Info For You Lot Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey: The Greatest In Addition To Particular African Of All Time
One of the leading figures inwards the history of didactics inwards Africa was undoubtedly Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey, to a greater extent than popularly known as "Aggrey of Africa". Noted as a groovy sociologist, orator, preacher, as well as far-sighted a politician, as well as as famous for his witty as well as epigramatic sayings, Aggrey, an
apostle of inter-racial co-operation, advocated as well as helped to cutting the path of progress for the African race inwards many fields, especially inwards the direction of Religion, Education, as well as Agriculture. He is known as the "Father of African Education," "First African Gender Activist," "Pan-Africanist," "African Theologian," "Civil Right Activist," as well as "Father of Achimota College." Just type his call on Google as well as yous are probable to acquire 11,000 results inwards 0.30 seconds.
Born on Monday, 18th October, 1875, at Anomabo inwards the Central Region of the Gold Coast, of Princess Abena Anowa of Ajumako, as well as Okyeame Prince Kodwo Kwegyir, Chief Linguist inwards the courtroom of King Amonoo V of Anomabu, Aggrey was the seventeenth kid of his manful individual raise as well as 4th of his woman raise Abena Anowa, the tertiary as well as concluding married adult woman of Okyeame Kwegyir. ( Okyeame Kwegyir had 21 children inwards total; ix past times his outset wife, 4 past times his minute as well as 8 past times his tertiary married adult woman – Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey’s woman raise ).
It must live on noted that Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey was born amidst rumours of an Ashanti invasion of Anomabo. However inwards the midst of warlike-preparations fourth dimension was ready aside to call the child, since it was the 8th solar daytime after his birth, as tradition demanded.
At the naming ceremony as well as baptism on June 24th, 1883, Aggrey with his blood brother Kodwo Awir christian names of James as well as William, were past times custom bestowed on him as well as his blood brother respectively. However other fantse names were given to immature Aggrey as well as his total call was James Emman Kodwo Mensa Otsiwadu Humamfunsam Kwegyir Aggrey.
Dr James Kwegyir Aggrey as well as his family
James was his baptismal name. The others are explained thus: Emman, ‘ Great city’ (this call was supposed to live on spelled "Oman" inwards Fantse linguistic communication but Cape Coast pronounciation affected it as well as Aggrey accepted it as such). Kodwo, ‘male kid born on Monday’; Mensa, ‘third manful individual child’; Otsiwadu, ‘tenth after Otsiwa’; Humamfunsam, ‘wide-ruling Agyeman’; Kwegyir, father’s name; Aggrey, theatre unit of measurement name. (Kwegyir is said to live on a contraction of Kwaw Egyir. Egyir seems to have got been the original theatre unit of measurement name, as well as have got been anglicised ‘Aggrey’). The truth nearly the Fantse call Aggrey is that, Egyir has an alias as good as an appellation that is "Opusu" (Gurgling) as well as the Fantse people as well as their penchant for speaking English, Fantselized the "Gurgle" to Gegley" as well as out of Gegley the call Aggrey was born.
Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey’s manful individual raise was non only a respected linguist ( spokesperson of a master copy or king) but a warrior as well as his mother, was immature adult woman of a groovy medicine man. It could thus live on deduced that he was born into a traditional theatre unit of measurement but the theatre unit of measurement afterward became Christians as well as he (Dr. Aggrey) was baptised, thus the call James. (prior to this he was popularly known as Kojo, or Kodwo, Mensa. James recounted this when he stated: "My manful individual raise as well as my mother, brothers as well as sisters became Christians through me. I got a sense of savor for this matter when I was 8 years old."
Dr Aggrey`s Bust at Achimota School, Accra, Ghana.
Shortly before his eightieth birthday, he entered the Wesleyan School inwards Cape Coast, whence his manful individual raise left with his woman raise to seek work as a "goldtaker' with Mr. John Sarbah (an indigene of Anomabu as well as manful individual raise of the belatedly lawyer John Mensah Sarbah, CMG), a prosperous merchant as well as fellow member of the Legislative Council, after the bankruptcy of Hon. George Kuntu-Blankson, inwards whose theatre Kodwo Kwegyir had held a similar seat for several years at Anomabu, xv miles eastward of Cape Coast.
Stories are told of how Dr. Aggrey’s younger sis (his favourite) admired him for the greediness at which he learnt as well as recited whatever he was taught at school: the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, ‘Thirty days hath September . . .’, the Multiplication tabular array as well as so on. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot is also said nearly his thinness (though he was growing strong as well as healthy) as well as how his woman raise associated it to his detest of ‘fufu’. But most importantly, from his boyhood, Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey was diligently pursuing knowledge. . .
