John Donnelly Fage
Encyclopedia
John Donnelly Fage was a British
historian
noted for his work on African history.
He went to Cambridge University (Magdalene College) for his undergraduate, Master's and Ph.D. (1949, The achievement of self-government in southern Rhodesia, 1898-1923). After his Ph.D. he joined the newly founded University of Gold Coast (now University of Ghana
) at Accra
, which was formed under the Asquith Commission and had a
'scheme of special relationship' with the University of London
. He spent a decade here (1949-1959), developing his interest in the history of Western Africa, and particularly the African Slave Trade
, on which he was to publish extensively over the coming decade. The University started facing funding problems after 1955, and many of the senior Cambridge staff left.
In 1957, after Ghana gained independence, he was appointed its Deputy Principal. However, in 1959 he returned to Britain to join the School of Oriental and African Studies
(1959-1963) and then the University of Birmingham
, where he founded the Centre of West African Studies
(CWAS). Here he spent two very productive decades (1963-1984), holding several senior administrative posts including Vice-Principal (1981–1984).
Fage's early work includes Introduction to the History of West Africa (Cambridge University Press 1955, three editions), which was rewritten as A History of West Africa: An introductory survey (Cambridge U.P. 1969). His
An Atlas of African History (London: Edward Arnold 1958) is a widely known reference (2nd ed. 1978). The ambitious 600-page A History of Africa
(London: Hutchinson 1978),
covers the entire continent from the
Neolithic to the late twentieth century, was widely referenced (3d ed. Routledge 1995).
In a long collaboration with Roland Oliver
(who was his contemporary at Cambridge and visited him in Ghana), he founded the Journal of African History, and
also edited the authoritative eight volume Cambridge history of Africa,
(1975 to 1986).
Their Short History of Africa (Penguin 1962) ran to six editions (1988), and has been translated into twelve languages.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
noted for his work on African history.
He went to Cambridge University (Magdalene College) for his undergraduate, Master's and Ph.D. (1949, The achievement of self-government in southern Rhodesia, 1898-1923). After his Ph.D. he joined the newly founded University of Gold Coast (now University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
) at Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, which was formed under the Asquith Commission and had a
'scheme of special relationship' with the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He spent a decade here (1949-1959), developing his interest in the history of Western Africa, and particularly the African Slave Trade
African slave trade
Systems of servitude and slavery were common in many parts of Africa, as they were in much of the ancient world. In some African societies, the enslaved people were also indentured servants and fully integrated; in others, they were treated much worse...
, on which he was to publish extensively over the coming decade. The University started facing funding problems after 1955, and many of the senior Cambridge staff left.
In 1957, after Ghana gained independence, he was appointed its Deputy Principal. However, in 1959 he returned to Britain to join the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
(1959-1963) and then the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, where he founded the Centre of West African Studies
Centre of West African Studies
Centre of West African Studies is a division of the School of Historical Studies at the University of Birmingham . The centre provides teaching and research into issues of African development, culture, anthropology, sociology, politics, history, and the legacies of the African diaspora,...
(CWAS). Here he spent two very productive decades (1963-1984), holding several senior administrative posts including Vice-Principal (1981–1984).
Fage's early work includes Introduction to the History of West Africa (Cambridge University Press 1955, three editions), which was rewritten as A History of West Africa: An introductory survey (Cambridge U.P. 1969). His
An Atlas of African History (London: Edward Arnold 1958) is a widely known reference (2nd ed. 1978). The ambitious 600-page A History of Africa
(London: Hutchinson 1978),
covers the entire continent from the
Neolithic to the late twentieth century, was widely referenced (3d ed. Routledge 1995).
In a long collaboration with Roland Oliver
Roland Oliver
Roland Oliver is Emeritus Professor of African history at the University of London. Throughout a long career he was an eminent researcher, writer, teacher, administrator and organiser, who had a profound effect on the development of African Studies in the United Kingdom and who has made an...
(who was his contemporary at Cambridge and visited him in Ghana), he founded the Journal of African History, and
also edited the authoritative eight volume Cambridge history of Africa,
(1975 to 1986).
Their Short History of Africa (Penguin 1962) ran to six editions (1988), and has been translated into twelve languages.
Other works
- 1969. "Slavery and the slave trade in the context of African history," Journal of African History 10:393-404.
- 1975. "The effect of the slave trade on African Population," in R.J.A.R. Rathbone and R.P. Moss, The Population Factor in African Studies, p.15-23.
- (with Maureen Verity) An Atlas of African History. 2nd ed. London: E. Arnold, 1978.
- Ghana: A Historical Interpretation, 1983.
- A Guide to Original Sources for Precolonial Western Africa Published in European Languages, May 1987.
- J. Desmond Clark, J. D. Fage, Roland Oliver, and Richard Gray, The Cambridge History of Africa (8 vols.), Nov 1986.
- A History of West Africa: An Introductory Survey (1969)