Info For Yous Duala (Douala) People: I Of The Cameroonian Coastal Ethnic Grouping To Accept Early On Contact Alongside Europeans
The Duala (or Douala) are proficient trading, skillful fishery as well as 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 as well as shape a portion of the larger Sawa (Cameroonian coastal) peoples. They get got historically played a highly influential purpose inward Republic of Cameroon due to their long contact with Europeans, high charge per unit of measurement of education, as well as wealth gained over years equally traders as well as solid ground owners.
Duala human being from Cameroon
The Duala are related to several ethnic groups (or tribes) inward the Republic of Cameroon littoral, with whom they percentage a mutual traditional origin, as well as similar histories as well as 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, as well as the Wovea. The Batanga of the part of Kribi could live added to the preceding listing equally they claim they are descendants of Mbedi as well as they written report some grade of mutual comprehension betwixt their ain linguistic communication as well as malimba. Moreover the linguistic communication of the Bakundu (also called oroko), although normally 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 get got dominated the others historically, as well as these other groups all profess some form of kinship to that people. In addition, many other coastal ethnic groups such equally Balong, Bakossi... - who are culturally as well as historically to a greater extent than or less related to the Duala - are nether Duala influence as well as most of these people utter Duala to some extent. Duala is also spoken yesteryear a peachy purpose of the Bassa as well as Bakoko people. The give-and-take "duala" may live used to refer to the Duala "proper" or to the whole prepare of duala-like tribes or fifty-fifty mayhap to some "duala-ized" Bassa, Bakoko or Manenguba tribes.
Duala farther form themselves into a number of lineages or clans. Among the Duala proper, these are the Bonanjo (including the Bonapriso), the Bonaku, the Bonabela, as well as the Bonaberi. These names correspond the principal families inward each clan: Njo, Priso, Akwa, Ebele-Deido, as well as Bell, respectively. In addition, the Duala sometimes include the Bodiman, Pongo, as well as Wuri alongside their ranks, but non equally sub-lineages.
Duala elders
Geography as well as Settlement
The Duala are primarily concentrated inward Cameroon's Littoral Province inward the Moungo, Nkam, as well as Wouri divisions. Their settlements prevarication largely along the coast or only inland. The Wouri estuary, where the Wouri, Mungo, as well as Dibamba Rivers empty, forms the centre of Duala country. Douala is their traditional capital, as well as many Duala alive inward as well as around the city, although today it has come upward to reverberate the variety of Republic of Cameroon equally a whole.
Language
Dual people utter Duala (also spelled Douala, Diwala, Dwela, Dualla, as well as Dwala), which is a dialect cluster spoken yesteryear the Duala as well as 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 yesteryear creative individual Wes Madiko is sung inward Duala as well as reached #1 seat inward over nine European countries.
Duala is used equally a merchandise languages, due largely to the spread of the natural language yesteryear early on missionaries. This is especially truthful alongside the neighbouring Wovea, many of whom utter Duala inward lieu of their native tongue, as well as 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, as well as 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 as well as Dibombo, migrated northward as well as reached a house called Pitti on the Dibamba River. Here, the brothers parted ways after a row. Ewale moved to the oral cavity of the Dibamba with his followers as well as and so northwest to the eastward depository fiscal establishment of Wouri River estuary. The mgration of mbedi as well as his children is known inward Sawa oral history equally Mbedine event.
Meanwhile, Dibongo as well as his companions migrated southeast to the Sanaga River as well as and so split up, some heading upstream with Dibongo as well as others moving downstream with a human being named Elimbe. Ewale's people became the Duala, as well as Dibongo's the Limba.
According to Duala traditions, the Bakoko as well as Bassa ethnic groups occupied the Wouri estuary when the Duala arrived. The Duala as well as 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 maiden off known Duala ruler was a human being the merchants dubbed Monneba, who lived at the acquaint site of Douala inward the 16th century. Ardener as well as others advise that Monneba was inward fact Mulobe, the boy of Ewale as well as 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 later on displaced. The Portuguese described the Ambos equally a angling people who supplemented their diet with small-scale hunting as well as farming.
