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Ghana / Treaty with Ruler
An official of the Guinea (later Royal African) company treaty-making with a local ruler on the Gold Coast. Date: 1672
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Media ID 14281774
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1672 Ghana Guinea Official Ruler Treaty
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative image from 1672, an official of the Guinea Company, a precursor to the Royal African Company, engages in a treaty-making ceremony with a local ruler on the Gold Coast of present-day Ghana. The scene is set against the backdrop of lush vegetation, with a fan-wielding attendant standing to the side, adding an air of formality to the proceedings. The Guinea Company, established in 1555, was a British trading organization that played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade and the European colonization of Africa. The treaty depicted here likely concerned the acquisition of land for the establishment of a trading post or the granting of exclusive trading rights to the company. The local ruler, dressed in traditional attire and adorned with beads and other symbols of power, sits on a mat or stool, signifying his authority. The official, wearing a European-style hat and holding a quill pen and inkpot, represents the power and influence of European colonialism. Despite the formal appearance of the scene, the power dynamics at play are complex. European companies like the Guinea Company sought to establish control over valuable resources, such as gold and slaves, while also navigating the intricacies of local political structures and alliances. The treaty-making process was a crucial aspect of this endeavor, as it allowed European powers to secure access to African resources and labor while maintaining a veneer of diplomacy and respect for local rulers. This image offers a glimpse into the rich history of diplomatic relations between Europeans and Africans during the era of colonialism. It underscores the complex interplay of power, culture, and diplomacy that shaped the transatlantic slave trade and the colonization of Africa.
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