Plays and journals by Professor Robert Fraser

A collection of play scripts and journals dating from Fraser's time as a lecturer in English at the University College of Cape Coast, Ghana. This includes plays written by Fraser himself, literary journals of the University College of Cape Coast and journals of the university's Writers' Club as well as publications of the English Department. The collection also contains a two volume brochure for 'Behind the Mask', an exhibition of books, programmes and original artwork depicting the work of African-Caribbean writers and artists put on by the 'Drum Arts Centre'.

Robert Fraser was born in 1947. He worked in Ghana as Lecturer of English at the University College of Cape Coast from March 1970 until August 1974. Having taught at Leeds University, Fraser then worked as a consultant for the 'Drum Arts Centre' in Covent Garden. Meanwhile Fraser was also Literary Editor of the weekly magazine 'West Africa'. He later taught at Royal Holloway in the University of London, at the Open University and at Trinity College Cambridge where he was Director of Studies in English.

In 1957 Ghana became the first black African country to gain independence from European colonial rule. Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah, an advocate of pan-Africanism, was deposed of in a CIA assisted coup in 1966. The leaders of the 1966 coup founded a government around the National Liberation Council. In 1970 Edward Akufo-Addo was elected President and in 1972 military officers launched a coup and formed the National Redemption Council.

Cape Coast is the capital of the Central Region of Ghana. The University College of Cape Coast was established in 1962, primarily to produce graduate teachers. In 1971 it became an independent university, was re-named the University of Cape Coast and could award its own degrees.

The Drum Arts Centre was active in the 1970s and 1980s and has its headquarters in Southampton Street in Covent Garden. It was directed by John Mapondera and aimed at promoting awareness of the work of the African-Caribbean community.

Open

Donated to SOAS by Robert Fraser in August 2005

Handlist available