Duala (Douala) People: I Of The Cameroonian Coastal Ethnic Grouping To Bring Early On Contact Alongside Europeans
The Duala (or Douala) are skillful trading, skillful fishery too agriculturalist Bantu-speaking ethnolinguistic grouping of the wood region of southern Republic of Cameroon living on the estuary of the Wouri River. They primarily inhabit the littoral part to the coast too cast a portion of the larger Sawa (Cameroonian coastal) peoples. They stimulate got historically played a highly influential utilization inward Republic of Cameroon due to their long contact amongst Europeans, high charge per unit of measurement of education, too wealth gained over years equally traders too solid ground owners.
Duala human being from Cameroon
The Duala are related to several ethnic groups (or tribes) inward the Republic of Cameroon littoral, amongst whom they part a mutual traditional origin, too similar histories too cultures. These include the Ewodi, the Bodiman, the Pongo, the Bakole, the Bakweri (or Kwe), the Bamboko, the Isubu (Isuwu or Bimbians), the Limba (or Malimba), the Mungo, too the Wovea. The Batanga of the part of Kribi could live added to the preceding listing equally they claim they are descendants of Mbedi too they written report some flat of mutual comprehension betwixt their ain linguistic communication too malimba. Moreover the linguistic communication of the Bakundu (also called oroko), although commonly non classified equally a Duala language, seems to live closely related to bakweri (or mokpwe), which is clearly a duala language. Thus the Bakundu may also live considered equally a duala people. The Duala stimulate got dominated the others historically, too these other groups all profess some variety of kinship to that people. In addition, many other coastal ethnic groups such equally Balong, Bakossi... - who are culturally too historically to a greater extent than or less related to the Duala - are nether Duala influence too most of these people beak Duala to some extent. Duala is also spoken past times a slap-up business office of the Bassa too Bakoko people. The give-and-take "duala" may live used to refer to the Duala "proper" or to the whole laid upwardly of duala-like tribes or fifty-fifty peradventure to some "duala-ized" Bassa, Bakoko or Manenguba tribes.
Duala farther variety themselves into a number of lineages or clans. Among the Duala proper, these are the Bonanjo (including the Bonapriso), the Bonaku, the Bonabela, too the Bonaberi. These names stand upwardly for the principal families inward each clan: Njo, Priso, Akwa, Ebele-Deido, too Bell, respectively. In addition, the Duala sometimes include the Bodiman, Pongo, too Wuri amid their ranks, but non equally sub-lineages.
Duala elders
Geography too Settlement
The Duala are primarily concentrated inward Cameroon's Littoral Province inward the Moungo, Nkam, too Wouri divisions. Their settlements prevarication largely along the coast or only inland. The Wouri estuary, where the Wouri, Mungo, too Dibamba Rivers empty, forms the centre of Duala country. Douala is their traditional capital, too many Duala alive inward too some the city, although today it has come upwardly to reverberate the multifariousness of Republic of Cameroon equally a whole.
Language
Dual people beak Duala (also spelled Douala, Diwala, Dwela, Dualla, too Dwala), which is a dialect cluster spoken past times the Duala too Mungo peoples of Cameroon. Duala is Bantu linguistic communication that belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. The vocal "Soul Makossa", equally good equally pop songs that repeated its lyrics, internationally popularized the Duala give-and-take for "dance", "makossa". The vocal Alane past times creative somebody Wes Madiko is sung inward Duala too reached #1 seat inward over ix European countries.
Duala is used equally a merchandise languages, due largely to the spread of the natural language past times early on missionaries. This is specially truthful amid the neighbouring Wovea, many of whom beak Duala inward lieu of their native tongue, too the Isubu, many of whom are bilingual inward Duala.
Duala belongs to the Bantu linguistic communication family, inward a subgroup called Sawabantu. Maho (2009) treats Duala equally a cluster of 5 languages: Duala proper, Bodiman, Oli (Ewodi, Wuri), Pongo, too Mongo. He also notes a Duala-based pidgin named Jo.
History
Duala are aboriginal Bantu people. According to their oral tradition Duala traces their ancestry to a powerful mystical leader Mbedi a Mbongo, the progenitor of all Coastal Cameroonian ethnic groups known equally Sawa people. It is recounted inward the traditions that Mbedi originally lived inward an surface area called Bakota inward what is today Gabonese Republic or the Republic of the Congo.
