Between The Sea And The Lagoon: An Eco-social History Of The Anlo Of Southeastern Ghana, Ca. 1850 To Recent Times (western African Studies)

This study offers a “social interpretation of environmental process” for the coastal lowlands of southeastern Ghana. The Anlo-Ewe, sometimes hailed as the quintessential sea fishermen of the West African coast, are a previously non-maritime people who developed a maritime tradition. As a fishing community the Anlo have a strong attachment to their land. In the twentieth century coastal erosion has brought about a collapse of the balance between nature and culture. The Anlo have sought spiritual explanations but at the same time have responded politically by developing broader ties with Ewe-speaking peoples along the coast. This Study Offers A 'social Interpretation Of Environmental Process' For The Coastal Lowlands Of Southeastern Ghana. The Anlo-ewe, Sometimes Hailed As The Quintessential Sea Fisherman Of The West African Coast, Are A Previously Non-maritime People Who Developed A Maritime Tradition. Since The Mid-seventeenth Century They Have Attempted To Domesticate The Lagoons And The Sea Through The Exploitation Of Salt And Fish, The Use Of Waterways As Trade Routes, And The Struggle To Obtain Security From Lagoon Flooding And Sea Erosion. As A Fishing Community The Anlo Yet Have A Strong Attachment To Their Land. In The Twentieth Century Persistent Coastal Erosion Has Brought A Collapse Of The Balance Between Nature And Culture, Compounded By Progressive Marginalization In The Late-colonial And Post-colonial Political Economy Of Ghana. The Anlo Have Sought Spiritual Explanations For Environmental Disaster, At The Same Time That They Have Responded Politically By Developing Broader Cultural And Ecological Ties With Ewe-speaking Peoples Along The Coast.--jacket. Migration, Topography And Early Settlements In The Keta Lagoon Basin -- Abolition, British Influence And Smuggling In The Anlo Lowlands Up To C. 1890 -- Commercial Prosperity, Urbanization And Social Life In Early Colonial Keta -- Unstable Ecology Belief, Knowledge And The Enigma Of Sea Erosion In Colonial Keta, 1907-32 -- The Search For Space Land Reclamation, Migrant Fishing, Shallot Cultivation And Illicit Liquor Distillation In Anlo, C. 1930-57 -- Harbours And Dams Economic Development And Environmental Change In The Lower Volta Basin, 1957 To The Present -- Coastal Erosion, Political Ecology And The Discourse Of Environmental Citizenship In Twentieth-century Anlo -- Living With The Sea Society And Culture In Contemporary Anlo -- A Physical Map Of Anlo -- Slave Coast Of West Africa -- Ghana Showing Administrative Regions And Volta Lake -- High-water Mark At Keta Town, 1907-29 -- High-water Mark At Keta Town, 1907-87 -- Vodza Beach, 23 July 1994 -- Fort Prindsensten, C. 1893 -- Alley In Front Of Fort Prindsensten, C. 1893 -- Keta Market-day, C. 1893 -- Wuta-missionhaus In Keta, C. 1893 -- Chief James Ocloo's House, Keta, C. 1893 -- Liquor Shop In Keta, C. 1893 -- St Michael's Cathedral, Keta, 18 October 1996 -- Horse-mackerel Catch, Adzido Beach, 18 September 1996 -- Shallots At Anloga Market, 1996 -- Flooded Houses In Keta, September 1996 -- Collapsed Front Of Fort Prindsensten, Keta, 4 September 1996 -- Ndc Women Supporters At The Hogbetsotso Festival, 2 November 1996 -- Sea Defence Project Exhibit, Anloga, 2 November 1996. Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 229-238) And Index. Machine generated contents note: 1 Migration, Topography & Early Settlements in the Keta Lagoon Basin 2 Abolition, British Influence & Smuggling in the Anlo Lowlands up to c. 1890 3 Commercial Prosperity, Urbanization & Social Life in Early Colonial Keta 4 Unstable Ecology Belief, Knowledge & the Enigma of Sea Erosion in Colonial Keta, 1907-32 5 The Search for Space land Reclamation, Migrant Fishing, Shallot Cultivation & Illicit Liquor Distillation in Anlo, c. 1930-57 6 Harbours & Dams Economic Development &i Environmental Change in the Lower Volta Basin, 1957 to the Present 7 Coastal Erosion, Political Ecology & the Discourse of Environmental Citizenship in Twentiethcentury Anlo 8 Living with the Sea Society & Culture in Contemporary Anlo Bibliography Index Maps, Figures & Photographs. This study offers a social interpretation of environmental process for the coastal lowlands of southeastern Ghana. It focuses on the Anlo-Ewe, a previously non-maritime people who developed a maritime tradition and attempted to domesticate their environment.