Over the adjacent few decades, to a greater extent than adventurers came to explore the estuary as well as the rivers that feed it, as well as to flora trading posts. The Duala provided ivory, kola nuts, as well as peppers, but slaves proved 1 of the to a greater extent than lucrative commodities. Most of these ended upward working the growing plantations on nearby islands such equally Annobon, Fernando Po, Príncipe, as well as São Tomé. The Duala had long kept as well as traded slaves, who lived inward separate settlements as well as performed menial tasks such equally cultivation. Slave owners could exclusively merchandise their slaves to other Duala, however, as well as owners were responsible for paying their slaves' debts as well as arranging their marriages. With the Europeans providing such a hungry market, however, these customs gave way.
The Duala emerged yesteryear the 16th century equally the leading traders on the Cameroonian coast, though the Isubu as well as Limba did non trail far behind. The earliest Duala merchants were probable chiefs or headmen. The main Duala villages shortly grew into a prospering township named Douala for the people who lived there. The coastal Duala purchased goods as well as slaves from interior groups such equally the Bakweri, Mungo, Bassa as well as Bakoko. In turn, they sold these items to the Europeans, typically aboard their ships (and later on at mainland factories or stores). In exchange, the Europeans provided alcohol, gunpowder, guns, mirrors, shoes, textiles, as well as tools.
Europeans traders did their best to back upward friendly chiefs against their rivals, adulating them with titles such equally King, Prince, or Chief. In exchange, these indigenes offered merchandise monopolies to their patrons as well as sometimes ceded land. In this way, Ndumb'a Lobe of the Bell lineage propped himself upward inward the 19th century equally King Bell. Heads of competitor sub-lineages shortly rivalled him, including the self-styled King Akwa (Ngando Mpondo) inward 1814, King Deido (Jim Ekwalla) of the Deido (an Akwa splinter group), as well as Prince Lock Priso (Kum'a Mbape) of the Bonaberi.
By the mid-19th century, the British had taken the Pb inward merchandise with the Duala. This coincided with the abolition movement, as well as the Crown employed the traders to terminate slavery inward the Gulf of Guinea. On 10 June 1840 as well as seven May 1841, Akwa as well as Bell became the maiden off to sign anti-slavery treaties. In exchange, the Europeans provided these rulers with annual gifts of alcohol, guns, textiles, as well as 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 as well as converting them to Christianity. Alfred Saker opened a mission inward Douala inward 1845. By 1875, numerous missions as well as schools sprung upward inward Douala as well as other settlements. The early on missionaries learned the Duala linguistic communication as well as invented a written shape for it, equally Bible translation was 1 of their earliest priorities. Cameroonian Pidgin English linguistic communication began to prepare at this time.
Trade dramatically altered Duala society. European goods became condition symbols, as well as some rulers appointed Western traders as well as missionaries equally advisors. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 high proportion of Duala grew wealthy through the novel trade, as well as tensions arose betwixt the haves as well as have-nots. Competition escalated betwixt coastal groups as well as fifty-fifty betwixt related settlements. Traders exploited this atmosphere, as well as showtime inward 1860, German, French, as well as Castilian merchants had established contacts as well as weakened the British monopoly. The Duala had gained a virtual hegemony over merchandise through the Wouri estuary.
In answer to the threat from unusual merchants, the British seat pull per unit of measurement area on the Duala kings to asking British annexation. In 1879, King Akwa sent such a request; Bell followed adjust 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 yesteryear signing land-cessation treaties with Kings Akwa, Bell, as well as Deido. The British arrived besides belatedly as well as on 28 March 1885 ceded Victoria to Germany.
German Administration: Opposition to High German dominion followed the annexation. Prince Lock Priso soundless favoured the British as well as 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 as well as so found himself upward against the other Duala chiefs inward the Duala War, which was fought over the killing of a Bonaberi Duala as well as Bell's alleged refusal to percentage his profits with the other sub-lineages. Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany 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 as well as little solid ground area, Duala territory became the economical as well as political nexus of Kamerun. The Germans initially ruled from Douala, which they called Kamerunstadt, but they moved their upper-case missive of the alphabet 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, especially the Duala as well as Bakweri.