Mbedi had several children but he called his sons, Ewale too Dibombo, migrated due north too reached a house called Pitti on the Dibamba River. Here, the brothers parted ways after a row. Ewale moved to the oral fissure of the Dibamba amongst his followers too so northwest to the E banking concern of Wouri River estuary. The mgration of mbedi too his children is known inward Sawa oral history equally Mbedine event.
Meanwhile, Dibongo too his companions migrated southeast to the Sanaga River too so split up, some heading upstream amongst Dibongo too others moving downstream amongst a human being named Elimbe. Ewale's people became the Duala, too Dibongo's the Limba.
According to Duala traditions, the Bakoko too Bassa ethnic groups occupied the Wouri estuary when the Duala arrived. The Duala so drove them inland, a displacement that probable occurred inward the belatedly 17th or early on 18th century
Based on records of Dutch traders, the foremost known Duala ruler was a human being the merchants dubbed Monneba, who lived at the acquaint site of Douala inward the 16th century. Ardener too others advise that Monneba was inward fact Mulobe, the boy of Ewale too grandson of Mbedi according to Duala tradition. This would house Mbedi's lifetime inward the belatedly 16th century
Duala men dress. circa 1940`s
European contacts: Portuguese traders reached the Wouri estuary inward 1472. There they encountered a people they called the "Ambos" or "Ambozi". It is unclear whether these were the ancestral Duala, or perhaps the Bakoko or Bassa, whom the Duala afterwards displaced. The Portuguese described the Ambos equally a line-fishing people who supplemented their diet amongst small-scale hunting too farming.
Over the adjacent few decades, to a greater extent than adventurers came to explore the estuary too the rivers that feed it, too to constitute trading posts. The Duala provided ivory, kola nuts, too peppers, but slaves proved 1 of the to a greater extent than lucrative commodities. Most of these ended upwardly working the growing plantations on nearby islands such equally Annobon, Fernando Po, Príncipe, too São Tomé. The Duala had long kept too traded slaves, who lived inward separate settlements too performed menial tasks such equally cultivation. Slave owners could alone merchandise their slaves to other Duala, however, too owners were responsible for paying their slaves' debts too arranging their marriages. With the Europeans providing such a hungry market, however, these customs gave way.
The Duala emerged past times the 16th century equally the leading traders on the Cameroonian coast, though the Isubu too Limba did non trail far behind. The earliest Duala merchants were probable chiefs or headmen. The main Duala villages before long grew into a prospering township named Douala for the people who lived there. The coastal Duala purchased goods too slaves from interior groups such equally the Bakweri, Mungo, Bassa too Bakoko. In turn, they sold these items to the Europeans, typically aboard their ships (and afterwards at mainland factories or stores). In exchange, the Europeans provided alcohol, gunpowder, guns, mirrors, shoes, textiles, too tools.
Europeans traders did their best to back upwardly friendly chiefs against their rivals, adulating them amongst titles such equally King, Prince, or Chief. In exchange, these indigenes offered merchandise monopolies to their patrons too sometimes ceded land. In this way, Ndumb'a Lobe of the Bell lineage propped himself upwardly inward the 19th century equally King Bell. Heads of challenger sub-lineages before long rivalled him, including the self-styled King Akwa (Ngando Mpondo) inward 1814, King Deido (Jim Ekwalla) of the Deido (an Akwa splinter group), too Prince Lock Priso (Kum'a Mbape) of the Bonaberi.
By the mid-19th century, the British had taken the Pb inward merchandise amongst the Duala. This coincided amongst the abolition movement, too the Crown employed the traders to destination slavery inward the Gulf of Guinea. On 10 June 1840 too seven May 1841, Akwa too Bell became the foremost to sign anti-slavery treaties. In exchange, the Europeans provided these rulers amongst annual gifts of alcohol, guns, textiles, too other goods. In addition, the rulers outlawed practices the British viewed equally barbaric, such equally sacrificing a chief's wives upon his death.
The British also wanted to mould the Duala to their ain concepts of civilization. This meant educating them inward Western learning too converting them to Christianity. Alfred Saker opened a mission inward Douala inward 1845. By 1875, numerous missions too schools sprung upwardly inward Douala too other settlements. The early on missionaries learned the Duala linguistic communication too invented a written cast for it, equally Bible translation was 1 of their earliest priorities. Cameroonian Pidgin English linguistic communication began to educate at this time.
Trade dramatically altered Duala society. European goods became condition symbols, too some rulers appointed Western traders too missionaries equally advisors. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 high proportion of Duala grew wealthy through the novel trade, too tensions arose betwixt the haves too have-nots. Competition escalated betwixt coastal groups too fifty-fifty betwixt related settlements. Traders exploited this atmosphere, too starting fourth dimension inward 1860, German, French, too Castilian merchants had established contacts too weakened the British monopoly. The Duala had gained a virtual hegemony over merchandise through the Wouri estuary.
In reply to the threat from unusual merchants, the British pose pressure level on the Duala kings to asking British annexation. In 1879, King Akwa sent such a request; Bell followed accommodate inward 1881 (some historians believe that these documents were faked, however). When King Pass All of the Limba ceded his territories to the French, British traders expressed the urgency of annexing the Duala territories to the Crown. In July 1884, however, High German explorer Gustav Nachtigal staged a coup past times signing land-cessation treaties amongst Kings Akwa, Bell, too Deido. The British arrived also belatedly too on 28 March 1885 ceded Victoria to Germany.
German Administration: Opposition to High German dominion followed the annexation. Prince Lock Priso silent favoured the British too staged a rebellion inward Dec 1884. Around this same time, King Bell faced off against his ain people, who were largely opposed to the High German rule. Bell so found himself upwardly against the other Duala chiefs inward the Duala War, which was fought over the killing of a Bonaberi Duala too Bell's alleged refusal to part his profits amongst the other sub-lineages. FRG stopped the conflict when 1 of its nationals was killed. Bell survived, but his ability had diminished significantly. Realising that the Duala would never 1 time to a greater extent than follow the dominion of a unmarried king, the Germans instead played the competitors against 1 another. They supported the weaker King Bell to counter the powerful King Akwa.
"Girls' School inward Bonaku (Duala, Cameroon). Miss Bucher unter a tree." Alternate title: "[original caption] Mädchenschule inward Bonaku (Duala)
Despite the unrest too little solid ground area, Duala territory became the economical too political nexus of Kamerun. The Germans initially ruled from Douala, which they called Kamerunstadt, but they moved their uppercase to the Bakweri settlement of Buea inward 1901. Constant transportation traffic along the coast allowed individuals to displace from 1 plantation or town to some other inward search of work. The coastal groups intermingled similar never before, specially the Duala too Bakweri.
High German arrival on the mainland meant that the coastal peoples' monopoly on merchandise had ended. Most Duala turned to subsistence farming or line-fishing to survive. Years of contact amongst Westerners too a high flat of literacy had allowed a literate upper course of instruction of clerks, farmers, too traders to emerge. This course of instruction were familiar amongst European constabulary too conventions, which allowed them to pressure level the High German colonial authorities amongst petitions, legal proceedings, too special involvement groups to oppose unpopular or unfair policies. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 serial of these began inward 1910, when the High German direction initiated a novel poll tax, attempted to seize lands inward Douala township, too so tried to oust the native population from the town completely. King Bell's successor, King Rudolf Duala Manga Bell tried to rally resistance past times sending emissaries to see the leaders of inland groups. Ibrahim Njoya of the Bamum tipped the Germans off, too Bell too his collaborators were executed inward 1914 for high treason.
"Mrs Göhring inward her sewing room. Duala (Cameroon)." Circa 1916
British too French administrations: In 1918, FRG lost World War I, too her colonies became mandates of the League of Nations. French Republic became the novel steward of Duala territories.
The Duala continued to prosper. Though the French had largely stripped their kings of power, virtually one-half of the ethnic group's 15-20,000 members were of import traders, plantation managers or owners, chiefs, or clerks inward the civil service past times the 1930s. The balance of the people were fishermen too farmers. By the 1940s, many Duala had attained prominence equally builders, equally well, servicing the growing cities of Douala too Victoria.
The novel colonials maintained the High German policies of ousting uncooperative rulers too of impressing workers for the plantations. Individuals could opt to pay a fine to avoid the labour, however, which led to a dearth of workers from the wealthier areas. The French thence encouraged people from the interior to displace to the coast too operate the plantations (settled good away from the influence of the Duala chiefs). These immigrants were primarily Bamileke. The newcomers grew numerically too economically dominant over time, leading to ethnic tensions amongst the indigenes. By the early on 1930s, the Duala were a minority inward the town named for them.
By this time, the Duala had lost most of their reverence for Europeans. They did non hesitate to oppose novel taxes too to demand their independence. On nineteen Dec 1929, for example, 4 paramount chiefs sent a petition to the League of Nations asking for independence for the Cameroons. Their largest concern, however, was the render of seized Duala lands. This Duala solid ground work reached a caput inward 1925 when the French sold lands on the Joss Plateau that the Germans had appropriated. In reply to pressure level from the Bell clan, the French offered other territory inward compensation. The Bells initially refused, but the Great Depression eventually prompted them to convey the French compromise. The Bells gained solid ground inward Bali district, too the French promised non to convey whatever of the Akwa or Deido clans' holdings.
