"Asante to the Basel Women's Association: A Report on the Kibi Boarding School in the Third Quarter of 1876"

Out of the graduates of the school up to 1876 had come 2 catechists, 2 teachers, and 3 fathers of Christian families. This is a history of the Kibi school written from Asante's own knowledge and the information in the school-records. The key moment of change for the school was after the emancipation of 1874 'when instead of tyranny and oppression (a period of) freedom and equality (arrived)’. The youth of Akim used this freedom to start coming to school. Most come from Kibi, Asiakwa and the North West. 3 are from Asante - a Kwahu whose uncle brought him to the school before the missionaries were established at Abetifi, a Juaben, and a boy from Kumasi who before had been a slave following capture as prisoner of war. It is a real haven for once slave youths - the masters are still trying to force people to remain slaves, but no-one dare touch a pupil at the Boarding School. Now ex-slaves sit next to boys from free and noble families in the boarding school - it is interesting to see the ex-slave sitting next to the boy from the royal family, and hear the former say to the latter 'Kosa nsu bra afei yew ungina ye pe’ which Asante translates to mean 'Go and fetch water, we are all alike now'. 5 of the boys who entered the school are baptismal candidates have applied for baptism - they are all older boys.

18.10.1876

18.10.1876

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