He rose before than other members of the family, he would produce his part of the ‘water-carrying’ as well as sweeping, as well as so hiding a piddling boiled maize nether his stuff with his books, would sideslip away to Amanfu on the seashore as well as read till schoolhouse time. He would live on seen everyday walking across Chapel Square, the centre of town, “oblivious of everything but the mass upon which his eyes were glued”. It is said that, “rarely was he lower than 4th (4th) inwards class.
Achimota School
In 1888, Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey’s life changed with the arrival of Rev. Dennis Kemp, a Wesleyan missionary, who had arrived inwards Cape Coast from Barbados, West Indies. As portion of his efforts to curb the illiteracy at the time, he proposed to select 20 people ( all boys) into the mission theatre for training, as well as favoured amidst them was Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey.
In no fourth dimension immature Emmanuel distinguished himself inwards all branches of knowledge, as well as easily won the admiration of the Rev. Dennis Kemp. In the spacious mission home, "the most palatial residence inwards Cape Coast," Aggrey as well as 20 3 other lads received instruction inwards joinery, blacksmithery, abode ornament as well as painting, inwards add-on to formal literary didactics (science, logic, etc). As expected, Aggrey became to a greater extent than than ever engrossed inwards his books. He was quoted to have got declared many times, “I desire to know everything”.
Aggrey had no fourth dimension for ‘games’. He lived for books. Often he would remain upward reading long after others were asleep. It was said that he would, when weary, necktie a soaked towel around his caput as well as sit down with his feet inwards a basin of mutual coldness water. He was also a religious man child ( some history books refer to him as ‘a natural Christian’).
Two years afterwards as well as at the tender historic catamenia of fourteen years, Aggrey completed his course of instruction at this college, as well as accepted the post service of temporary pupil instructor at Abura-Dunkwa (20 miles eastward of Cape Coast) on a monthly salary of 35 shillings. Aggrey was responsible for a grade of nearly thirty boys.Here, Rev. Dennis Kemp had been appointed to the spiritual oversight of the Coast to the Prahso district), as well as Aggrey as well as Rev. Dennis Kemp made a two-day journeying to this large circuit. At Ekroful, they were handicapped for lack of accommodation, in that location beingness no hotels or lodging houses, so they slept inwards the chapel; Rev. Kemp inwards the pulpit, as well as Aggrey inwards 1 of the pews.
By historic catamenia 15, he was inwards sole command of the schoolhouse and was compelled to present his leadership prowess. He succeeded inwards raising the standards of the pupils’ piece of work nether his guidance ( both the solar daytime schoolhouse as well as Dominicus schoolhouse which had go the largest inwards the circuit).
In a alphabetic character he wrote to the schoolhouse 37 years later, Aggrey recounted, “In 1889 I was sent to Abura Dunkwa to instruct a hamlet school. I was kindergarten teacher, primary teacher, headmaster as well as all ”. He lamented nearly the misfortunate weather condition of teachers but stated clearly, “. . . as well as yet looking dorsum upon my life, if I had the run a peril to alive again, I would gladly produce it (teaching) 1 time to a greater extent than . .
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twelvemonth afterwards, Aggrey transferred to Cape Coast, which was at nowadays becoming to a greater extent than prosperous; several Christian missionaries had arrived as well as fraternal, literary as well as social clubs, the Singing Band, Band of Hope, as well as the Chris't Little Band as well as the Y.M.C.A. were establishing themselves. Trade was becoming prosperous, with speculation inwards golden mines as well as the usage of mechanism increasing; railways had been introduced inwards the nearby district as well as banks were also established, newspapers were springing up, as well as the written report of the English linguistic communication language was becoming popular.
Aggrey at nowadays joined the staff of the Wesleyan Memorial School, (built inwards 1881 as well as hither he taught for many years). It was obvious that studying, for Aggrey was a lifestyle as well as non just a task. He was ‘found’ asking for lessons inwards preparation for the Cambridge Local Examination. At some other fourth dimension he was studying Magnetism as well as Electricity. He also traded with missionaries, giving lessons inwards the Fanti linguistic communication inwards provide for lessons inwards French, Latin as well as Psychology – he was e'er create to part his noesis with his pupils.
Dr. Aggrey is also known for his please as well as usage of long English linguistic communication words. He is quoted as such inwards 1 of his youthful essays, “ In the tropics, nature excels herself inwards superabundant productiveness”. When he could non discovery a give-and-take that conform him, he manufactured one. Again he’s quoted as saying, “ . . . the tropician is satisfied on land, the frigidian, ever on the icy waters . . .”. He also coined for himself the championship ‘tantabulator’ after the call of a music instrument, tanta-ba (in fanti), in all probability because it was the only musical instrument he could play so well.
Dr. Aggrey excelled inwards everything he ‘touched’ as well as he was proud of himself. He is quoted to have got said, “ when I was beingness trained for the ministry, I ranked outset inwards Greek, inwards Latin, inwards Bible History, inwards Logic, inwards Exegesis, yes, outset inwards everything”. He was so adept that the Wesleyan authorities permitted him to preach at historic catamenia 16. By the fourth dimension Dr. Aggrey turned 20, he was Assistant Headmaster at the Wesleyan Centenary Memorial School.