In the belatedly 1930s, Alexandre Duala Manga Bell had emerged equally the unofficial leader of the Duala proper. The French grew to a greater extent than hostile toward these Duala elites, whom they considered "precociously developed".[citation needed] In 1937, they expelled the Duala from Akwa town (an surface area of Douala), although they allowed them to maintain ownership of the land. During World War II, the French too British showed favouritism toward white-owned plantations, too many Duala-owned farms became unprofitable. Meanwhile, other Cameroonian ethnic groups had caught upwardly to the Duala's Pb inward teaching too Westernisation. Over the adjacent 2 decades, peoples such equally the Beti-Pahuin too Bamileke came to challenger the Duala's position.
At war's end, the UN laid upwardly inward displace the decolonisation of Africa. The Duala remained of import inward this process. For example, many Duala supported the pro-independence Union des Populations du Cameroun political party (UPC) when it foremost formed. Other parties that had either Duala founders or pregnant backing include the Bloc Démocratique Camerounais (BDC), too Action Nationale (AN).
Culture
The Duala today are divided into the urban too rural. Those who alive inward the cities, specially Douala itself, earn a living at a number of skilled too unskilled professions. Many Duala silent ain parts of the city, allowing them to alive off rents too development. The rural Duala, inward contrast, operate equally fishermen too farmers, to a greater extent than oftentimes than non at the subsistence level. Fishing is the merchandise of choice.
Traditional Duala monastic state was divided into iii strata. At the transcend were the Wonja, native Duala, amongst total rights of solid ground ownership. The adjacent tier consisted of the Wajili, either non-Duala peoples or the descendants of slaves. Finally, the Wakomi, or slaves, made upwardly the bottom rung. Chiefs too headmen sat at the pinnacle of this hierarchy inward the past, though today such figures stimulate got really piddling ability inward their ain right. Instead, such individuals are to a greater extent than probable to ain holding too to stimulate got inherited wealth. Councils of elders too subway societies allow communities to determine of import issues.
Duala woman
Institutions
Assemblies, subway societies, too other groups play an of import utilization inward keeping the Duala unified, helping them laid upwardly goals, too giving them a venue to observe solutions to mutual problems. Chief amid these is the Ngondo, an assembly of of import chiefs. Another of these is the muemba (plural: miemba), a grouping of all Duala of a for sure historic catamenia attain or tribal clan. The miemba serve to allow their members network too socialise. Other subway societies include the Ekongolo, Jengu, Losango, too Munji.
Marriage too kinship patterns
Duala inheritance is patrilineal; upon the father's death, his holding is split amid his virile somebody heirs. The Duala stimulate got traditionally practiced polygamy, although amongst the introduction of Christianity, this custom has move rarer.
Duala spousal human relationship ceremony
The Duala stimulate got never barred spousal human relationship betwixt sub-lineages of the same group, nor stimulate got they always pose much restriction on inter-tribal marriage. In fact, today, such unions stimulate got grown increasingly common, specially inward urban centres similar Douala. Children of such marriages move total members of their father's ethnic group.
Duala hubby too married adult woman at hymeneals ceremony, Douala Cameroon
Religion
The Duala stimulate got been to a greater extent than oftentimes than non Christianized since the 1930s. Evangelical denominations dominate, specially the Baptist church. Nevertheless, remnants of a pre-Christian ancestor worship persist.
The Duala believe inward Supreme too Creator God known equally Loba (Owasi or Iwonde or Ebasi).
As mightiness live expected for coastal peoples, the bounding main also plays an of import utilization inward this faith. For example, Duala belief holds that their ancestors alive inward the sea. In this worldview, demi-human H2O spirits known equally Miengu (singular: Jengu) alive inward the waters too mediate betwixt worshippers too God. Other, evil sprits alive inward the forests too the sea, too many Duala believe that witchcraft holds a malign influence on everyday life. Traditional festivals held each yr serve equally the most visible human face of these traditional beliefs inward modern times
Sports
Pirogue racing has traditionally been the most of import sport amid the Duala. The sport reached its peak during the High German colonial period, when organisers held races annually on 27 Jan (the Kaiser's birthday).
Duala state of war canoe, 1884.
