Emmanuel Akyeampong

Emmanuel Akyeampong
Photograph by Jim Harrison

When professor of history and of African-American studies Emmanuel Akyeampong married his wife, Ruth, in 1995, the couple observed some nuptial customs in their native Ghana before the Episcopalian service in Cambridge. In Accra, their two families sat opposite each other and exchanged gifts, including a Bible, six pieces of cloth, a stool, a mat, a bottle of gin, and two bottles of schnapps— this last a legacy of early Dutch settlers. Such rituals befit Akyeampong (ATCH-em-pong), probably the first social historian from Ghana. "Social history endeavors to look at history from beneath," he says. "It studies those who do not have center stage—the poor, women, slaves, the unempowered." It also imposes methodological challenges, because "these commoners are often poor and semi-literate," he explains. "They do not keep records and diaries. Often, when they intrude into history, it's because they caused some sort of commotion, like a riot, that the state recognized and recorded." Drink, Power, and Cultural Change: A Social History of Alcohol in Ghana, c. 1800 to Recent Times (1996) reflects Akyeampong's interest in mental health, considers alcohol as an instrument of power, and "looks at history through a glass," he says, smiling. He came to Harvard in 1993 after earning his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. A fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Akyeampong speaks the West African languages Twi and Ga. He enjoys squash, jazz, and classical music, as well as life with Ruth and their young son, Emmanuel. When they return home each summer, his college professors from the University of Ghana quiz Akyeampong about his recent writings: "I still have my oral exams," he says.

 

Click here for the September-October 2004 issue table of contents

Most popular

Harvard’s Hiring Freeze Continues

University leaders say $1 billion per year is at risk due to federal actions

Harvard Layoffs Continue, with More to Come

In the wake of federal government actions, several Harvard schools and institutes are cutting costs.

Five Questions with Jacob Roberts ’19

The actor and filmmaker on creativity, collaboration, and celebrity canines

Explore More From Current Issue

David Leo Rice on 'The Berlin Wall'

David Leo Rice explores the strange, unseen forces shaping our world.

Filmmaker John Armstrong’s Adventure Documentaries

Filmmaker John Armstrong’s “outdoor adventures” find the human spirit.

How AI Could Be Raising Your Energy Bill

Utilities shift AI infrastructure costs onto consumers.