referred to as the Bono or Brong or Abron Kingdom of Gyaman was a West African traditional Kingdom that flourished in the last decade of the seventeenth century. The Kingdom was founded by a section of the Akwamu people who fled their original home in the Eastern Region of Ghana as a result of succession rancor between two rival candidates. The fugitives led by Queen Nkansa and Obiri Yeboa,the son of a woman by the name of Asiduma migrated from Akwamu. They settled in such places as Oboo, Nyanoase (Nsawam), Asumegya, Amakom and finally in Suntreso now a suburb of Kumasi where they lived as Dormaa people. A section of them fled Osei Tutu’s military hostilities, moved towards the northwestern direction and carved a new Kingdom known in history as the Brong Kingdom of Gyaman in the last decade of the seventeenth century. Gyaman was partitioned between the British and French in 1893. The British section fell to the Republic of Ghana, while the French section fell to the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. Institutional changes occurred in Gyaman as a result of the supplanting of colonialism on the people. This led to political, social and economic transformation in both sections of Gyaman. However, this work focuses on the socio-economic and political transformation in the French section of Gyaman in the era of colonial rule. The researcher used primary and secondary materials for his historical investigation. He also analyzed the data using scientific style of empiricism, rationalism, and positivism. In the data analysis the researcher detached himself from a priori speculation and his emotions did not influence his analysis. The research makes the following findings. Firstly, that western institutions and values were supplanted on traditional ones. Secondly, that the French colonial rule resulted in social, political and economic transformation of the area.

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