Under the French, they became semiannual, occurring on xiv July (Bastille Day) too xi Nov (Armistice Day). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 typical Duala racing pirogue is 20–28 metres long amongst no keel too a bow carved amongst intricate designs. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squad of 40-50 canoeists, to a greater extent than oftentimes than non men who brand their livings equally fishermen, mans each vessel. In the past, diviners used the results of these races to predict the future, but today a Christian priest presides instead. Up to the belatedly 1930s, a household unit of measurement on Jebale Island claimed to live able to summon the Miengu H2O spirits to assistance favoured participants
Duala human being from Cameroon
The Duala are related to several ethnic groups (or tribes) inward the Republic of Cameroon littoral, amongst whom they part a mutual traditional origin, too similar histories too cultures. These include the Ewodi, the Bodiman, the Pongo, the Bakole, the Bakweri (or Kwe), the Bamboko, the Isubu (Isuwu or Bimbians), the Limba (or Malimba), the Mungo, too the Wovea. The Batanga of the part of Kribi could live added to the preceding listing equally they claim they are descendants of Mbedi too they written report some flat of mutual comprehension betwixt their ain linguistic communication too malimba. Moreover the linguistic communication of the Bakundu (also called oroko), although commonly non classified equally a Duala language, seems to live closely related to bakweri (or mokpwe), which is clearly a duala language. Thus the Bakundu may also live considered equally a duala people. The Duala stimulate got dominated the others historically, too these other groups all profess some variety of kinship to that people. In addition, many other coastal ethnic groups such equally Balong, Bakossi... - who are culturally too historically to a greater extent than or less related to the Duala - are nether Duala influence too most of these people beak Duala to some extent. Duala is also spoken past times a slap-up business office of the Bassa too Bakoko people. The give-and-take "duala" may live used to refer to the Duala "proper" or to the whole laid upwardly of duala-like tribes or fifty-fifty peradventure to some "duala-ized" Bassa, Bakoko or Manenguba tribes.
Duala farther variety themselves into a number of lineages or clans. Among the Duala proper, these are the Bonanjo (including the Bonapriso), the Bonaku, the Bonabela, too the Bonaberi. These names stand upwardly for the principal families inward each clan: Njo, Priso, Akwa, Ebele-Deido, too Bell, respectively. In addition, the Duala sometimes include the Bodiman, Pongo, too Wuri amid their ranks, but non equally sub-lineages.
Duala elders
Geography too Settlement
The Duala are primarily concentrated inward Cameroon's Littoral Province inward the Moungo, Nkam, too Wouri divisions. Their settlements prevarication largely along the coast or only inland. The Wouri estuary, where the Wouri, Mungo, too Dibamba Rivers empty, forms the centre of Duala country. Douala is their traditional capital, too many Duala alive inward too some the city, although today it has come upwardly to reverberate the multifariousness of Republic of Cameroon equally a whole.
Language
Dual people beak Duala (also spelled Douala, Diwala, Dwela, Dualla, too Dwala), which is a dialect cluster spoken past times the Duala too Mungo peoples of Cameroon. Duala is Bantu linguistic communication that belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. The vocal "Soul Makossa", equally good equally pop songs that repeated its lyrics, internationally popularized the Duala give-and-take for "dance", "makossa". The vocal Alane past times creative somebody Wes Madiko is sung inward Duala too reached #1 seat inward over ix European countries.
Duala is used equally a merchandise languages, due largely to the spread of the natural language past times early on missionaries. This is specially truthful amid the neighbouring Wovea, many of whom beak Duala inward lieu of their native tongue, too the Isubu, many of whom are bilingual inward Duala.
Duala belongs to the Bantu linguistic communication family, inward a subgroup called Sawabantu. Maho (2009) treats Duala equally a cluster of 5 languages: Duala proper, Bodiman, Oli (Ewodi, Wuri), Pongo, too Mongo. He also notes a Duala-based pidgin named Jo.
History
Duala are aboriginal Bantu people. According to their oral tradition Duala traces their ancestry to a powerful mystical leader Mbedi a Mbongo, the progenitor of all Coastal Cameroonian ethnic groups known equally Sawa people. It is recounted inward the traditions that Mbedi originally lived inward an surface area called Bakota inward what is today Gabonese Republic or the Republic of the Congo.
Vintage postcard: "Une elegante de Douala, Cameroun", circa 1910. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/303359724871544318/
Mbedi had several children but he called his sons, Ewale too Dibombo, migrated due north too reached a house called Pitti on the Dibamba River. Here, the brothers parted ways after a row. Ewale moved to the oral fissure of the Dibamba amongst his followers too so northwest to the E banking concern of Wouri River estuary. The mgration of mbedi too his children is known inward Sawa oral history equally Mbedine event.