Anomabo Etsiwa Posuban, the Asafo (military) shrine that Dr James Kwegyir Aggrey belongs.
In 1889, when the Rev. J.B. Graham entered the ministry, Aggrey became the Headmaster of the schoolhouse at the historic catamenia of 23. He took all the Teachers' Certificate examinations offered past times the Department of Education; as well as inwards the concluding as well as most of import of these (in 1895) he stood outset amidst the 119 candidates all over the province who entered as well as was the only 1 who gained a minute class. The certificate of distinction he obtained qualified him without farther examination, "to instruct inwards whatever similar schoolhouse inwards whatever British Colony, the world over." The Legislative Council voted (NC30.00) 15 pounds inwards his favour for the buy of books inwards appreciation. His success inwards making the Cape Coast Wesleyan School the best schoolhouse inwards the Colony, as stated past times the as well as so Director of Education with its 400 enrolled students, made Aggrey a figure of groovy number inwards the Gold Coast fifty-fifty at that time.
Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey
From 1895 - 1898, nosotros hear of Aggrey non only as an educational giant, but also as a politico as well as a soldier. Aggrey became a recording Secretary of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, as well as for a brusk fourth dimension acted as Chief Secretary of the Society. He carried nearly a petition for signatures against the notorious Public Lands Bill (1897). On 1 occasion, he performed the splendid task of walking, inwards the course of instruction of a unmarried day, 36 miles to Manso to shipping an of import cablegram to London on behalf of the Society.
Aggrey contributed many articles to the Gold Coast Methodist Times of which his friend Rev. Jacob Anaman was as well as so the editor, thereby helping to acquire this unpopular Bill eventually withdrawn.
As a soldier inwards the Fanti-Ashanti war, nosotros discovery Aggrey serving with the expedition nether Colonel Sir Francis Cunningham Scott, a veteran of the Gold Coast Constabulary, as well as who had on his staff ii British princes.
Prince Henry of Battenberg as well as Prince Christian Victor. Aggrey was an interpreter as well as was paid 7/6d. per day. He was attached to the Telegraph Unit nether Captain R. S. Curtis as well as Lieutenant McInnes, who marched from Cape Coast to Kumasi inwards December, 1896. He saw fighting inwards Kumasi the next year, as well as returned to Cape Coast unhurt. Immediately afterwards, his father's people made him Tufuhene (Field Marshall) according to native custom, but although he accepted the honour he politely sought to live on relieved of that office, as it would have got stood inwards the way of his didactics as well as other civic programmes. This refusal, as nosotros have got seen, was non for lack of involvement inwards African customs, but because he felt he could non fulfil all these functions at 1 fourth dimension with jurist to all.
It must live on noted that Dr Aggrey was so pop with the Gold Coast educated elites that whatever he vesture they also mimic his style. In his ain words: "On the Gold Coast I was so pop that if I wore my chapeau over my correct forehead all the immature men wore theirs inwards the same way. I did non know as well as so that I knew nothing. From the Gold Coast I went to America, where I obtained ii doctorates. Then I perceived that I knew nothing."
For the side past times side twenty-six years, (from 10th July, 1898 to Oct 15th 1924), nosotros hear of Aggrey steeping himself inwards pursuit of noesis as well as didactics inwards America, for through the generous offering of Rev. John Bryan Small, a native of Barbados, Aggrey proceeded to America to live on trained to bring together the Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Reluctantly, Aggrey left for the U.S. on 10th July, 1898 past times SS "Accra" reaching America a calendar month later. During this period, Aggrey, aptly described as a life-time student, successfully took examinations every year:
Aggrey was able to combine a adept academic mental attitude with his diligence as well as difficult piece of work to heighten funds (during the long vacation) to pay his fees. He recounted an sense patch seeking for a chore at a publishing firm, thus: “ When I asked for work, they told me they had no piece of work except for a devil. I begun to dark my confront to a greater extent than black, as it is slow to produce when yous are using these manus machines. In 3 weeks, I was moved on to live on a journeyman as well as inwards some other 3 weeks. I was made a proof reader.”
For his difficult work, he was occasionally asked past times editors of Charlotte Daily Observer (the same publishing firm) to contribute articles to their papers. Mr. H.E.C Bryant, through whose hands his contributions passed noted: “ He’s nighttime as dark, but really few inwards America tin usage English linguistic communication as he can. His articles go inwards without whatever blue-penciling”
1902 Kwegyir Aggrey graduated with B.A honors. He also won a golden medal for English linguistic communication composition as well as a minute golden medal for full general scholarly deportment. In the same year, he delivered a Latin salutatory at Commencement –which inwards American colleges is the closed of the term. He had before delivered the outset Greek oration ever heard inwards the college.
