Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

The Boys' Brigade: Origins, Global Expansion, and the Ghanaian Chapter

Samuel Bangura

Abstract

This article explores the historical evolution, sociocultural significance, and contemporary relevance of the Boys’ Brigade (BB), one of the world’s oldest uniformed Christian youth organizations, with a specific focus on its introduction and development in Ghana. Founded in 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland, by Sir William Alexander Smith, the Boys’ Brigade was conceived to instil Christian values, discipline, and leadership in boys through a structured quasi-military framework. The movement rapidly expanded across the British Empire and found fertile ground in colonial Africa as a tool for both missionary work and moral formation. The study traces the formal introduction of the Boys’ Brigade to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1911 by Reverend Herman Noah Annan at the Christiansborg Presbyterian Church, Osu. Through a qualitative historical-sociological methodology, including archival records, church documents, and scholarly literature, the article reconstructs the Brigade’s institutional growth and examines its role in youth socialization and civic education. It further analyses how the BB in Ghana indigenized its practices while maintaining its Christian ethos, contributing significantly to moral development, leadership training, and national cohesion. The paper also highlights the contemporary challenges and adaptations facing the organization in the 21st century. These include declining youth engagement, resource constraints, and the need for greater inclusivity and mental health awareness. Notable alumni such as former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia exemplify the BB’s enduring influence on Ghana’s civic and leadership landscape. Additionally, the article discusses comparable youth organizations and outlines recent global initiatives within the BB movement aimed at addressing gender equity and emotional wellbeing. The study concludes that while the Boys’ Brigade faces modern pressures, its foundational principles remain vi

