British West Africa was the collective name for British colonies in West Africa during the colonial period, either in the general geographical sense or the formal colonial administrative entity. British West Africa as a colonial entity was originally officially known as Colony of Sierra Leone and its Dependencies, then British West African Territories and finally British West African Settlements.[1]
The United Kingdom held varying parts of these territories or the whole throughout the 19th century. From west to east, the colonies became the independent countries of The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria. Until independence, Ghana was referred to as the Gold Coast.
A sketch of the town of Bathurst, The Gambia, published in 1824Otoo Ababio II., Omanhene of Abura, being presented to Prince of Wales, Accra, Gold Coast, 1925
British West Africa constituted during two periods (17 October 1821, until its first dissolution on 13 January 1850, and again 19 February 1866, until its final demise on 28 November 1888) as an administrative entity under a governor-in-chief (comparable in rank to a governor-general), an office vested in the governor of Sierra Leone (at Freetown).[1]
The other colonies originally included in the jurisdiction were the Gambia and the British Gold Coast (modern Ghana). Also western Nigeria, eastern Nigeria and northern Nigeria were included.[2]
British West Africa was originally founded at the urging of the prominent abolitionist Fowell Buxton, who felt that ending the Atlantic slave trade required some level of British control of the coastline.[3] Development was solely based on modernization, and autonomous educational systems were the first step to modernising indigenous culture. Cultures and interests of indigenous peoples were ignored. A new social order, as well as European influences within schools and local traditions, helped mould British West Africa's culture. The British West African colonial school curriculum helped play a role in this. Local elites developed, with new values and philosophies, who changed the overall cultural development.[4]
Aftermathedit
Even after its final dissolution, a single currency, the British West African pound, was in effect throughout the region—including Nigeria—from 1907 to 1962.[citation needed]
Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Sierra Leone was self-governing by 1958 and gained independence in 1961. Gambia gained independence in 1965. In 1954, the British Gold Coast was allowed by Britain to self-govern and in 1957, the Gold Coast was given independence from Britain, under the name Ghana.[5]
^ ab"Sierra Leone". WorldStatesmen.org. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
^Lange, Matthew (2006). "Colonialism and Development: a comparative analysis of Spanish and British colonies" (PDF). American Journal of Sociology. 111 (5): 1412–1462. doi:10.1086/499510. JSTOR 10.1086/499510. S2CID 142835054.
^The African Slave Trade and its Remedy (1839) at the Internet Archive
^Szücs, Stefan; Strömberg, Lars (17 August 2007). Local Elites, Political Capital and Democratic Development: Governing Leaders in Seven European Countries. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN978-3-531-90110-7.
^"Britannica Academic". academic.eb.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
External linksedit
Media related to British West Africa at Wikimedia Commons
February 16, 2024
british, west, africa, collective, name, british, colonies, west, africa, during, colonial, period, either, general, geographical, sense, formal, colonial, administrative, entity, colonial, entity, originally, officially, known, colony, sierra, leone, dependen. British West Africa was the collective name for British colonies in West Africa during the colonial period either in the general geographical sense or the formal colonial administrative entity British West Africa as a colonial entity was originally officially known as Colony of Sierra Leone and its Dependencies then British West African Territories and finally British West African Settlements 1 British West African Settlements1821 18501866 1888Flag BadgeAnthem God Save the King 1821 1837 God Save the Queen 1837 1850 1866 1888 source source track track track track track track track track track track track track track track track track track track Location of British West Africa From left to right The Gambia Sierra Leone Gold Coast and Nigeria StatusCrown colonyCapitalFreetownCommon languagesEnglish official GovernmentCrown colonyMonarch 1821 1830George IV first 1837 1850 1866 1888Victoria last Historical eraAbolitionismNew Imperialism Established17 October 1821 Disestablishment13 January 1850 Second establishment19 February 1866 Final disestablishment28 November 1888CurrencyPound sterlingBritish West African poundSucceeded byGambia Colony and ProtectorateGold Coast British colony Oil Rivers ProtectorateSierra Leone Colony and ProtectorateToday part ofThe GambiaGhanaNigeriaSierra LeoneCameroonThe United Kingdom held varying parts of these territories or the whole throughout the 19th century From west to east the colonies became the independent countries of The Gambia Sierra Leone Ghana and Nigeria Until independence Ghana was referred to as the Gold Coast Contents 1 Historical jurisdiction 2 Aftermath 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistorical jurisdiction edit nbsp A sketch of the town of Bathurst The Gambia published in 1824 nbsp Otoo Ababio II Omanhene of Abura being presented to Prince of Wales Accra Gold Coast 1925British West Africa constituted during two periods 17 October 1821 until its first dissolution on 13 January 1850 and again 19 February 1866 until its final demise on 28 November 1888 as an administrative entity under a governor in chief comparable in rank to a governor general an office vested in the governor of Sierra Leone at Freetown 1 The other colonies originally included in the jurisdiction were the Gambia and the British Gold Coast modern Ghana Also western Nigeria eastern Nigeria and northern Nigeria were included 2 Africa s present makeup includes Ghana Sierra Leone Gambia Western Nigeria Eastern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria These countries and areas are artifacts of the post colonial period or what the Ghanaian writer Kwame Appiah dubs neo colonialism citation needed British West Africa was originally founded at the urging of the prominent abolitionist Fowell Buxton who felt that ending the Atlantic slave trade required some level of British control of the coastline 3 Development was solely based on modernization and autonomous educational systems were the first step to modernising indigenous culture Cultures and interests of indigenous peoples were ignored A new social order as well as European influences within schools and local traditions helped mould British West Africa s culture The British West African colonial school curriculum helped play a role in this Local elites developed with new values and philosophies who changed the overall cultural development 4 Aftermath editEven after its final dissolution a single currency the British West African pound was in effect throughout the region including Nigeria from 1907 to 1962 citation needed Nigeria gained independence in 1960 Sierra Leone was self governing by 1958 and gained independence in 1961 Gambia gained independence in 1965 In 1954 the British Gold Coast was allowed by Britain to self govern and in 1957 the Gold Coast was given independence from Britain under the name Ghana 5 See also editBritish colonisation in Africa British Togoland Colonial Nigeria Gambia Colony and Protectorate Gold Coast British colony Royal West African Frontier Force Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate European colonisation in Africa Brandenburger Gold Coast Danish Gold Coast Dutch Gold Coast Portuguese Gold Coast Swedish Gold Coast Scramble for Africa West Africa cricket teamReferences edit a b Sierra Leone WorldStatesmen org Retrieved 30 December 2018 Lange Matthew 2006 Colonialism and Development a comparative analysis of Spanish and British colonies PDF American Journal of Sociology 111 5 1412 1462 doi 10 1086 499510 JSTOR 10 1086 499510 S2CID 142835054 The African Slave Trade and its Remedy 1839 at the Internet Archive Szucs Stefan Stromberg Lars 17 August 2007 Local Elites Political Capital and Democratic Development Governing Leaders in Seven European Countries Springer Science amp Business Media ISBN 978 3 531 90110 7 Britannica Academic academic eb com Retrieved 4 February 2020 External links edit nbsp Media related to British West Africa at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British West Africa amp oldid 1177367500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