In 1912 the grade of A.M was conferred upon him past times the Livingstone College, as well as Hood Theological Seminary made him Doctorate Degree.
Prior to graduating, he had given assistance to the staff of the College. When a professor, A.B Johnson vicious ill, Aggrey did his piece of work for him. Upon the decease of A.B Johnson, Aggrey was appointed Registrar as well as Financial Secretary. He taught classes inwards English linguistic communication Language as well as Literature, Sociology as well as Economics. He also acted as Treasurer of the college athletic association. He was also superintended of the College Dominicus School as well as ordained an Elder of the Zion Methodist Church inwards 1903. He became Pastor at Miller's Chapel as well as Sandy Ridge inwards 1914. Hence after completing his course, the College authorities pressed him to stay.
Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey was e'er witting of time. He was known past times students as a ‘stickler for punctuality’. Students defendant him of ‘putting on the clock’. They tried to select handgrip of him late, but never succeeded. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 swain educatee (and one-time principal), Dr. W.J. Trent wrote:
“His influence at Livingstone, where he taught for to a greater extent than than 20 years was really precious as well as had a groovy bargain to produce with the improvement of the moral as well as spiritual weather condition of the whole college life”
When inwards 1917, the seat of the President of Livingstone College (which had go vacant ) passed over, though many expected as well as supported him for the post, Dr. Aggrey remained strong. He stated inwards a letter: “ I believe the Lord must have got had something else inwards shop for me. Hence I have got been doing my best, patiently waiting until He gets create for me to go elsewhere: where He leads, I’ll follow
Dr Aggrey obtained his Philosophy Degree inwards Divinities inwards 1923. Then he returned abode to Achimota College as foundation fellow member of the staff inwards 1924 as well as as Assistant Vice-Principal, thank yous to Governor Guggisbery, who made the foundation of the College possible.
Let me province hither that inwards 1924, when the seat of the Presidency of Livingstone College became vacant 1 time to a greater extent than as well as Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey ( who past times as well as so was inwards Gold Coast) was invited to select over as President , he declined the offer; committing himself to an invitation to work as a staff fellow member of Achimota School ( inwards Accra ), despite the fact that in that location was a large disparity betwixt the income he was beingness offered as well as the 1 he was taking at that time.
In a alphabetic character to a friend, Dr. Aggrey explained his seat thus: “ In the United States, Livingstone College stands outset inwards my heart. I dearest her. God’s choicest approbation attended her. But inwards the whole broad world Africa, my Africa comes first”
It is apt at this juncture to advert Aggrey's contribution to the welfare of the Gold Coast inwards detail as well as Africa inwards full general inwards 3 major fields. He served as the only African fellow member on ii internationally reputed
didactics commissions for Africa - the Phelps-Stokes fund Commission, which was regarded as the key-stone to raising the measure of didactics inwards Africa. In her volition dated 1909, Miss Caroline Phelps-Stokes bequeathed her fortune, amounting to almost a meg dollars, to trustees with the instruction that the income live on used, inter alias, "for the didactics of Negroes, both inwards Africa as well as the United States, North American Indian as well as needy as well as deserving white students". Out of this came forth ii Commissions, which toured almost every province inwards Africa for fact-finding, on both of which Aggrey features prominently.
During this journeying Aggrey made a pregnant impression as well as underscored the importance of didactics amidst some people who would go of import figures inwards Africa, including Hastings Kamuzu Banda, afterward president of Malawi, Nnamdi Azikiwe, the outset president of Nigeria, and Kwame Nkrumah, the outset president of Ghana.
Thus nosotros hear of Aggrey inwards Sierra Leone as well as Republic of Liberia inwards September, 1920, inwards the Gold Coast inwards Oct to November, 1920 inwards Nigeria as well as Fernando Po inwards Nov to Dec 1920, the Cameroons inwards Dec 1920, the Belgian Congo inwards Jan 1921, Republic of Angola inwards Jan to Feb 1924, Republic of Kenya inwards Feb to March 1924, Republic of Uganda inwards March 1924, Tanganyika as well as Zanzibar inwards March to Apr 1924, Nyasaland as well as Rhodesia inwards Apr to June 1924, South Africa 1 time to a greater extent than inwards June 1924, as well as 1 time to a greater extent than inwards the Gold Coast inwards October, 1924.
In a telling alphabetic character to his wife, he wrote nearly his piece of work on the commission. He said the characteristic of a Christian isto produce to a greater extent than than he is commanded to do. He added:
"I tin demeanour witness that turning the correct cheque wins ultimately. Rightly does
Shakespeare brand the critical Iago – Shakespeare’s consummate Satan – the
critic of critics, pay sweet-souled Desdemona this most first-class tribute: ‘She
holds it a vice inwards her goodness non to produce to a greater extent than than is requested.’ … I go
forth, Rose, outset to serve my God, our God Who has appeared to me by
the side of the mount as well as asked me to go Pb my people away from the
Egypt of ignorance as well as maltreatment … I go to serve my people.”