Meanwhile, Dibongo too his companions migrated southeast to the Sanaga River too so split up, some heading upstream amongst Dibongo too others moving downstream amongst a human being named Elimbe. Ewale's people became the Duala, too Dibongo's the Limba.
According to Duala traditions, the Bakoko too Bassa ethnic groups occupied the Wouri estuary when the Duala arrived. The Duala so drove them inland, a displacement that probable occurred inward the belatedly 17th or early on 18th century
Based on records of Dutch traders, the foremost known Duala ruler was a human being the merchants dubbed Monneba, who lived at the acquaint site of Douala inward the 16th century. Ardener too others advise that Monneba was inward fact Mulobe, the boy of Ewale too grandson of Mbedi according to Duala tradition. This would house Mbedi's lifetime inward the belatedly 16th century
Duala men dress. circa 1940`s
Duala woman
European contacts: Portuguese traders reached the Wouri estuary inward 1472. There they encountered a people they called the "Ambos" or "Ambozi". It is unclear whether these were the ancestral Duala, or perhaps the Bakoko or Bassa, whom the Duala afterwards displaced. The Portuguese described the Ambos equally a line-fishing people who supplemented their diet amongst small-scale hunting too farming.
Over the adjacent few decades, to a greater extent than adventurers came to explore the estuary too the rivers that feed it, too to constitute trading posts. The Duala provided ivory, kola nuts, too peppers, but slaves proved 1 of the to a greater extent than lucrative commodities. Most of these ended upwardly working the growing plantations on nearby islands such equally Annobon, Fernando Po, Príncipe, too São Tomé. The Duala had long kept too traded slaves, who lived inward separate settlements too performed menial tasks such equally cultivation. Slave owners could alone merchandise their slaves to other Duala, however, too owners were responsible for paying their slaves' debts too arranging their marriages. With the Europeans providing such a hungry market, however, these customs gave way.
King Bell, cameroon, 1886
The Duala emerged past times the 16th century equally the leading traders on the Cameroonian coast, though the Isubu too Limba did non trail far behind. The earliest Duala merchants were probable chiefs or headmen. The main Duala villages before long grew into a prospering township named Douala for the people who lived there. The coastal Duala purchased goods too slaves from interior groups such equally the Bakweri, Mungo, Bassa too Bakoko. In turn, they sold these items to the Europeans, typically aboard their ships (and afterwards at mainland factories or stores). In exchange, the Europeans provided alcohol, gunpowder, guns, mirrors, shoes, textiles, too tools.
Europeans traders did their best to back upwardly friendly chiefs against their rivals, adulating them amongst titles such equally King, Prince, or Chief. In exchange, these indigenes offered merchandise monopolies to their patrons too sometimes ceded land. In this way, Ndumb'a Lobe of the Bell lineage propped himself upwardly inward the 19th century equally King Bell. Heads of challenger sub-lineages before long rivalled him, including the self-styled King Akwa (Ngando Mpondo) inward 1814, King Deido (Jim Ekwalla) of the Deido (an Akwa splinter group), too Prince Lock Priso (Kum'a Mbape) of the Bonaberi.
King Akwa of Duala, Circa 1875
By the mid-19th century, the British had taken the Pb inward merchandise amongst the Duala. This coincided amongst the abolition movement, too the Crown employed the traders to destination slavery inward the Gulf of Guinea. On 10 June 1840 too seven May 1841, Akwa too Bell became the foremost to sign anti-slavery treaties. In exchange, the Europeans provided these rulers amongst annual gifts of alcohol, guns, textiles, too other goods. In addition, the rulers outlawed practices the British viewed equally barbaric, such equally sacrificing a chief's wives upon his death.
The British also wanted to mould the Duala to their ain concepts of civilization. This meant educating them inward Western learning too converting them to Christianity. Alfred Saker opened a mission inward Douala inward 1845. By 1875, numerous missions too schools sprung upwardly inward Douala too other settlements. The early on missionaries learned the Duala linguistic communication too invented a written cast for it, equally Bible translation was 1 of their earliest priorities. Cameroonian Pidgin English linguistic communication began to educate at this time.
