The 1874 British Bombardment of Elmina and Its Aftermath

In 1874, British forces bombarded the ancient town of Elmina on Ghana's coast, a pivotal act in the Anglo-Asante Wars. This episode explores the context: the Asante invasion of the coastal Fante states, British fears of French influence, and the decision by Sir Garnet Wolseley to punish Elmina for its alliance with the Asante. We discuss the bombardment itself—Congreve rockets and naval guns reducing the town—and the aftermath: the Treaty of Fomena, the exile of Asantehene Kofi Karikari, and the permanent shift in power. We also examine the role of Elmina's people, the Dutch departure from the coast, and how this event paved the way for the British declaration of the Gold Coast Colony later that year. Lucas and Luna also reflect on the human cost and the legacy of the bombardment in modern Ghana. #Elmina #SirGarnetWolseley #KofiKarikari #CongreveRockets #TreatyOfFomena #AngloAsanteWars #GoldCoast #Ghana #ColonialHistory #1874 #ElminaBombardment #DutchGoldCoast #FortElmina #AsanteEmpire #Fante #WestAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo