This paper aims at examining the mythical figure Quarshie and its interpretation. How have the narratives about the beginnings of cocoa cultivation in the Gold Coast changed throughout the 20th century and how was Tetteh Quarshie constructed as an enduring national "lieu de mémoire" that has continued to trigger fascination within the Ghanaian society? This paper will try to give an answer to this question.
The paper proceeds in three steps: Firstly, it presents the introduction of cocoa into the Gold Coast in order to enlighten this complex process marked by a few different actors, among these prominently stands Quarshie. Different sources as well as assessments in the later literature are analysed in this context.
The second chapter deals with the evolution and structures of the ensuing cocoa boom in Ghana that, despite temporal declines, still continues today. As many historians have underscored, cocoa cultivation was successfully performed by local smallholder farmers largely independent from British influence – as a consequence, the construction of Quarshie as a "lieu de mémoire" further accentuates the indigenous and emancipatory character of the Ghanaian cocoa industry.
In a third step, the commemorative culture about the beginnings of cocoa cultivation in the Gold Coast is retraced, from earlier diverging interpretations to the incremental exaltation of Quarshie. Both theoretical literature on commemoration culture and topical Ghanaian newspaper articles are thereby used. In fact, the current project of the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Museum proves that cocoa and its history remain at the core of the Ghanaian self-image – and that Quarshie’s name seems indispensable in this regard.
It is thus high time to track down this highly questionable narrative of the cocoa introduction in the Gold Coast, which has not been done yet in detail. In addition, a goal on the theoretical meta-level of the paper is to underline the merits of the "lieux de mémoire"-approach, particularly in the (West) African context where this has not yet been widely applied.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Advent – The Complex Introduction of Cocoa into the Gold Coast
1.1. The Columbian Exchange of Cocoa
1.2. The Atlantic Islands as Springboards of Cocoa to West Africa
1.3. The Different Actors in the Introduction of Cocoa into the Gold Coast
1.3.1. The Early Attempts: European traders and missionaries
1.3.2. Tetteh Quarshie
1.3.3. Governor Sir William Griffith and the Aburi Botanical Gardens
2. The Boom – The “Smallholder Crop” Becomes the “Golden Pod” for Ghana
2.1. The Take-Off of Cocoa in the Gold Coast: 1891-1911
2.2. The Boom and the Relative Decline from the Mid-1960s
2.3. The Economic Structures of the Ghanaian Cocoa Industry
3. The Memory – The Glorification of Tetteh Quarshie
3.1. The Importance of Cocoa for Ghana’s Economy and Culture
3.2. Diverging Narratives about the Pioneer(s) of Cocoa Introduction into the Gold Coast
3.3. Tetteh Quarshie’s Ascension to a Ghanaian lieu de mémoire
3.4. The Current Project of the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Museum
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the evolution of narratives regarding the introduction of cocoa into the Gold Coast and explores how Tetteh Quarshie was constructed as an enduring national lieu de mémoire in Ghana. By analyzing historical sources and commemorative culture, the study aims to understand how collective memory is shaped by present needs and national identity construction.
- The complex, multi-actor process of cocoa introduction in the Gold Coast
- The evolution of the Ghanaian cocoa industry from the "smallholder crop" to the "Golden Pod"
- The transition of Tetteh Quarshie from a historical figure to a national myth
- The interplay between historical science and collective memory
- The role of commemorative institutions, such as the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Museum, in nation building
Excerpt from the Book
Tetteh Quarshie
According to the existing sources, it can definitely be precluded that Quarshie brought the very first cocoa beans into the Gold Coast. Likewise, the renowned Ghanaian historian Perbi comes to the conclusion that “it was not Tetteh Quarshie who brought the famous cash-crop cocoa to Ghana”, but that the first cocoa seeds were brought “from Brazil by a Basel Missionary called Reverend Hass”. Why is Quarshie nevertheless often described as the decisive pioneer of Ghanaian cocoa who spread the cocoa seeds like a generous Johnny Appleseed? An answer to this question requires a more detailed analysis of the sparse trustworthy information that we possess on Quarshie.