Ndumbé Lobé Bell or King Bell (1839 – Dec 1897] was a leader of the Duala people inward Southern Republic of Cameroon during the catamenia when the Germans colonized Cameroon
Trade dramatically altered Duala society. European goods became condition symbols, too some rulers appointed Western traders too missionaries equally advisors. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 high proportion of Duala grew wealthy through the novel trade, too tensions arose betwixt the haves too have-nots. Competition escalated betwixt coastal groups too fifty-fifty betwixt related settlements. Traders exploited this atmosphere, too starting fourth dimension inward 1860, German, French, too Castilian merchants had established contacts too weakened the British monopoly. The Duala had gained a virtual hegemony over merchandise through the Wouri estuary.
In reply to the threat from unusual merchants, the British pose pressure level on the Duala kings to asking British annexation. In 1879, King Akwa sent such a request; Bell followed accommodate inward 1881 (some historians believe that these documents were faked, however). When King Pass All of the Limba ceded his territories to the French, British traders expressed the urgency of annexing the Duala territories to the Crown. In July 1884, however, High German explorer Gustav Nachtigal staged a coup past times signing land-cessation treaties amongst Kings Akwa, Bell, too Deido. The British arrived also belatedly too on 28 March 1885 ceded Victoria to Germany.
King Bell
German Administration: Opposition to High German dominion followed the annexation. Prince Lock Priso silent favoured the British too staged a rebellion inward Dec 1884. Around this same time, King Bell faced off against his ain people, who were largely opposed to the High German rule. Bell so found himself upwardly against the other Duala chiefs inward the Duala War, which was fought over the killing of a Bonaberi Duala too Bell's alleged refusal to part his profits amongst the other sub-lineages. FRG stopped the conflict when 1 of its nationals was killed. Bell survived, but his ability had diminished significantly. Realising that the Duala would never 1 time to a greater extent than follow the dominion of a unmarried king, the Germans instead played the competitors against 1 another. They supported the weaker King Bell to counter the powerful King Akwa.
"Girls' School inward Bonaku (Duala, Cameroon). Miss Bucher unter a tree." Alternate title: "[original caption] Mädchenschule inward Bonaku (Duala)
Despite the unrest too little solid ground area, Duala territory became the economical too political nexus of Kamerun. The Germans initially ruled from Douala, which they called Kamerunstadt, but they moved their uppercase to the Bakweri settlement of Buea inward 1901. Constant transportation traffic along the coast allowed individuals to displace from 1 plantation or town to some other inward search of work. The coastal groups intermingled similar never before, specially the Duala too Bakweri.
High German arrival on the mainland meant that the coastal peoples' monopoly on merchandise had ended. Most Duala turned to subsistence farming or line-fishing to survive. Years of contact amongst Westerners too a high flat of literacy had allowed a literate upper course of instruction of clerks, farmers, too traders to emerge. This course of instruction were familiar amongst European constabulary too conventions, which allowed them to pressure level the High German colonial authorities amongst petitions, legal proceedings, too special involvement groups to oppose unpopular or unfair policies. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 serial of these began inward 1910, when the High German direction initiated a novel poll tax, attempted to seize lands inward Douala township, too so tried to oust the native population from the town completely. King Bell's successor, King Rudolf Duala Manga Bell tried to rally resistance past times sending emissaries to see the leaders of inland groups. Ibrahim Njoya of the Bamum tipped the Germans off, too Bell too his collaborators were executed inward 1914 for high treason.
"Mrs Göhring inward her sewing room. Duala (Cameroon)." Circa 1916
British too French administrations: In 1918, FRG lost World War I, too her colonies became mandates of the League of Nations. French Republic became the novel steward of Duala territories.
The Duala continued to prosper. Though the French had largely stripped their kings of power, virtually one-half of the ethnic group's 15-20,000 members were of import traders, plantation managers or owners, chiefs, or clerks inward the civil service past times the 1930s. The balance of the people were fishermen too farmers. By the 1940s, many Duala had attained prominence equally builders, equally well, servicing the growing cities of Douala too Victoria.
The novel colonials maintained the High German policies of ousting uncooperative rulers too of impressing workers for the plantations. Individuals could opt to pay a fine to avoid the labour, however, which led to a dearth of workers from the wealthier areas. The French thence encouraged people from the interior to displace to the coast too operate the plantations (settled good away from the influence of the Duala chiefs). These immigrants were primarily Bamileke. The newcomers grew numerically too economically dominant over time, leading to ethnic tensions amongst the indigenes. By the early on 1930s, the Duala were a minority inward the town named for them.