High German arrival on the mainland meant that the coastal peoples' monopoly on merchandise had ended. Most Duala turned to subsistence farming or angling to survive. Years of contact with Westerners as well as a high flat of literacy had allowed a literate upper shape of clerks, farmers, as well as traders to emerge. This shape were familiar with European constabulary as well as conventions, which allowed them to pull per unit of measurement area the High German colonial authorities with petitions, legal proceedings, as well as 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, as well as and so tried to oust the native population from the town completely. King Bell's successor, King Rudolf Duala Manga Bell tried to rally resistance yesteryear sending emissaries to see the leaders of inland groups. Ibrahim Njoya of the Bamum tipped the Germans off, as well as Bell as well as his collaborators were executed inward 1914 for high treason.
"Mrs Göhring inward her sewing room. Duala (Cameroon)." Circa 1916
British as well as French administrations: In 1918, Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany lost World War I, as well as 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, nearly 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 yesteryear the 1930s. The residuum of the people were fishermen as well as farmers. By the 1940s, many Duala had attained prominence equally builders, equally well, servicing the growing cities of Douala as well as Victoria.
The novel colonials maintained the High German policies of ousting uncooperative rulers as well as 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 therefore encouraged people from the interior to displace to the coast as well as operate the plantations (settled good away from the influence of the Duala chiefs). These immigrants were primarily Bamileke. The newcomers grew numerically as well as economically dominant over time, leading to ethnic tensions with 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 as well as 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 answer to pull per unit of measurement area 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, as well as 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 as well as British showed favouritism toward white-owned plantations, as well as many Duala-owned farms became unprofitable. Meanwhile, other Cameroonian ethnic groups had caught upward to the Duala's Pb inward pedagogy as well as Westernisation. Over the adjacent 2 decades, peoples such equally the Beti-Pahuin as well as Bamileke came to competitor the Duala's position.
At war's end, the UN prepare inward motion 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 maiden off formed. Other parties that had either Duala founders or pregnant backing include the Bloc Démocratique Camerounais (BDC), as well as Action Nationale (AN).
Culture
The Duala today are divided into the urban as well as rural. Those who alive inward the cities, especially Douala itself, earn a living at a number of skilled as well as unskilled professions. Many Duala soundless ain parts of the city, allowing them to alive off rents as well as development. The rural Duala, inward contrast, operate equally fishermen as well as farmers, generally at the subsistence level. Fishing is the merchandise of choice.
Traditional Duala gild was divided into 3 strata. At the move yesteryear were the Wonja, native Duala, with 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 upward the bottom rung. Chiefs as well as headmen sat at the pinnacle of this hierarchy inward the past, though today such figures get got rattling piddling ability inward their ain right. Instead, such individuals are to a greater extent than probable to ain belongings as well as to get got inherited wealth. Councils of elders as well as cloak-and-dagger societies allow communities to produce upward one's heed of import issues.
Duala woman
Institutions
Assemblies, cloak-and-dagger societies, as well as other groups play an of import purpose inward keeping the Duala unified, helping them prepare goals, as well as giving them a venue to observe solutions to mutual problems. Chief alongside 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 sure enough historic catamenia hit or tribal clan. The miemba serve to allow their members network as well as socialise. Other cloak-and-dagger societies include the Ekongolo, Jengu, Losango, as well as Munji.
Marriage as well as kinship patterns
Duala inheritance is patrilineal; upon the father's death, his belongings is split alongside his manlike individual heirs. The Duala get got traditionally practiced polygamy, although with the introduction of Christianity, this custom has acquire rarer.
Duala spousal human relationship ceremony
The Duala get got never barred spousal human relationship betwixt sub-lineages of the same group, nor get got they e'er seat much restriction on inter-tribal marriage. In fact, today, such unions get got grown increasingly common, especially inward urban centres similar Douala. Children of such marriages acquire total members of their father's ethnic group.
Duala hubby as well as married adult woman at nuptials ceremony, Douala Cameroon
Religion
The Duala get got been generally Christianized since the 1930s. Evangelical denominations dominate, especially the Baptist church. Nevertheless, remnants of a pre-Christian ancestor worship persist.
The Duala believe inward Supreme as well as Creator God known equally Loba (Owasi or Iwonde or Ebasi).
