Thanks to its considerable natural wealth, Ghana is one of the leading countries of Africa and the first Sub-Saharan colony to gain independence from colonial rule. Ghana is highly celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, linked with chieftaincy and religion. Many festivals celebrated throughout the country allow the display of ornamental art, clothing, and chiefly or ceremonial regalia. But Ghana’s arts notably include textiles such as the kente cloth of the Akan and Ewe peoples. Ghana is also home to many cultural institutions that preserve and promote national heritage. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged over the centuries, notable are the Kingdom of Dagbon and the Kingdom of Ashanti. In the 15th century, direct sea trade with Europe determined a strong impact on the area’s inhabitants, many of whom actively traded with other Europeans. During this time, the Portuguese Empire contested the area for trading rights until the establishment of British control in the late 19th century, naming the colony “Gold Coast” from the initial trade focus on the readily available gold of the area (focus which later shifted to the more lucrative slave trade).

Western Africa
Ghana
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