… a faithful servant, and to whom it is owing that Cape Coast is still ours. -Thomas Melvil, 1751.
The eighteenth century on the Gold Coast presented a new dynamic that altered its history. By 1700, the demand for the slaves had become stronger than ever due to its demand in the New World. Also, by 1701, Asante had defeated Denkyira in the Battle of Feyiase. The European slave traders needed men to play an intermediary role in their dealings with the people of the Gold Coast and in purchasing slaves. These dynamics birthed a new class of slave traders, which upset the existing political order. Cudjoe Caboceer became one of this new class of slave traders.
Early Life
It was during this period that Cudjoe Caboceer was born. Cudjoe was born in Ekumfi Adanse to Ekuwa, a woman of Efutu origin. Being born on Monday and the third born of the marriage, he was named Cudjoe Mensah. However, Cudjoe’s life in Ekumfi Adanse was short-lived, as his mother was dissatisfied with his father’s treatment. Ekuwa returned to Efutu to get resources to pay off his husband. At Efutu, she caught Egyir Panyin’s (King Aggrey I) attention in a grand meeting. Egyir Panyin offered Ekuwa the resources needed to pay off the cost incurred by her husband during marriage and formally divorce him. Ekuwa cleaved onto Egyir Panin with his son Cudjoe Mensah. Ekua married Egyir Panin and gave birth to Egyir Enu, who later became the King of Cape Coast, known as King Aggrey II.
Cudjoe Mensah was raised by his stepfather, King Egyir Panyin (King Aggrey I). Learning from the royal house, he grew up to become industrious and updated with the happenings on the Gold Coast. He was able to learn the English language (and become an interpreter) and amass great wealth through slave trading. His wealth earned him the title Nana Berempon Cudjoe among natives, while the Europeans named him Caboceer Cudjoe.
Influence
He became the mouthpiece and advisor to the English in the Cape Coast Castle. For this reason, he was renumerated adequately and also given funds to purchase slaves on their behalf. Thomas Melvil, a representative of the Royal African Company, described him on 23 July 1751 as a “…faithful servant, and to whom it is owing that Cape Coast is still ours.” He became the link between the English and any other groups they dealt with on the Gold Coast.
Cudjoe Caboceer was tasked with purchasing slaves for the Royal African Company in Cape Coast. He did rightly so but used his share of the profit to buy more slaves. According to oral sources, some of the slaves he proclaimed dead to the RAC but hid them in villages inland. He succeeded in populating the villages of Kakumdu, Siwdu and Mpeasem with his slaves. This area around Cape Coast became an independent polity primarily due to Cudjoe Caboceer’s initiatives. The inhabitants of these villages are known as Wirepidom.
Cudjo Caboceer had more than two companies of soldiers under his control. In 1760, two of Cudjo’s groups rescued women and children from Wassa attacks and safely brought them to Cape Coast Castle.
He gave birth to Philip Quaque, who he sent to England through Rev. Thomas Thompson. Philip Quaque returned to the Gold Coast and became The First Anglican priest of African origin. Philip Quaque had different beliefs from his father, Cudjoe Caboceer, due to his training.
Cudjoe Caboceer died on 24 March 1776 in Cape Coast. Mill, who was in charge of the RAC, wrote on 7 May 1776 that the “death of Cudjoe Caboceer was a great loss since he was one of the men of influence on the Gold Coast who prided himself publicly attached to the English”.
Since then, his name has been on the lips of the people of Cape Coast, who recognize his achievements even to this day. The house of Birempong Cudjoe is still in Cape Coast.
Sources
Documents on the History of Fante: 1750-1820
Shumway, Rebecca. The Fante and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Boydell & Brewer, 2011.
Cape Coast, PRAAD. Extract by ARPS on Birempong Kwadwo.
The Star of West Africa, February 11, 1939. Page 54. Newspaper
Stephen Baidoo is a writer who loves to research about Ghana's past. He brings Ghana's history to life with each unearthed fact and forgotten narrative, transforming dry dates into passionate stories.