As mightiness live expected for coastal peoples, the body of body of water also plays an of import purpose 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 as well as mediate betwixt worshippers as well as God. Other, evil sprits alive inward the forests as well as the sea, as well as many Duala believe that witchcraft holds a malign influence on everyday life. Traditional festivals held each twelvemonth serve equally the most visible facial expression of these traditional beliefs inward modern times
Sports
Pirogue racing has traditionally been the most of import sport alongside 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 fourteen July (Bastille Day) as well as xi Nov (Armistice Day). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 typical Duala racing pirogue is 20–28 metres long with no keel as well as a bow carved with intricate designs. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squad of 40-50 canoeists, generally 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 line solid 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, with whom they percentage a mutual traditional origin, as well as similar histories as well as 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, as well as the Wovea. The Batanga of the part of Kribi could live added to the preceding listing equally they claim they are descendants of Mbedi as well as they written report some grade of mutual comprehension betwixt their ain linguistic communication as well as malimba. Moreover the linguistic communication of the Bakundu (also called oroko), although normally 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 get got dominated the others historically, as well as these other groups all profess some form of kinship to that people. In addition, many other coastal ethnic groups such equally Balong, Bakossi... - who are culturally as well as historically to a greater extent than or less related to the Duala - are nether Duala influence as well as most of these people utter Duala to some extent. Duala is also spoken yesteryear a peachy purpose of the Bassa as well as Bakoko people. The give-and-take "duala" may live used to refer to the Duala "proper" or to the whole prepare of duala-like tribes or fifty-fifty mayhap to some "duala-ized" Bassa, Bakoko or Manenguba tribes.
Duala farther form themselves into a number of lineages or clans. Among the Duala proper, these are the Bonanjo (including the Bonapriso), the Bonaku, the Bonabela, as well as the Bonaberi. These names correspond the principal families inward each clan: Njo, Priso, Akwa, Ebele-Deido, as well as Bell, respectively. In addition, the Duala sometimes include the Bodiman, Pongo, as well as Wuri alongside their ranks, but non equally sub-lineages.
Duala elders
Geography as well as Settlement
The Duala are primarily concentrated inward Cameroon's Littoral Province inward the Moungo, Nkam, as well as Wouri divisions. Their settlements prevarication largely along the coast or only inland. The Wouri estuary, where the Wouri, Mungo, as well as Dibamba Rivers empty, forms the centre of Duala country. Douala is their traditional capital, as well as many Duala alive inward as well as around the city, although today it has come upward to reverberate the variety of Republic of Cameroon equally a whole.
Language
Dual people utter Duala (also spelled Douala, Diwala, Dwela, Dualla, as well as Dwala), which is a dialect cluster spoken yesteryear the Duala as well as 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 yesteryear creative individual Wes Madiko is sung inward Duala as well as reached #1 seat inward over nine European countries.
Duala is used equally a merchandise languages, due largely to the spread of the natural language yesteryear early on missionaries. This is especially truthful alongside the neighbouring Wovea, many of whom utter Duala inward lieu of their native tongue, as well as 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, as well as 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 as well as Dibombo, migrated northward as well as reached a house called Pitti on the Dibamba River. Here, the brothers parted ways after a row. Ewale moved to the oral cavity of the Dibamba with his followers as well as and so northwest to the eastward depository fiscal establishment of Wouri River estuary. The mgration of mbedi as well as his children is known inward Sawa oral history equally Mbedine event.
Meanwhile, Dibongo as well as his companions migrated southeast to the Sanaga River as well as and so split up, some heading upstream with Dibongo as well as others moving downstream with a human being named Elimbe. Ewale's people became the Duala, as well as Dibongo's the Limba.
According to Duala traditions, the Bakoko as well as Bassa ethnic groups occupied the Wouri estuary when the Duala arrived. The Duala as well as 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 maiden off known Duala ruler was a human being the merchants dubbed Monneba, who lived at the acquaint site of Douala inward the 16th century. Ardener as well as others advise that Monneba was inward fact Mulobe, the boy of Ewale as well as 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 later on displaced. The Portuguese described the Ambos equally a angling people who supplemented their diet with small-scale hunting as well as farming.
