Christianity, modernity and the weight of tradition in the life of Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I, c. 1888–1931

Abstract

AbstractMuch of what has been written on Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I (1888-1931) focuses on his career as the king of Asante in the context of British colonisation. This article attempts to shed some light on Prempeh's personal life, and his engagement with Christianity and modernity. The article defines modernity and conversion in the Asante context, and examines Prempeh's pioneering efforts to fuse Asante tradition with modernity. The endeavour had profound consequences for Prempeh and Asante. The article is a micro-study of the operation of global cultural forces in a non-Western context.