Muslims, the so-called menial jobs and the colonial era (1)
This article traces the historical origins of the labour force (menial jobs) in Ghana from the colonial era of the British.
The British in the 20th Century created one of the robust and most stable economy for the Gold Coast in West Africa using the cocoa bean, thereby creating employment for all the three strata of the society, namely: The lowest stratum of farmers who developed the cocoa farms using labour from the North. The middle income earners of the standard- seven graduates bought cocoa from the farmers and sold them to cocoa buying agents. While top government officials exported the cocoa beans to earn the country the much-needed pound sterling. Here the British had succeeded in killing three birds with one stone.
Gold from the mines also contributed significantly to the stability of the economy as reflected in the British pound sterling at that time.
The overall result was that the currency was very stable, while prices of food and other consumable goods were affordable and very stable. This state of affairs naturally attracted unskilled labourers, especially from the West African sub-region. On the other hand, it also attracted traders from far away Asian countries as India, Syria, and Lebanon.
Among the unskilled labourers from the West African countries particular mention should be made of: Malians popularly called Kayafuor in those days. Nigerians popularly called Alatafuor or Yorubas. Nigeriens popularly called Zambrama, were also in the country as well as Kotokolis from Togo. Wangarans and Hausas preceded the British in their presence in the country, hence are treated separately. A significant number of these foreign nationals who later created the menial labour force were Muslims. Immediately on arrival they created their own jobs, where there was least competition from indigenous. For example, in the Gold Coast era the population was largely dependent on water from rivers, rivulets and wells. That was before the British began to develop tap water for consumption. An example of modern water works developed by the British is the Owabi water supply in Kumasi. Before then the Malians or Gaos would fetch water from these natural water resources in containers called “graa” on “grawa” in Twi at affordable prices. Being tall, strong and energetic people, they worked hard. I believe it was a deliberate British policy to allow mostly only such type of immigrants enter into the country as part of its efforts to create the necessary menial manpower resources for the Gold Coast. In the evenings they would pound the “fufuo” of their masters in which they would partake in eating, hence charged no fees. Being Muslims, they were very frugal in money spending hence saved a lot of their monies.
They would next invest them in the cooking of delicious brown rice served with stew and dry fish called Ohenempaboa in Twi. As the earnings increased, they would next invest their profits in the innovative business of selling fuels (Petrol, gas oil and kerosine) in the rural areas to supplement the efforts of the traditional oil companies like Shell who operated mostly in the urban centres. They would dig large holes in the ground and bury the tanks in them.
They would then fix, on top of the tanks, their manual pumps and pump the fuel into calibrated glass containers used to measure the amount of fuel pumped. In the colonial days, such jobs as performed by these Malians in the oil industry was regarded as menial.
Zamrama also used to sell hot tea served with long loaf of bread, butter and sardine to the public in Kumasi at affordable prices. The British authorities were very strict in the maintenance of hygienic standards in public eating places presently called chop bars. Hausa men specialised in the preparation of delicious meat khebab to the public, while the women sold delicious tuo-zaafis served with ayoyo green leaves to the public. The tuo zaafi, prepared from corn, provided the carbohydrates, the meat and fish in the soup provided the proteins, the green leaves (ayoyo) and the dawadawa spices used in preparing the soup provided the vitamins, the salt provided the minerals and of course there was always the presence of water to create a balanced diet.
Hausa men and other tribes have ever played the important role of circumcision which is a minor form of external surgery. Little wonder the Ghana Medical Authorities has taken over that responsibility, while permitting traditional wanzams to operate in order not to deprive them completely of a livelihood- a noble act.
Wangaras, as pointed out from the onset of the article, were in the country by centuries ahead of the British colonial rule. They introduced Islam into West Africa including Ghana through trading in gold and salt.
Yorubas, popularly called Alatafuor from Nigeria, were present in the country from the colonial era. They were mostly petty traders selling all sorts of goods. Fulanis, a Muslim tribe, are scattered all over West Africa. They are mostly cow rearers. Indigenous Ghanaian tribes in the North of the country, they are also cow rearers and export large amounts of cows to the south for slaughtering in slaughter houses called mayankas. The greatest abattoir in the country is sited at Ahinsan in Kumasi, our second capital. Modern slaughter houses have now been constructed in many parts of the country. They supply halal (lawful meat) to the public. Being the first to introduce the meat industry in Ghana, Muslims continue to dominate it. Last but not the least need be mentioned of the Atakwamis from Togo who are credited with the first to construct mud houses in the hinterland.
The development and maintenance of cocoa farms in the South have always been reserved to the Northerners including the Moshis in order to prevent foreigners from becoming land owners. Mosis and other northern tribes are noted for their strong bodies in addition to their faithfulness and moral uprightness. Before the advent of the British colonial rule, the economy of the country under the Ashantis was dominated by cola, gold and slaves. Traders came from all over the neighboring countries (Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Niger etc) to buy the raw nuts from the Ashanti farmers. They would then brew them and export them to the North, North Africa, Middle East and the Sudan. Cola is a stimulant like tea and coffee. They all contain varying amounts of coffee that stimulate the mind when eaten to enable them work on cocoa farms for long hours without getting tired. In the same vein they are eaten to keep vigil to explain why Muslims patronize them.
Currently they serve as an important ingredient in the universally acknowledged Coca-Cola beverage patronised all over the world.
Equally important is it to state that Europeans and the British used these foreign nationals in the development of the mining industry. Such nationals include Fulanis, Wangaras, Zamramas etc. So was the development of the Police and the Army that relied heavily on Northerners and Hausas in the initial stages of formation for the fact that indigenes shied away from them for being menial and dangerous. The nation is heavily dependent on the services of these menial jobs. Out of ignorance we might have termed them as menial in the past. Yet as the nation grows into maturity and the population grows, we are now realising that they could be harnessed into useful employments.
CONCLUSION:
The above is an overview of the historical development of the manual labour force in the country from the Gold Coast era up to date, mostly written from my childhood memories.
BY KHALID KOFI AHMAD
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