The Reports of Theophilus Opoku: A 19th-Century Gold Coast Pastor [Hardcover]

Theophilus Opoku, a 19th-century pastor in the Gold Coast, wrote 37 reports to the Basel Mission between 1868 and 1908. In this volume, Gilbert and Jenkins introduce and annotate his detailed and vivid reports, which provide rare insight into conversion, rites, everyday life, and conflict in the kingdom of Akuapem.
The Reports of Theophilus Opokudetails the letters of a pastor living in the ethnically diverse and structurally fragile kingdom of Akuapem in the south-eastern Gold Coast during the 19th century. Between 1868 and 1908, Opoku wrote 37 reports to his employers ^^ the board of the Basel Mission ^^ which provide rare insight into the process of conversion, life in the newly formed Christian communities, and the uneasy relationship between mission regulations, local culture, king, and colonial government. The reports, written in a vivid narrative style, also include detailed descriptions of customary rites, conflict and cooperation between Christians and non-Christians, and factional disturbances in chieftaincy affairs. Opoku was a pioneer missionary in a rapidly changing society: his letters, which are richly introduced and annotated in this volume, are a testimony to the sincerity of his evangelistic zeal.Michelle Gilbert,Professor Emeritus, Trinity College, Hartford,Paul Jenkins,Retired Archivist and hon. Lecturer in Non-Western History, University of Basel

Michelle Gilbertreceived an MA in art history from Northwestern University, an MA in anthropology from NYU, and a PhD in anthropology from SOAS. She did fieldwork in the Ghanaian kingdom of Akuapem continually from 1976 to 2015 and has widely published about the annual Odwira rite, Akuapem history, divine kingship, ethnic conflict, and the relationship between traditional religion and Christianity. She has also written about Ghanaian royal regalia, textiles, and popular art. She was Associate Professor at Sarah Lawrence College, New York, and TrinilS«