Over the adjacent few decades, to a greater extent than adventurers came to explore the estuary as well as the rivers that feed it, as well as to flora trading posts. The Duala provided ivory, kola nuts, as well as peppers, but slaves proved 1 of the to a greater extent than lucrative commodities. Most of these ended upward working the growing plantations on nearby islands such equally Annobon, Fernando Po, Príncipe, as well as São Tomé. The Duala had long kept as well as traded slaves, who lived inward separate settlements as well as performed menial tasks such equally cultivation. Slave owners could exclusively merchandise their slaves to other Duala, however, as well as owners were responsible for paying their slaves' debts as well as arranging their marriages. With the Europeans providing such a hungry market, however, these customs gave way.
King Bell, cameroon, 1886
The Duala emerged yesteryear the 16th century equally the leading traders on the Cameroonian coast, though the Isubu as well as Limba did non trail far behind. The earliest Duala merchants were probable chiefs or headmen. The main Duala villages shortly grew into a prospering township named Douala for the people who lived there. The coastal Duala purchased goods as well as slaves from interior groups such equally the Bakweri, Mungo, Bassa as well as Bakoko. In turn, they sold these items to the Europeans, typically aboard their ships (and later on at mainland factories or stores). In exchange, the Europeans provided alcohol, gunpowder, guns, mirrors, shoes, textiles, as well as tools.
Europeans traders did their best to back upward friendly chiefs against their rivals, adulating them with titles such equally King, Prince, or Chief. In exchange, these indigenes offered merchandise monopolies to their patrons as well as sometimes ceded land. In this way, Ndumb'a Lobe of the Bell lineage propped himself upward inward the 19th century equally King Bell. Heads of competitor sub-lineages shortly rivalled him, including the self-styled King Akwa (Ngando Mpondo) inward 1814, King Deido (Jim Ekwalla) of the Deido (an Akwa splinter group), as well as 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 with the Duala. This coincided with the abolition movement, as well as the Crown employed the traders to terminate slavery inward the Gulf of Guinea. On 10 June 1840 as well as seven May 1841, Akwa as well as Bell became the maiden off to sign anti-slavery treaties. In exchange, the Europeans provided these rulers with annual gifts of alcohol, guns, textiles, as well as 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 as well as converting them to Christianity. Alfred Saker opened a mission inward Douala inward 1845. By 1875, numerous missions as well as schools sprung upward inward Douala as well as other settlements. The early on missionaries learned the Duala linguistic communication as well as invented a written shape for it, equally Bible translation was 1 of their earliest priorities. Cameroonian Pidgin English linguistic communication began to prepare 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, as well as some rulers appointed Western traders as well as missionaries equally advisors. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 high proportion of Duala grew wealthy through the novel trade, as well as tensions arose betwixt the haves as well as have-nots. Competition escalated betwixt coastal groups as well as fifty-fifty betwixt related settlements. Traders exploited this atmosphere, as well as showtime inward 1860, German, French, as well as Castilian merchants had established contacts as well as weakened the British monopoly. The Duala had gained a virtual hegemony over merchandise through the Wouri estuary.
In answer to the threat from unusual merchants, the British seat pull per unit of measurement area on the Duala kings to asking British annexation. In 1879, King Akwa sent such a request; Bell followed adjust 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 yesteryear signing land-cessation treaties with Kings Akwa, Bell, as well as Deido. The British arrived besides belatedly as well as on 28 March 1885 ceded Victoria to Germany.
King Bell
German Administration: Opposition to High German dominion followed the annexation. Prince Lock Priso soundless favoured the British as well as 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 as well as so found himself upward against the other Duala chiefs inward the Duala War, which was fought over the killing of a Bonaberi Duala as well as Bell's alleged refusal to percentage his profits with the other sub-lineages. Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany 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 as well as little solid ground area, Duala territory became the economical as well as political nexus of Kamerun. The Germans initially ruled from Douala, which they called Kamerunstadt, but they moved their upper-case missive of the alphabet 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, especially the Duala as well as Bakweri.
High German arrival on the mainland meant that the coastal peoples' monopoly on merchandise had ended. Most Duala turned to subsistence farming or angling to survive. Years of contact with Westerners as well as a high flat of literacy had allowed a literate upper shape of clerks, farmers, as well as traders to emerge. This shape were familiar with European constabulary as well as conventions, which allowed them to pull per unit of measurement area the High German colonial authorities with petitions, legal proceedings, as well as 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, as well as and so tried to oust the native population from the town completely. King Bell's successor, King Rudolf Duala Manga Bell tried to rally resistance yesteryear sending emissaries to see the leaders of inland groups. Ibrahim Njoya of the Bamum tipped the Germans off, as well as Bell as well as his collaborators were executed inward 1914 for high treason.
