Gold Coast, section of the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, in Africa. It extends approximately from Axim, Ghana, or nearby Cape Three Points, in the west to the Volta River in the east and is so called because it was an important source of gold.
What does the term Gold Coast mean?
Gold-coast definition
A section of coastal western Africa along the Gulf of Guinea roughly corresponding to present-day Ghana. It was named for the large quantities of gold formerly found in the area and brought to the coast for sale. A former British colony (1874–1957) on the Gold Coast, now part of Ghana.
Who gave the name Gold Coast?
Before March 1957 Ghana was called the Gold Coast. The Portuguese who came to Ghana in the 15th century found so much gold between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta that they named the place Mina - meaning Mine. The Gold Coast was later adopted to by the English colonisers.
Why did the Gold Coast change its name?
In 1957, when the leaders of the former British colony of the Gold Coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent state—the first black African nation to gain its independence from colonial rule—they named their new country after ancient Ghana.
Why is Gold Coast now called Ghana?
The Gold Coast was renamed Ghana upon independence in 1957 because of indications that present-day inhabitants descended from migrants who moved south from the ancient kingdom of Ghana. The first contact between Europe and the Gold Coast dates from 1470, when a party of Portuguese landed.
44 related questions foundWhat was Ghana called before?
Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan nation to break free from colonial rule. Gold, cocoa and more recently oil form the cornerstone of Ghana's economy and have helped fuel an economic boom.
Which country came to Gold Coast first?
The first European explorers to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial deposits of gold in the soil. In 1483, the Portuguese came to the continent for increased trade.
What African country was formerly known as Northern Rhodesia?
24—Africa's 36th independent country was born here today. The former portectorate of Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia, ending 73 years of British rule. A wave of jubilation swept the country, which takes its name from the Zambezi River, Zambia's border with Southern Rhodesia for hundreds of miles.
Why was Ghana named?
The etymology of the name Ghana means "Strong Warrior King" and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval "Ghana" Empire in West Africa, not to be confused with today's Ghana, as the empire was further north in modern-day Republic of Mali, Senegal, southern Mauritania, as well as in the region of Guinea.
Is Gold Coast one word?
Gold Coast noun [singular or U] (GHANA)
What is the other name of Gold Coast?
British Dictionary definitions for Gold Coast
Gold Coast. noun. the former name (until 1957) of Ghana.
What is the Gold Coast in Africa?
Gold Coast, section of the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, in Africa. It extends approximately from Axim, Ghana, or nearby Cape Three Points, in the west to the Volta River in the east and is so called because it was an important source of gold.
Who discovered Africa?
Portuguese explorer Prince Henry, known as the Navigator, was the first European to methodically explore Africa and the oceanic route to the Indies. From his residence in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, he directed successive expeditions to circumnavigate Africa and reach India.
Which country is the Centre of the world?
Ghana is pretty much at the centre of the world, being both close to the equator and on the Greenwich Meridian, which represents 0° longitude.
Why is Zambia called Zed?
Unlike Kalindula, the new Zambian music has no specific name because it's a combination of international genres of music, hence followers comfortably call anything sung by a Zambian artist as Zambian music, simplified as Zed Beats.
What was South Africa called before?
The name "South Africa" is derived from the country's geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the Union of South Africa in English and Unie van Zuid-Afrika in Dutch, reflecting its origin from the unification of four formerly separate British colonies.
What does the maize cob on the coat of arms represents?
The maize cob, the mine shafthead and the zebra imposed on the national color (green), symbolize natural resources- -agriculture, minerals, game, and the land.
Why did the Ashanti trade slaves?
In exchange for guns and other European goods, the Ashanti sold gold and slaves, usually either captured in war or accepted as tribute from conquered peoples.
How long did the British rule the Gold Coast?
The 56 years of British rule that followed did not immediately weld into one state the three elements of the territory—the colonies of the Gold Coast and Asante and the protectorate of the Northern Territories—to which after World War I was added a fourth, under mandate from the League of Nations, the western part of ...
Where did most slaves come from in Africa?
The majority of all people enslaved in the New World came from West Central Africa.
Which tribe came to Ghana first?
The Guang are believed to have been the earliest inhabitants of Ghana; now, the tribe encompasses around 26 ethnic groups. Both Guan dialects and Fante tongues are used by many of the tribal subgroups.
Why Ghana is poor?
Overcrowding and homelessness are some of the many reasons for poverty in Ghana. According to Habitat for Humanity, many houses in the country lack ventilation and basic amenities. In more rural areas, outbreaks of cholera are common from lack of inside toilets in homes.
Is Ghana poor?
Ghana's poverty rate at 2011 PPP $1.90 per person per day was 47.4 percent in 1991. In 2016, Ghana's poverty rate at $1.90 was down to 13.3 percent, lower than not only the mean poverty rate of Sub-Saharan Africa but also the mean poverty rate of middle-income countries.
Who started slavery in Africa?
The transatlantic slave trade began during the 15th century when Portugal, and subsequently other European kingdoms, were finally able to expand overseas and reach Africa. The Portuguese first began to kidnap people from the west coast of Africa and to take those they enslaved back to Europe.