Keywords

Boys’ BrigadeYouth developmentChristian educationSocializationGhanaian

References

Aboagye-Mensah, R. (1994). Mission and Church in Ghana: A Study of the Church's Role in Society. Accra: Asempa Publishers. Addae-Korankye, A. (2018). “Youth Empowerment in Contemporary Ghana: Challenges and Opportunities.” African Journal of Social Sciences, 8(1), 102–114. Agbeti, J. K. (1986). West African Church History: Christian Missions and Church Foundations: 1482–1919. Brill. Akyeampong, E., & Obeng, P. (1995). Spirituality, Gender and Power in Asante History. The International Journal of African Historical Studies, 28(3), 481–508. Amoah, L. G. (2012). Religion and Development in Ghana: An Ethical and Theological Inquiry. Legon: Trinity Theological Seminary. Asante Akyem District Boys’ Brigade. (2022). History of Boys’ Brigade Ghana. Basic Needs Ghana. (2025, February 4). Basic Needs Ghana strengthens community mental health services to improve gender, youth, and women mental health. https://basicneedsghana.org/2025/02/04/basicneeds-ghana-stregthens-community- mental-health-services-to-improve-gender-youth-and-women-mental-health/ Boyd, A. (2003). Sure & Steadfast: A History of the Boys’ Brigade 1883–2003. Saint Andrew Press. Boys’ Brigade UK. (2020). Major new mental health project launched by The Boys’ Brigade NI District. https://boys-brigade.org.uk/major-new-mental-health-project-launched-by- the-boys-brigade-ni-district/ Boys’ Brigade UK. (2023, February 6). Children’s Mental Health Week 2023. https://boys- brigade.org.uk/childrens-mental-health-week-2023/ Boys Champions Nigeria. (2023). Boys for Equality Framework. https://www.boyschampions.org/what-we-do/boys-for-equality-framework Campbell, D. A., & Riedl, S. J. (2022). Increasing youth political engagement with efficacy, not obligation: Evidence from a workshop-based experiment in Zambia. Political Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-022-09794-7 Debrunner, H. W. (1967). A History of Christianity in Ghana. Accra: Waterville Publishing. Durkheim, É. (1912). The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. (Translated 1995). New York: Free Press. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. New York: Norton. Essamuah, C. (2010). Genuinely Ghanaian: A History of the Methodist Church Ghana, 1961 – Africa World Press. Ghana News Agency. (2025, May 17). Invest in boys’ emotional growth, awareness campaigns on positive masculinity – Stakeholders urged. https://gna.org.gh/2025/05/invest-in- boys-emotional-growth-awareness-campaigns-on-positive-masculinity-stakeholders- urged/ Graphic Online. (2022, August 29). Boys' Brigade Ghana honours Vice President Bawumia. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/boys-brigade-ghana-honour-vice- president-bawumia.html Graphic Online. (2025, May 16). Creating safe spaces for boys crucial to healthy development. https://www.graphic.com.gh/daily-graphic-editorials/ghana-news-creating-safe-spaces- for-boys-crucial-to-healthy-development.html Heasman, K. (1974). Evangelicals in Action: An Appraisal of Their Social Work in the Victorian Era. Geoffrey Bles. Kouassi, F. N. (2022). The role of civic engagement in peace education at school in Côte d’Ivoire: A case study of the Young Catholic Students (YCS). In M. G. Adu?Gyamfi, A. D. Owusu, & M. R. Boakye (Eds.), Peace education in conflict and post-conflict societies (pp. 437–452). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92474-4_26 Kyei, D. (2021). Youth Ministry in the Age of Technology: Challenges for Christian Organizations in Ghana. Accra: Assemblies Press. Macdonald, A. (1983). The History of the Boys' Brigade 1883–1983. Glasgow: BB Publications. Magaiza, G., Mukwada, G., Lutabingwa, J., & Dube, J. (2025). Youth engagement methods: Community–university partnerships for social entrepreneurship in resource-poor communities. African Journal of Higher Education Community Engagement, 7(1), 34– https://journal.ru.ac.za/index.php/AJHECE/article/view/2536 Mensah, D. (2020). Youth Organizations and Religious Identity in Ghana: A Case of the Boys’ Brigade. Accra: University of Ghana Press. Merton, R. K. (1938). “Social Structure and Anomie.” American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672–682. Surprise, G. K. (2003). Tradition and change in Ghana: An Introduction to Sociology. Accra: Ghana Universities Press. Osu Eben-Ezer Presbyterian Church. (2023). Groups – Boys’ Brigade. Owusu-Ansah, D. (2016). Historical Dictionary of Ghana. Rowman & Littlefield. Parsons, T. (1951). The Social System. London: Routledge. Peace FM Online. (2022, August 29). Boys’ Brigade childhood friend of Bawumia tells touching story. https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/202208/471825.php PR Newswire. (2020, October 6). Engaging young boys is a key to achieving gender equality and healthy manhood, reveals new research as part of the Global Boyhood Initiative. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/engaging-young-boys-is-a-key-to- achieving-gender-equality-and-healthy-manhood-reveals-new-research-as-part-of-the- global-boyhood-initiative-301153386.html Presbyterian Church of Ghana. (2024, April 22). Boys' Brigade honours Mr. Abraham Appiah Fei. https://pcgonline.org/2024/04/22/boys-brigade-honours-mr-abraham-appiah-fei Russell, D. (2000). Boys, Education and Empire: Colonial and Post-Colonial Experiences. Manchester University Press. Russell, D. J. (2000). The Story of the Boys' Brigade, 1883–2000. Glasgow: Boys’ Brigade Archive. Scribd. (2023). Boys' Brigade Ghana History Quiz Document. Surprise, GK (2003). Tradition and change in Ghana: An Introduction to Sociology. Ghana Universities Press. Sutherland-Addy, E. (2003). Youth, Culture, and Identity in Ghanaian Religious Movements. Institute of African Studies Occasional Papers, University of Ghana. White, B. (1999). “Christianity, Colonialism, and Moral Education: Youth Movements in Africa.” International Journal of African Historical Studies, 32(1), 89–110.