While visiting Kenya, the Commission recommended 4 divide Education Advisory Committees for each racial grouping inwards Republic of Kenya (Europeans, Arabs, Indians as well as Africans). These committees steered educational evolution for each race until independence. It also recommended rural didactics as well as industrial training. The recommendations were adopted inwards 1925, Jeans School, Kabete opened to develop artisans
In South Africa he delivered a lecture which used the keys of the pianoforte as an icon of racial harmony:
"I don’t aid what yous know; present me what yous tin do. Many of my people who acquire educated don’t work, but select to drink. They view white people drink, so they think they must potable too. They simulate the weakness of the white people, but non their greatness. They won’t simulate a white human working hard... If yous play only the white notes on a pianoforte yous acquire only sharps; if only the dark keys yous acquire flats; but if yous play the ii together yous acquire harmony as well as beautiful music"
Dr Aggrey so much impressed the white settlers at world lectures that his audience wildly as well as admiringly exclaimed, "Damn his colour, he's a saint." His thought of didactics was the "All inclusive" type, "Secular education" was abhorrent to him; to him didactics meant the total evolution of the human personality. "By education," he said, " I produce non hateful but learning. I hateful the preparation of the mind, inwards morals as well as inwards a manus that helps to brand 1 socially efficient. Not but the 3 R's , but the 3 H's the head, the manus as well as the heart." He wanted this all-round preparation for girls as good as boys;
"No race or people tin ascent one-half slave, one-half free.
The surest way to hold a people downwards is to
educate the men as well as fail the women.
If yous educate a human yous but educate an
individual, but if yous educate a adult woman yous educate a family."
Of University education, he said it should combine the best of eastward with the best of the W - the best of Africa with the best of Europe, Asia as well as America. "It should encourage original thinking, encourage research, assist to add together to human knowledge....we of West Africa have got proved that nosotros tin acquire the classics, theology as well as philosophy. We are past times masters inwards jurisprudence as well as dialectics. The enquiry is, tin nosotros plough such noesis to a greater extent than as well as to a greater extent than into the service of the mutual weal? Can nosotros give dorsum with involvement what
nosotros have got received? I believe, nosotros can. It is for University Education to show what scientific preparation tin do. University didactics should aim to give women parallel preparation as well as some solar daytime co-education....to subdue the
earth....Training for character: that is must live on religious, must live on christian: Christianity versus Church-going."
While inwards the United States, he did a groovy bargain to assist the needy negroes who were at the mercy of money lenders past times encouraging the formation of Co-operative Farmers' Association, Farmers Unions Credit Union Banks, as well as other agricultural enterprises to salve the negro of his fiscal embarrassment.
On his provide to the Gold Coast, patch on the staff at Achimota, he sought permission of the Director of Agriculture as well as toured the length as well as breadth of the Gold Coast, preaching the same ideals. The termination was that the output as well as character of farmers' crops inwards the twenties improved radically.
As an advocate for inter-racial co-operation, Aggrey contributed a lot to the drive of peace. His ideas were based on bi-racial grouping, as well as stood for civic pride as well as social betterment, taking pride inwards one's ain race but seeking friendly human relationship with other races. This was the radical contrary thought of ultra-racial grouping of thinkers as well as the ultra-conservative schoolhouse of intellectuals of whom Marcus Garvey was described as a groovy champion.
Aggrey e'er urged his people to live on proud of their race as well as colour. He believed they should remain distinct because they had their definite as well as detail contribution to brand to the harmony of mankind. Not
amalgamation, nor conflict, but co-operation was Aggrey's ideal. He expressed this past times his instance of Piano Keys:
"You tin play a melody of sorts on the dark keys,
as well as yous tin play a melody of sorts on the white keys,
but for harmony yous must usage both the dark as well as the white."
"True co-operation," he said "involves a certainly stair out of
equality - equality of opportunity, if non of actual political status.
It agency that each side has something to contribute - something
to a greater extent than than braun on 1 side, encephalon on the other - to the well-being of both".
http://www.grioo.com/info1408.html Dr Bangura on Aggrey
Dr. Abdul Karim Bangura identifies a model leader for the modern period. Bangura is a professor of International Relations as well as a Researcher-In-Residence at the Center for Global Peace inwards the School of International Service at American University inwards Washington, DC.
What Afrika needs correct at nowadays are to a greater extent than Aggreys!!!
