Raphael Armattoe was nominated for the 1948 Nobel Peace Prize by members of the Irish parliament, a testament to his international standing as both a physician and researcher. Born in Keta, Gold Coast, in 1913, he moved between continents to pursue diverse studies, eventually operating a medical practice in Northern Ireland while establishing his own scientific research facility.
Academic and Scientific Foundations
Armattoe pursued an extensive education across several European institutions, including the University of Paris, the University of Lille, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Hamburg. His intellectual scope spanned anthropology, literature, and medicine. Fluent in multiple languages including English, German, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, he gained wide recognition for his research. In 1947, he attended the Nobel Prize laureation ceremonies in Stockholm, where he was the only African participant among a thousand intellectuals. His research interests were broad, leading to the patenting of the Abochi drug, which addressed conditions like bronchitis and guinea-worms.
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Between 1939 and 1945, Armattoe worked at a Civil Defence first-aid post in Brooke Park, Derry. Following the Second World War, he established a private practice at his home on Northland Road. During this period, he founded the Lomeshie Research Centre, named in honor of his mother. His contributions to science were acknowledged through a £3,000 grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. He also served as a director for the Lomeshie Research Centre while maintaining professional connections with international scientific societies.
Political Engagement and Nationalism
Armattoe was a federalist who favored independence for colonies, participating in the 1945 Pan-African Congress in Manchester. He joined the Ghana Congress Party and campaigned for the unification of the Ewe people, who were divided between British Togoland, French Togoland, and the Gold Coast. In 1953, he addressed the United Nations in New York City regarding the 'Eweland Question'. His political activities often placed him in opposition to the Convention People's Party, and his legacy is marked by his gravestone in Hamburg, which carries the inscription 'Africa's Greatest Nationalist'.
Fast facts
- Born: 1913, Keta, Gold Coast
- Died: 1953, Hamburg
- Primary Occupations: Physician, writer, poet, politician
- Education: Mfantsipim School, Universities of Paris, Lille, Edinburgh, and Hamburg
- Nobel Peace Prize Nomination: 1948
- Notable Patent: Abochi drug
- Spouse: Leony Elizabeth Schwartz
- Primary Research Interest: Physical anthropology
Questions readers ask
What medical discovery is Armattoe associated with?
He held the patent for the Abochi drug, designed to treat ailments including guinea-worms, toothaches, bronchitis, and boils.
How was Armattoe involved in the Ewe unification movement?
He was an active member of the Togoland Congress and advocated for the creation of a unified Ewe nation-state through his addresses to the United Nations.
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