Looking for Traces of Hybridity: Two Basel Mission Reports and a Queen Mother: Philosophical Remarks on the Interpretation of a Political Deed

Abstract

This article undertakes the rereading of two texts that had been written at the very beginning of the twentieth century in the western part of the former Gold-Coast colony, today’s Ghana. Guided by the concept of “hybridity”, this reading tries to show that a close look at the construction of identity – in this case the identity of a missionary and a native pastor – can open up ways for new textual interpretations. Thus, the two authors who are located in the power struggle between the local politics, the colonial government and the Basel Mission seem to contest the official interpretation of a political deed in their reports and thereby negotiate its meaning.

Opsomming
Hierdie artikel onderneem die herinterpretasie van twee tekste wat geskryf is heel aan die begin van die twintigste eeu in die westelike deel van die voormalige Goue Kus kolonie, die hedendaagse Ghana. Gelei deur die konsep van “hibriditeit”, poog hierdie interpretasie om te wys dat ’n noulettende ondersoek van die konstruksie van identiteit – in hierdie geval die identiteit van ’n sendeling en ‘n boorling-pastoor – weë kan baan vir nuwe tekstuele interpretasie. Die twee outeurs wat gelokaliseer is in die magstryd tussen die plaaslike politiek, die koloniale regering en die Basel Sending skyn dus die offisiële interpretasie van ’n politieke akte in hulle rapporte te betwis en daardeur die betekenis daarvan te skik.