'Only the best is adept plenty for Africa'
"My people of Africa, nosotros were created inwards the icon of God, but men have got made us think that nosotros are chickens, as well as nosotros nevertheless think nosotros are, but nosotros are eagles. Stretch forth your wings as well as fly! Don't live on content with the nutrient of Chickens" - Dr J E Kwegyir Aggrey. This tribute for Black History Month was written past times Prof Felix I. D. Konotey-Ahulu, the Dr Kwegyir Aggrey Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
"I am proud of my colour, whoever is non proud of his color is non jibe to live." That was Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey (or "Aggrey of Africa" but he was an early on 20th century phenomenon.
I outset heard of his call from my manful individual raise many decades ago. Aggrey was born a mere 15 miles away from Cape Coast, at Anomabu inwards Ghana, on xviii Oct 1875 (exactly 129 years agone this month). His manful individual raise was Prince Kodwo Kwegyir, master copy linguist inwards the courtroom of King Amonu V of Anomabu, as well as his mother, Abena Andua, was a princess of Ajumako.
At 22, Aggrey left for the USA to pursue farther studies. Racial prejudice, known as well as so as the "Colour Bar", was at its worst, as well as he went to the "Negro" Colleges. The Americans were surprised at his noesis of English. A Mr H.E.C. Bryant was known to remark: "He is nighttime as dark, but really few inwards America tin usage English linguistic communication as he can."
Aggrey took his Masters inwards 1912, as well as was shortly awarded a Doctorate of Divinity past times the Hood Theological Seminary. His sermons amazed white as well as dark Americans alike. He was happily married to Rosebud Douglas, as well as African-American, with whom he had ii girls as well as ii boys, the concluding born, called Orison Rudolph Guggisberg Aggrey, became a diplomat inwards the US Foreign Service. One American lady, Miss Caroline Phelps-Stokes, inwards her Will dated 1909, bequeathed $1m (a huge amount inwards those days) to trustees to live on used mainly on "the didactics of Negroes, both inwards Africa as well as the United States, North American Indians as well as needy as well as deserving white students". Commissioners were appointed to produce the basis work, as well as Aggrey was included amidst the all-white members. This enabled him to provide to tour Africa twice inwards 4 years.
Wherever he went, he was inwards demand to speak, advise, or preach. He found the "Colour Bar" as vicious on his continent as inwards the USA, but he was remarkably equipped to bargain with it. In Belgian Congo, the governor left him out when he invited members of the Commission to dinner! In Angola, when Aggrey saw the handling of the Portuguese masters to labourers inwards the forced labour gang, he wept.
In South Africa alone, Aggrey addressed audiences 120 times. On 1 occasion when the hall was packed inwards Cape Town as well as Aggrey arrived, the white gate-keeper refused to allow him in. Calmly, as well as inwards a dignified voice, Aggrey said: "But it is me they are all gathered to hear." Still the gate-keeper was recalcitrant, patch others filed past times him into the hall, until the white chairman of the meeting, becoming anxious, rushed out to human face for Aggrey. He discovered that he was beingness obstructed. Aggrey was given a standing ovation. But inwards Pretoria, when he was trying to board a develop to lecture, he was pushed out. Even so he was offered ii professorships on the spot; 1 at Fort Hare, as well as the other at South Africa College. People listened to him with amazement.
Before the minute Phelps-Stokes Commission tour of Africa, Aggrey lectured both inwards USA as well as Canada. His extempore lectures were followed past times a serial of questions, as well as 1 time a Dutch South African government minister shed tears of shame at the horrors of the race problem. It was during a lecture inwards Canada that Aggrey made 1 of his groovy statements: "Only the best is adept plenty for Africa."
In Jan 1924, Aggrey sailed from New York for England to joined the Second Phelps-Stokes Commission to go to the places inwards Africa where they had non visited before - Abyssinia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika as well as Zanzibar, Nyasaland, Rhodesia, South Africa again, as well as the Gold Coast. After hearing him lecture on the minute see to South Africa, a white human exclaimed: "Damn his colour, the human is a saint."
Aggrey run out to live on a groovy educationist, just as he had wished when he was immature . By an amazing stroke of fortune, he met ii groovy white men with whom he co-founded Achimota College inwards Accra, the Rev A.G.Fraser as well as Sir Gordon Guggisberg, the colonial governor.
Rev Fraser wanted the best for Africa, patch Guggisberg, rare amidst colonial governors, recognised the potential of the dark man, as well as ready nearly edifice Takoradi Harbour, Korle Bu Hospital, as well as Achimota College (now School). Rev Fraser was principal as well as Kwegyir Aggrey assistant vice-principal. Apparently, the Colonial Office inwards London objected to making a dark human vice-principal inwards a college which was originally called Prince of Wales College.
It was Aggrey who persuaded Governor Guggisberg that the college should live on co-educational. Aggrey said: "The surest way to hold a people downwards is to educate the men as well as fail the women. If yous educate a human yous but educate an individual, but if yous educate a adult woman yous educate a family."
