Gold Coast Panyarring

cape coast slave castle, main british fort in gold coast slave trade.

along gold coast, in present-day ghana, panyarring became tool used in slave trade , in contest between dutch, british, , other european powers trade along coast. politically, in 18th century, area of africa populated number of fragmented akan polities without organized central power. increase of slave trading, panyarring became means of seizing persons, regardless of whether there pre-existing loan agreement , holding them hostage, selling them slavery, or seizing goods. regulated relationships between different communities bringing persons palaver courts settlement in front of judge.

panyarring became means of securing people sale atlantic slave trade. debts real or invented, persons seized, , sold european slavers , transported before families of persons seized respond. in addition, slave traders operating away coast panyarred before reach port cities , slaves bringing ports seized , sold.

in 1 case in 1773, obutong chief s sons had been pawns in arrangement sold european slave ship. chief, robin john ephraim, left little choice panyar ships , release sons , other members of tribe seized slave trade.

both europeans , africans began using panyarring extension of political , economic policies in region , range of purported offenses. example, in 1709 british slave traders upset african slave trader allegedly sold them mad slave. when dispute increased, african slave traders panyarred british captain , held him until both sides negotiated outcome. similarly, in 1797 archibald dalzel, british governor of gold coast, panyarred fante priest in anomabo when members of village had refused repay debts british officers because officers had died. dalzel held priest @ cape coast castle week until chief of anomabo agreed repay debts.

europeans use panyarring in order secure food or goods when seemed opportune. 1 british commander noted whenever english wanted goat, sheep, or chicken, go town , take animal. owner come british fort , paid animal, not @ fair market rate.

the neighboring british , dutch forts @ komenda, sites of numerous hostilities , significant panyarring.

the british , dutch incorporated panyarring competitive strategies 1 another. african traders , merchants associated other power panyarred in order disrupt trade or attempt change allegiance of trader. example, in 1688 in port of komenda, dutch panyarred john cabess, powerful african trader loyal british, , although released kept of goods had carried him. insult cabess may have been prominent contributor attacks launched against dutch starting komenda wars (1694–1700), conflict british, dutch, , african parties used panyarring regularly extension of attacks against other parties.

the active panyarring along gold coast in 17th , 18th centuries resulted in situation communities extremely vulnerable members being seized , sold in slave trade or held payment. travel between communities became dangerous , working alone away communities make 1 vulnerable seizure. initially, communities adopted practices try protect panyarring practices creation of asafo, military units provide travel protection or protection communities.

as ashanti empire rose prominence , began consolidating authority tried end practice of panyarring. king kwaku dua panyin banned practice of panyarring around 1838. prohibition required use of military , administrative function of ashanti, , continued until 1883 until overthrow of mensa bonsu , chaos followed. panyarring became active means of securing repayment of debt , political , economic ends again. in 1902, british took on ashanti area , created area of modern-day ghana formal protectorate. 1 of first achievements of new administration end practice of panyarring in colony. brought persons engaged in panyarring court , punished them resulting in large-scale end of practice 1903.