By this time, the Duala had lost most of their reverence for Europeans. They did non hesitate to oppose novel taxes too to demand their independence. On nineteen Dec 1929, for example, 4 paramount chiefs sent a petition to the League of Nations asking for independence for the Cameroons. Their largest concern, however, was the render of seized Duala lands. This Duala solid ground work reached a caput inward 1925 when the French sold lands on the Joss Plateau that the Germans had appropriated. In reply to pressure level from the Bell clan, the French offered other territory inward compensation. The Bells initially refused, but the Great Depression eventually prompted them to convey the French compromise. The Bells gained solid ground inward Bali district, too the French promised non to convey whatever of the Akwa or Deido clans' holdings.
At war's end, the UN laid upwardly inward displace the decolonisation of Africa. The Duala remained of import inward this process. For example, many Duala supported the pro-independence Union des Populations du Cameroun political party (UPC) when it foremost formed. Other parties that had either Duala founders or pregnant backing include the Bloc Démocratique Camerounais (BDC), too Action Nationale (AN).
Duala women
Culture
The Duala today are divided into the urban too rural. Those who alive inward the cities, specially Douala itself, earn a living at a number of skilled too unskilled professions. Many Duala silent ain parts of the city, allowing them to alive off rents too development. The rural Duala, inward contrast, operate equally fishermen too farmers, to a greater extent than oftentimes than non at the subsistence level. Fishing is the merchandise of choice.
Traditional Duala monastic state was divided into iii strata. At the transcend were the Wonja, native Duala, amongst total rights of solid ground ownership. The adjacent tier consisted of the Wajili, either non-Duala peoples or the descendants of slaves. Finally, the Wakomi, or slaves, made upwardly the bottom rung. Chiefs too headmen sat at the pinnacle of this hierarchy inward the past, though today such figures stimulate got really piddling ability inward their ain right. Instead, such individuals are to a greater extent than probable to ain holding too to stimulate got inherited wealth. Councils of elders too subway societies allow communities to determine of import issues.
Duala woman
Institutions
Assemblies, subway societies, too other groups play an of import utilization inward keeping the Duala unified, helping them laid upwardly goals, too giving them a venue to observe solutions to mutual problems. Chief amid these is the Ngondo, an assembly of of import chiefs. Another of these is the muemba (plural: miemba), a grouping of all Duala of a for sure historic catamenia attain or tribal clan. The miemba serve to allow their members network too socialise. Other subway societies include the Ekongolo, Jengu, Losango, too Munji.
Duala woman
Marriage too kinship patterns
Duala inheritance is patrilineal; upon the father's death, his holding is split amid his virile somebody heirs. The Duala stimulate got traditionally practiced polygamy, although amongst the introduction of Christianity, this custom has move rarer.
Duala spousal human relationship ceremony
The Duala stimulate got never barred spousal human relationship betwixt sub-lineages of the same group, nor stimulate got they always pose much restriction on inter-tribal marriage. In fact, today, such unions stimulate got grown increasingly common, specially inward urban centres similar Douala. Children of such marriages move total members of their father's ethnic group.
Duala hubby too married adult woman at hymeneals ceremony, Douala Cameroon
Religion
The Duala stimulate got been to a greater extent than oftentimes than non Christianized since the 1930s. Evangelical denominations dominate, specially the Baptist church. Nevertheless, remnants of a pre-Christian ancestor worship persist.
The Duala believe inward Supreme too Creator God known equally Loba (Owasi or Iwonde or Ebasi).
As mightiness live expected for coastal peoples, the bounding main also plays an of import utilization inward this faith. For example, Duala belief holds that their ancestors alive inward the sea. In this worldview, demi-human H2O spirits known equally Miengu (singular: Jengu) alive inward the waters too mediate betwixt worshippers too God. Other, evil sprits alive inward the forests too the sea, too many Duala believe that witchcraft holds a malign influence on everyday life. Traditional festivals held each yr serve equally the most visible human face of these traditional beliefs inward modern times
Sports
Pirogue racing has traditionally been the most of import sport amid the Duala. The sport reached its peak during the High German colonial period, when organisers held races annually on 27 Jan (the Kaiser's birthday).
Duala state of war canoe, 1884.
Under the French, they became semiannual, occurring on xiv July (Bastille Day) too xi Nov (Armistice Day). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 typical Duala racing pirogue is 20–28 metres long amongst no keel too a bow carved amongst intricate designs. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squad of 40-50 canoeists, to a greater extent than oftentimes than non men who brand their livings equally fishermen, mans each vessel. In the past, diviners used the results of these races to predict the future, but today a Christian priest presides instead. Up to the belatedly 1930s, a household unit of measurement on Jebale Island claimed to live able to summon the Miengu H2O spirits to assistance favoured participants
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