THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN KUMASE, 1874-1960

ABSTRACT

This thesis examines the development of architecture in Kumase from 1874 to

1960. In other words, the study focuses on the rebuilding of the built

environment of Kumase from 1874 to 1960. Using qualitative evaluation of

archival documents, interviews with Asante chiefs, owners of houses, heads of

families, trustees of households etc., and some secondary sources of historical

information, this work discusses the traditional architecture of Kumase and,

how the British colonial government and its agents joined forces with the

Asante political authorities and the entire citizenry to architecturally

reconstruct the city. The collaboration between the local people and the

Europeans produced striking alterations within the built space of Kumase.

This study shows that the alteration of the traditional Kumase architecture did

not only affect the city’s built environment, but it also had impact on the

cultural values of Asante. This is because British and European building

technology did not completely and entirely support the observation and

performance of some aspects of Asante cultural values and practices which

found customary expression within the domain of a built environment. This

thesis is a contribution to architectural history and the history of built

environment which as fields of study are burgeoning within the historiography

of Ghana.