In 1945, Kwame Nkrumah envisioned a secret society that would provide the raison d’être for the emancipation of Africa from imperialism. He carefully observed, from afar, personalities who demonstrated the valour, discipline, and intellect needed to wage and win a revolutionary struggle. One of the most remarkable qualities of Kwame Nkrumah was his superior ability to recognise talent and form strategic alliances. Nkrumah coordinated anti-imperialist activities from the headquarters of the West African National Secretariat, where he served as Secretary, located at 94 Gray’s Inn Road, London, United Kingdom.

He frequently voyaged to Paris where he met African members of the French Assembly, such as Léopold Sédar Senghor and Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and mooted the establishment of a Union of African Socialist Republics. Nkrumah wasn’t encouraged by the reactions he received. It was clear that African members of the French Assembly, although arguably Pan-Africanist, weren’t committed to a radical political scheme aimed at the absolute decolonization of Africa at the time. But, all the same, Nkrumah still made some progress. The conversations yielded some admirable results. A West African National Congress was scheduled for October, 1948 to assemble all Pan-African oriented political organizations and movements across the African continent in Lagos. Unfortunately, the conference never occurred.

Nkrumah, a prolific writer of debatable thought-provoking articles, turned his attention to print press. ‘He is a master of the art of playing on the emotions of his readers through the skilful weaving of words’, wrote Timothy Bankole.[1] He managed a monthly newspaper called The New African, with the motto: ‘For Unity and Absolute Independence’. The first issue, subtitled, ‘The Voice of the Awakened African’ was published in March, 1946.

The New African became an effective propaganda channel, widely read for its unique perspective on the global political order, and the question of self-determination after the Second World War. It quickly gained a wide readership. Nkrumah’s enterprise wasn’t driven by profit. He didn’t structure The New African as a sustainable business venture. He was primarily concerned with its accessibility and influence on public opinion. The newspaper lacked sufficient financial investment, because Nkrumah didn’t bother to raise any, and soon collapsed altogether.

Nkrumah, after this ordeal, felt it had become necessary to institute a secret society. This mysterious fraternity of non-conformists became known as ‘The Circle’. The society prided itself on three principles: service, sacrifice and suffering. Its membership was largely drawn from scholars that met regularly at the West African National Secretariat. Members identified each other by a unique grip.

They held several discourses that were recorded in a document also known as ‘The Circle’. This doctrine prepared members for revolutionary work, as a profession, across the African continent. It was difficult to gain admission into The Circle. The society was exclusively reserved for exceptionally conscious people.

Members swore an oath of unconditional loyalty to one another; to the endless pursuit of its stated aims and aspirations; and to never divulge its secrets. This oath included the mandatory acceptance of Kwame Nkrumah as leader. The Circle congregated religiously. Its members were required to fast, from sunrise to sunset, on the 21st day of each month, and assemble to meditate on the values that shaped the society.

It centred its operation on two core values: the ability to organize, as a mass-based socialist political organization, workers and peasants; and the need for Africa to unite. The society encouraged its rank and file to infiltrate influential organizations, secure important positions within such organisations, and subtly infuse it with a spirit for African unity.

The Circle hatched a series of well-coordinated non-violent strikes, boycotts, and other forms of civil disobedience. Its unflinching position was that violence would be a last resort. The Circle never regarded decolonization as a matter of negotiation; it was regarded as a fight for the dignity of all Africans, and generations unborn. Members committed themselves to missions, regardless of the risks involved, in furtherance of African unity.

The society kept its dialogue discreet; it relied on face-to-face contact, couriers, and messengers for communications. The conventional methods of communication, such as letters, telegrams, telephones, and cables were only used to book appointments. The society forbade discussions about its inner-workings in public spaces.

The Circle disintegrated towards the end of 1947, after Nkrumah returned to the Gold Coast to serve as General Secretary of the United Gold Coast Convention. The grand ideal behind the establishment of The Circle was to expand its territorial presence and gradually transform into a fully-fledged political machinery, representative of West Africa, which would administer a Union of African Socialist Republics.

The author, V. L. K. Djokoto (b. 1995), is a financier and gallerist. He leads D. K. T. Djokoto & Co — an old-fashioned top-tier multi-family office, established in 1950 — which is deeply anchored on residential real estate; steers the wheels of rural banking across coastal Ghana; revived the Accra Evening News, established in 1948, delicately rebranded into a post-partisan cultural newspaper; and finances a cultic arts and culture department intensely focused on engineering a radiant legacy. Through expertly crafted artistic experiences, Djokoto seeks to mobilise Ghanaians, weaving African music, literature and art.

[1] Timothy Bankole, Kwame Nkrumah His Rise to Power, p. 39