Ethnicity and the Making of History in Northern Ghana

Download or read book Ethnicity and the Making of History in Northern Ghana written by Carola Lentz and published by Edinburgh University Press. This book was released on 2006-07-04 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on two decades of research this social and political history of North-Western Ghana traces the creation of new ethnic and territorial boundaries, categories and forms of self-understanding, and represents a major contribution to debates on ethnicity, colonialism and the 'production of history'. It explores the creation and redefinition of ethnic distinctions and commonalities by African and European actors, showing that ethnicity's power derives from a contradiction: while ethnic identities purport to be non-negotiable, creating permanent bonds, stability and security, the boundaries of the communities created and the associated traits and practices are malleable and adaptable to specific interests and contexts.