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Chronicles from Gonja

Chronicles from Gonja A Tradition of West African Muslim Historiography - Fontes Historiae Africanae. Series Arabica

Hardback (19 Mar 1987)

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Publisher's Synopsis

The old kingdom of Gonja, founded by immigrant horsemen of Malian origins in the mid-sixteenth century, lies in the north of the Republic of Ghana. Historians of Gonja are fortunate in having access to chronicles of local authorship, written in Arabic. This book traces the development of that historiographical tradition and shows that by the early eighteenth century scholars in Gonja were not only maintaining annals but were also committing to writing the hitherto orally. transmitted accounts of the origins of the state and the wars of expansion. After introductory chapters outlining the early history of the kingdom and the development of the historiographical tradition, a number of historical writings are presented in the original Arabic texts and in English translation. Each work is followed by an extensive commentary explaining its content. The final chapter presents a series of letters exchanged in the early nineteenth century by Muslims resident in the northern towns and their co-religionists in Kumase, the capital of Asante.

About the Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press dates from 1534 and is part of the University of Cambridge. We further the University's mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence.

Book information

ISBN: 9780521260411
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Pub date:
DEWEY: 966.701
DEWEY edition: 19
Language: English
Number of pages: 258
Weight: 560g
Height: 228mm
Width: 152mm
Spine width: 21mm