He stressed that didactics should encourage "original thinking, research [and also] assist to add together to human knowledge... We inwards West Africa have proved that nosotros tin acquire the classics, theology, philosophy. We are past times masters inwards jurisprudence as well as dialectics. The enquiry is, tin nosotros plough such noesis into the service of the mutual weal?"
Aggrey e'er held that the essential portion of didactics was preparation the mind, encouraging adept grapheme as well as beingness original. He believed inwards co-operation, which involved equality of opportunity. "It agency that each side has something to contribute - something to a greater extent than than brawn on 1 side, encephalon on the other -to the wellbeing of both." Hence his famous pianoforte keys representative on the badge of Achimota School. "You tin play a melody of sorts on the dark keys only, as well as yous tin play a melody of sorts on the white keys only, but for perfect harmony yous must usage both the dark as well as the white keys," Aggrey said.
The co-operation he was calling for betwixt whites as well as dark was non that betwixt an donkey as well as its rider. I e'er similar to think of his pianoforte keys representative as depicting what he (black key) as well as Fraser as well as Guggisberg (white keys) managed to accomplish inwards bringing Achimota School about.
Aggrey's humiliy likewise is worth mentioning, as when he took his swain Fante, Rev Anaman, past times surprise, past times polishing Anaman's shoes when spent the weekend with him.
Aggrey's ambition for his continent - which he described as enigmatic, its shape on the map posing a enquiry grade - is demonstrated inwards the next even out he narrated:
"A certainly human went through a wood seeking whatever plane he powerfulness find. He caught a immature bird, brought it home, lay it amidst his fowls as well as ducks as well as turkeys, as well as gave it chicken's nutrient to eat. Five years later, a naturalist came to see the man, as well as noticed the bird. He said to the owner: 'Look here, this is an eagle, non a chicken'. 'Yes, yous may live on right,' said the man, 'but I have got trained it to live on a chicken. It is no longer an eagle, it is a chicken, fifty-fifty though it is enormous.'
'No', said the visitor, 'it is nevertheless an eagle; it has the see of an eagle, as well as I shall brand it soar high to the heavens'. 'No,' said its owner, 'it is at nowadays a chicken, as well as it volition never fly'.
"They agreed to seek it. The naturalist picked upward the bird, held it up, as well as said loudly: 'Eagle, thou fine art an eagle; thou dost belong to the sky as well as non downwards here. Stretch forth thy wings as well as fly', as well as with that he hurled the plane up. The eagle turned this way as well as that, as well as and so looking down, saw the chickens eating, as well as came to bring together them.
"The possessor said: 'I told yous it is at nowadays a chicken'. 'No' said the man, 'this plane is an eagle. I shall come upward dorsum to show this to you. The do was repeated 3 times, with the same result. The plane e'er came dorsum to feed with the chickens.
"The naturalist came dorsum again, chose a hill, as well as held the plane aloft, pointing it to the rising sun, as well as shouted: 'Eagle, thou fine art an eagle; thou dost non belong downwards here. Thou dost belong to the sky; stretch forth thy wings as well as fly.' The eagle looked round, tembled as if novel life was filling it, as well as of a precipitous it stretched out its wings, as well as with the screech of an eagle, it mounted higher, as well as higher, as well as never returned. It was actually an eagle, though it had been kept as well as tamed similar a chicken!
"My people of Africa," Aggrey continued, "we were created inwards the icon of God, but men have got made us think that nosotros are chickens, as well as nosotros nevertheless think nosotros are, but nosotros are eagles. Stretch forth your wings as well as fly! Don't be content with the nutrient of chickens."
After Achimota School was opened inwards 1927, Aggrey went to the USA, lecturing as well as preaching, as well as completing a mass inwards Columbia University. He vicious sick on thirty July 1927 from pneumococcal meningitis inwards New York, as well as died really quickly, aged 52. Great lamentations was made on both sides of the Atlantic.
Tributes included that of 1 of his best friends, Dr Jesse Jones. The honorary pall-bearers who carried his coffin were all white citizens of Salisbury, USA - a existent token of Aggrey's influence inwards the community inwards those days of "Colour Bar".
His powerfulness to inspire Africans, especially Ghanians has never abated. There is an Aggrey House inwards Achimota, an Aggrey Memorial Chapel, as well as the province has Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg lectures. There is an Aggrey Annual Prize Examination at the University of Cape Coast, linked to the personal professorship graciously bestowed on me past times the university. Surely, that white human inwards South Africa was right: "Damn his colour, the human is a saint".