The first official source by the British colonial government mentioning Tetteh Quarshie was the Gold Coast Annual Report for 1902, where Quarshie was named and the date of the entering of the cocoa pods was given as 1879. However, seven years later, the Director of Agriculture Tudhope described the introduction of cocoa pods into the Gold Coast as follows:
“The introduction of the first cocoa seeds into the Colony cannot very definitely be traced to one individual. Several people appear to have been instrumental in introducing some about the same time. From fairly authentic information supplied to me, one small importation is set down to a native farmer who brought some with him on returning from the Cameroons about 1882. This was planted in Mampong district.”
Two aspects are here of prime importance: Firstly, he underscores that many actors played a role in the intricate process of cocoa entering into the Gold Coast – a statement that undoubtedly corresponds to the truth. Secondly, he also alludes to a “native farmer” which might possibly be Quarshie. Yet, both the geographic area (“returning from the Cameroons” instead of Fernando Po) and the date of his homecoming (1882 instead of 1879) differ from the Annual Report and later testimonies. Merely the location of Quarshie’s first cocoa farm (Mampong) conforms to the current picture. Thus, it seems as if the enigmatic Quarshie was already by 1908 a very obscure figure incorporating contradictory attributions.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the significance of Tetteh Quarshie as a national icon in Ghana and introduces the theoretical framework of the lieu de mémoire.
1. The Advent – The Complex Introduction of Cocoa into the Gold Coast: Explores the historical origins of cocoa introduction, highlighting various actors including the Basel Mission and Governor Griffith.
2. The Boom – The “Smallholder Crop” Becomes the “Golden Pod” for Ghana: Analyzes the economic success of the cocoa industry driven by indigenous smallholder farmers and its evolution throughout the 20th century.
3. The Memory – The Glorification of Tetteh Quarshie: Retraces how the narrative of Tetteh Quarshie was constructed and memorialized to serve as a symbol of Ghanaian national identity.
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings on the intersection of commodity history and collective memory, emphasizing the future role of Quarshie in Ghanaian commemorative culture.
Keywords
Tetteh Quarshie, Gold Coast, Ghana, Cocoa, lieu de mémoire, collective memory, smallholder farming, economic history, colonial agriculture, national identity, commemorative culture, Basel Mission, Sir William Griffith, Golden Pod, nation building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The paper focuses on the historical introduction of cocoa into the Gold Coast and the subsequent cultural construction of Tetteh Quarshie as the primary "heroic" pioneer of this industry.
What are the primary thematic areas of the work?
The work covers the history of cocoa cultivation, the development of the Ghanaian cocoa economy, the theoretical concept of "lieu de mémoire," and the evolution of commemorative practices in Ghana.
What is the core research question?
The research asks how narratives about the beginnings of cocoa cultivation changed during the 20th century and how Tetteh Quarshie was established as a national symbol that continues to influence Ghanaian society.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a historical-analytical approach, embedding the case study of Tetteh Quarshie within the theoretical framework of memory studies, specifically referencing the work of Pierre Nora and Maurice Halbwachs.
What does the main body address?
The main body examines the historical introduction of cocoa, the economic structures of the smallholder cocoa boom, and the development of the commemorative culture surrounding Tetteh Quarshie.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key concepts include Tetteh Quarshie, lieu de mémoire, cocoa industry, collective memory, and Ghanaian national identity.
How does the author view the historical accuracy of the Tetteh Quarshie narrative?
The author argues that the narrative is apocryphal and historically blurry, yet emphasizes that its power lies not in its factual accuracy but in its utility as a symbol of indigenous entrepreneurship.
What role does the current Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Museum project play in this study?
The museum project serves as a practical example of how contemporary Ghanaian commemorative policy actively shapes history to bolster national identity and promote economic goals.
- Citar trabajo
- Tim R. Kerkmann (Autor), 2019, Tetteh Quarshie. The Ascension of a Pioneering Cocoa Farmer to a Ghanaian "lieu de mémoire", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/504072
