This is us

I am a master’s student in history and digital humanities at the University of Basel, and I participated in the second field trip to the Stuttgart region. I was especially interested in how the historical remnants of the Basel Mission are perceived and dealt with today in different institutions in Basel, Gerlingen and Korntal

I am a bachelor’s student in history and sociology. I participated in the second field trip that took place in Basel and southwest Germany. On this excursion, I became interested in the ways the different institutions we visited were dealing with their missionary history.

In the summer of 2023 I started my M.A. in History and German Philology at the University of Basel. Through the seminar the Basel Mission got turned from just another building I sometimes pass to an institution that is intricately connected with many places of the world including of course, Ghana. One of the things I encounter frequently in both subjects I study and interests me deeply is nationalism with its various forms and consequences. This then also became the topic of the text I wrote based on a newspaper article that was hidden away somewhere in the BM archive.

I am currently studying History and Anglophone Linguistics and Literary studies at the University of Basel. The collaborative approach of the Baselfo project to the history of the Basel Mission and its involvement with Ghana was something that initially sparked my interest. I then found myself particularly intrigued by the different perspectives on the Basel Mission that existed amongst our group, in the people we encountered and in the past. Apart from my studies I am an avid fan of tabletop games and enjoy going for a run in nature.

I’m studying history and gender studies at bachelor level. I am usually interested in social movements and Swiss history, but in a global perspective. I have no experience in African Studies. The excursion was definitely an eye-opener and a great way to make new friends with whom I will continue to keep in contact.

I am a PhD candidate at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission, and Culture, Akropong-Akuapem. My research is on the work and contribution of indigenous missionary agents to the Basel Mission Church, Gold Coast (1842-1918). I am interested in Basel Mission’s educational, medical, and agricultural foundations that contributed to the Christianization of indigenous farming communities in the interior of the Gold Coast. Along with my academic interests, I am engaged in the chieftaincy institution and local community projects in Akuapem.

I am currently enrolled in the Master’s program European History in Global Perspective at the University of Basel. My academic interests focus on Switzerland’s global entanglements, particularly in the context of colonialism.
During an internship with the ethnological collection of a Swiss museum, I began to question how such institutions confront their histories and what constitutes an appropriate approach to handling ethnological collections today. What I found particularly fascinating about the excursion in Basel was the opportunity to explore the ethnological collection of the Basel Mission—a collection that still demands substantial research and documentation.

I am a theologian, historian and administrator of the oldest Presbyterian Church in Ghana established by the Basel Missionary Society in Akropong. My research concerns African Christianity, aspects of the Basel Missionary and especially the Jamaican missionaries in the then Gold Coast. I am interested in the missionaries’ contribution to socio-economic developments in Ghana as well as the importance and the contribution of the the Danish Missionary Society as partners of the Basel Mission.

I study German and history at the University of Basel. I am interested in history because I want to understand how past events shape today’s world. Current events are a constant reminder of the importance of dealing with the past. In addition to my studies, I enjoy taking photographs in nature and I read a lot.

I am a student at the Institute for European Global Studies Basel, where I am pursuing a Master’s degree. As the University of Ghana is a partner university of our Institute, I was keen to get in contact with students and lecturers from Accra. I am particularly interested in global trade relations and interdependencies during the colonial period between the Basel Mission Trading Company, the Basel Mission and the then Gold Coast. In my Bachelor’s degree, I focused on religions, especially Christianity, as well as History.

I am studying European History in Global Perspective in the Master’s program at the University of Basel. I am particularly interested in gender history and African history. During the excursion to Ghana, I focused primarily on missionary architecture and school education. Alongside my studies, I work for an advertising publisher, while I am also involved in voluntary work with children and young people and enjoy being creative.

As the founder and director of a foundation that pursues the development and support of people in any kind of need in Ethiopia, I have repeatedly dealt with the Basel Mission in my work as well as during my studies. Through two of my seminar papers as well as a research seminar in the context of my MA programme in African Studies at Basel, I kept coming into contact with the work of Basel Mission in Ethiopia, although this was not actually a mission area of BM. I am particularly interested in how today’s developmental aid is shaped by such institutions as the BM. Since I have always dealt with Southern, Northern and especially East Africa (also related to the BM) in my studies, but also during travels or work assignments, this project has been an excellent opportunity for me to broaden my horizon to West Africa and probably make interesting contacts for the future.