source: http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/21.html
Black History Month Series: African Nationalism Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey’s Contribution
This calendar week I desire to human face at the contribution of Dr James Aggrey towards African Nationalism. Dr Aggrey was a champion of didactics inwards Africa as well as an exponent of inter-cultural as well as inter-racial unity. Aggrey was born at Anomabo inwards the sometime Gold Coast at nowadays Republic of Ghana on the 18th of Oct 1857. His manful individual raise was a master copy inwards Anomabo as well as he also worked as an agent for diverse merchants. In 1884 Aggrey’s theatre unit of measurement was converted to Christianity through Methodist missionaries inwards Ghana. Aggrey started attention the local Methodist schoolhouse as well as for the 5 years that he was there, he showed an aptitude for learning. As was customary inwards those days for promising students, Aggrey was sent to go as well as alive with a missionary theatre unit of measurement at the mission theatre inwards Cape Coast when he was thirteen years old. After ii years he left to go a instructor at Abura Dunkwa. In 1892 he returned to Cape Coast Methodist School to go an Assistant Teacher. He afterward passed the Teacher’s Certificate with distinction as well as also received the Gold Coast Legislative Council Prize for his studies. He afterward joined the Telegraph Corps of the British expeditionary forcefulness to Kumasi as an interpreter. He remained inwards this post service until 1896 when he was appointed Headmaster of his old school. While Headmaster, he was also involved inwards the translation of the Bible into his linguistic communication (Fante) as good as editor of Gold Coast Methodist Times.
In 1898 he was awarded a scholarship past times the African American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) to written report religion at the Livingstone College inwards Salisbury, North Carolina inwards United States. This was so that he tin go on effectively his missionary as well as educational activities inwards Ghana. He graduated from the College inwards 1902 with distinction gaining a BA grade inwards Religion. He did non right away provide to Republic of Ghana as he stayed working at the College, outset as a registrar as well as afterward as a fiscal secretarial assistant as well as lecturer. He also continued studies at the Columbia University at Morningside Heights, New York. He afterward enrolled at the Hood Theological Seminary at Charlotte, North Carolina from where he graduated inwards 1912 with a Doctor of Divinity degree. While studying for his doctorate grade he was working part-time for AMEZ publishing theatre inwards Charlotte. In add-on to working at AMEZ publishing house, he was ordained as an AMEZ government minister for his devotion as well as calling. During the side past times side few years he continued teaching at Livingstone College as well as was fifty-fifty considered for the seat of president of the College inwards 1917. It was decided that he was non eligible because of his nationality.
In 1920 he became the only African fellow member of a commission of research into Education inwards Africa nether the auspices of the Phelps-Stokes Funds. While serving on this commission he travelled to unlike places such as Britain, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, the Congo, Nigeria, Republic of Angola as well as South Africa. This gave him insight into the educational needs of Africa. He became so successful inwards his mission of African didactics that he was offered the seat of Professor of Sociology at the College of Fort Hare inwards South Africa (this is 1 of the outset Colleges inwards Africa). Aggrey turned downwards this seat as he wanted to farther his ain studies as well as participate inwards the evolution of novel educational facilities on the continent. The findings of his commission were published inwards 1922 as well as this led to the establishment of educational programmes past times the British authorities inwards Africa. Mean patch Aggrey returned to the States to farther his didactics past times gaining an MA grade as well as a Diploma inwards Education from Columbia University.
Another Phelps-Stokes Commission led him to investigate didactics inwards East as well as Southern Africa. This led him to move to Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Northern as well as Southern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Nyasaland as well as South Africa. This travels aided his international prestige as he became a sort of an ambassador of didactics inwards Africa.
In 1924 he travelled dorsum to Republic of Ghana as well as helped flora a College of Higher Education inwards Accra. He became the Vice-Principal of this institution. He worked tirelessly until 1927 inwards helping African Nationalists inwards overcoming their suspicion as to the British authorities motives for setting upward this College. He was able to articulate effectively the demand for the establishment of higher didactics institutions for Africans inwards Africa. This College is the famous Achimota College which some have got described as the Eaton of Africa. The emblem of the College is the symbol of Black as well as White of the pianoforte keys. This was inwards reference to Aggrey’s comment nearly Black as well as White partnership that although the unlike coloured keys could played on their own, they had to play together to accomplish perfect harmony. Shortly after the opening of the College, Aggrey travelled briefly to England as well as spoke at a conference on Africa held at High Leigh inwards Hertfordshire. Part of what he said was that, “No outset grade educated African wants to live on a White man……………..Every educated Negro wants to live on a outset grade Negro, non a tertiary grade European……….The superiority complex is doing a tremendous mischief inwards Africa………..When I am worried, I go on my knees as well as I verbalise to God inwards my ain language…………” He also travelled to the States to see his theatre unit of measurement as well as consummate his PHD thesis titled, “British Relations with Africa” at the Columbia University. After a brief catamenia inwards the States he vicious sick as well as died on the 30th July 1927 at Harlem Hospital. Dr James Aggrey volition live on remembered as 1 of the African Nationalists who saw the role of didactics as really crucial to the evolution of the continent. This was his lifelong passion which he faithfully executed.
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