Chief to GhanaPosted by Happy HotelierIn 1838 a Chief of the Ahante tribe,Nana Baido Bonso (or Bonsu) II,killed two Dutch soldiers whoinvaded his farm. He was courtmartialled, hung and beheaded. Hishead was send over sea and endedup preserved in a bottle in LeidenUniversity University Centre forMedical Research….I assume thechief did what every farmer would doto uninvited invaders of hisproperty….The issue of Nana Baidoo Bonso (orBonsu) II’s head came to light whena Dutch historian Arthur Japin raisedit during former President JohnKufuor’s official visit to theNetherlands in October last year.After hearing the story of the head,the former President instructed theGhana Embassy to negotiate tosecure the release and the return ofthe head.After much negotiation the Dutchgovernment finally allowed therelease and the head was finallyreturned to Ghana on July 24.I’m currently reading two books thatshed new light on the influence ofthe Dutch on both the UK and the US.I will come back with the names andbearings. This is why this story drewmy attention. It is part of our colonialhistory. I’ve not read much about itin our Dutch press….tellingly?The people of Ghana will be glad tohave the opportunity to give the chiefpeace with a proper ceremony…NOW WHAT WE ARE ASKING WHERE IS THE HEAD AND BODY OF MEKATILILI WA MENZA:FUMO LIYONGO:AND THE BODY OF MWAKILINGO WHO WAS HANGED AT TREASURY SQUARE MOMBASA IN 1912
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 03:49:35 +0000
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