I am a master’s student in history and sociology at the University of Basel. I travelled to Ghana on the 2024 excursion program. My main interest during the trip was to learn more about what Ghanaians think of their historical heritage and the activities of the Basler Mission in their country.

I am a student of African Studies at the University of Basel. I am very interested in political history and medical anthropology based on bottom-up research. I have a particular interest in exploring the intersection of ordinary, marginalized groups and society.

My name is Rose Buerkie Puplampu (Rev.). I am an ordained minister of Presbyterian Church of Ghana and a PhD candidate at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture. The focus of my research is gospel and culture engagement.

I am Juliet Oppong-Boateng, a PhD candidate at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana. My research interest is on the activities of Basel missionaries in the Gold Coast with the aim of examining how the meetings of two cultures have impacted Africa and Ghana’s history. Specifically, I focus on BMS’ economic and healthcare delivery activities.

I study history in my Masters at the University of Basel. In the last few semesters, my focus of study has shifted towards African history, generally I am interested in medical history. Aside from being a student, I work as a bike courier. I like to read, listen to music and to travel.

With a passion and steadfastness for matters concerning society, my interest has shown in my pursuit of knowledge by studying history and political science at the University of Ghana. I have a wide variety of interests but particularly matters of historical significance, political and cultural understandings, along with depictions and reflections of the law in our society. Alongside my studies, I actively contribute to the media team and play a vital role in performing secretarial duties at church.

I am studying European Global Studies at the University of Basel with a focus on peace & conflict studies as well as statehood & development. I find it very important to me to be aware of colonial and decolonial entanglements in politics, research and knowledge production. The excursion project was a great opportunity for me to reflect on and learn about my own positionality. Additionally, I am very interested in learning more about the connection between religion and colonialism and the form in which people and communities in Ghana deal with this missionary past. Similarly, I find the transformation of some former missions to internationally respected NGOs in development cooperation very interesting and would like to know more about this.

I am a PhD Year 2 History student at the University of Ghana, Accra, and a Lecturer with the Department of History and Political Science, SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa. I am interested in the educational history of Ghana. As a result, his MPhil thesis was on the History of Second Cycle Examination in Ghana. Mr. Antoh is currently developing an interest in church history and intend to research into Basel mission activities and Wars on the Gold Coast. He also teaches undergraduate students the following courses, DPS 105: Introduction to African History, DPS 106: Political History of Ghana, 1800-1960, DPS 318: Economic and Social History of West Africa, etc. As an early- career member of the Department of History and Political Science at SDD-UBIDS, Wa, I was part of the department committee in charge of undergraduate programme development.

I am pursuing a Master’s degree in African Studies at the University of Basel. My interest in Africa extends beyond academia, and I am intrigued by the prospect of exploring the continent from an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective. When I am not studying, I enjoy travelling and discovering new places. In addition to my academic and personal pursuits, I am actively involved in animal welfare initiatives.

I study History and Geography & Resource Development at the University of Ghana. I am deeply fascinated by the complex interaction between societies, cultures and the environment throughout time. My interests cut across an interdisciplinary scope, as I am seeking to explore the intersections between history and geography, and the connections shaping our world today. Alongside my studies, I sing with three choirs, write poems that depicts societal issues, and assist in a school’s kitchen.

I am currently working on my Master’s degree in European Global Studies at the University of Basel. Since writing my Bacherlor’s thesis about the Swiss SMB catholic mission press in Rhodesia I have been interested in the role of Switzerland in colonial endeavors. My interest lies in interdisciplinary approaches to understanding coloniality through the lens of history, law and religious science. Alongside my academic interests, I am engaged in a community garden and enjoy spending time outdoors.

My name is Alfred Kwarteng, a Reverend Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and a PhD student at Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Akropong (ACI). My research interests are gospel and culture engagements and church history. Missions done in context is what I enjoy at ACI. After the Basel excursion in July 2024, I joined the University of Basel as a visiting PhD student for the fall term of 2024.