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The Aban, Kumase, Ghana



The Aban, Kumase, Ghana

1822

The Aban, also referred to as The Palace of Culture, was a grand building constructed to display the wealth, gifts and military might of the Asante Kingdom.

It was built by Fante builders from the coast of Ghana and inspired by images of European architecture that the Asantehenes Osei Kwadwo and Osei Bonsu had seen.

This building was completed in 1822 and described by T.E Bowdich and Joseph Dupuis in their accounts of their visits to Kumase.

This etching (artist unknown) is from 1874 which was when the British looted and destroyed it.

Photo: The Aban

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This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 772070). 
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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