"Mrs Göhring inward her sewing room. Duala (Cameroon)." Circa 1916
British as well as French administrations: In 1918, Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany lost World War I, as well as 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, nearly 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 yesteryear the 1930s. The residuum of the people were fishermen as well as farmers. By the 1940s, many Duala had attained prominence equally builders, equally well, servicing the growing cities of Douala as well as Victoria.
The novel colonials maintained the High German policies of ousting uncooperative rulers as well as 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 therefore encouraged people from the interior to displace to the coast as well as operate the plantations (settled good away from the influence of the Duala chiefs). These immigrants were primarily Bamileke. The newcomers grew numerically as well as economically dominant over time, leading to ethnic tensions with 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 as well as 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 answer to pull per unit of measurement area 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, as well as the French promised non to convey whatever of the Akwa or Deido clans' holdings.
At war's end, the UN prepare inward motion 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 maiden off formed. Other parties that had either Duala founders or pregnant backing include the Bloc Démocratique Camerounais (BDC), as well as Action Nationale (AN).
Duala women
Culture
The Duala today are divided into the urban as well as rural. Those who alive inward the cities, especially Douala itself, earn a living at a number of skilled as well as unskilled professions. Many Duala soundless ain parts of the city, allowing them to alive off rents as well as development. The rural Duala, inward contrast, operate equally fishermen as well as farmers, generally at the subsistence level. Fishing is the merchandise of choice.
Traditional Duala gild was divided into 3 strata. At the move yesteryear were the Wonja, native Duala, with 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 upward the bottom rung. Chiefs as well as headmen sat at the pinnacle of this hierarchy inward the past, though today such figures get got rattling piddling ability inward their ain right. Instead, such individuals are to a greater extent than probable to ain belongings as well as to get got inherited wealth. Councils of elders as well as cloak-and-dagger societies allow communities to produce upward one's heed of import issues.
Duala woman
Institutions
Assemblies, cloak-and-dagger societies, as well as other groups play an of import purpose inward keeping the Duala unified, helping them prepare goals, as well as giving them a venue to observe solutions to mutual problems. Chief alongside 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 sure enough historic catamenia hit or tribal clan. The miemba serve to allow their members network as well as socialise. Other cloak-and-dagger societies include the Ekongolo, Jengu, Losango, as well as Munji.
Duala woman
Marriage as well as kinship patterns
Duala inheritance is patrilineal; upon the father's death, his belongings is split alongside his manlike individual heirs. The Duala get got traditionally practiced polygamy, although with the introduction of Christianity, this custom has acquire rarer.
Duala spousal human relationship ceremony
The Duala get got never barred spousal human relationship betwixt sub-lineages of the same group, nor get got they e'er seat much restriction on inter-tribal marriage. In fact, today, such unions get got grown increasingly common, especially inward urban centres similar Douala. Children of such marriages acquire total members of their father's ethnic group.
Duala hubby as well as married adult woman at nuptials ceremony, Douala Cameroon
Religion
The Duala get got been generally Christianized since the 1930s. Evangelical denominations dominate, especially the Baptist church. Nevertheless, remnants of a pre-Christian ancestor worship persist.
The Duala believe inward Supreme as well as Creator God known equally Loba (Owasi or Iwonde or Ebasi).
As mightiness live expected for coastal peoples, the body of body of water also plays an of import purpose 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 as well as mediate betwixt worshippers as well as God. Other, evil sprits alive inward the forests as well as the sea, as well as many Duala believe that witchcraft holds a malign influence on everyday life. Traditional festivals held each twelvemonth serve equally the most visible facial expression of these traditional beliefs inward modern times
Sports
Pirogue racing has traditionally been the most of import sport alongside 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 fourteen July (Bastille Day) as well as xi Nov (Armistice Day). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 typical Duala racing pirogue is 20–28 metres long with no keel as well as a bow carved with intricate designs. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squad of 40-50 canoeists, generally 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 line solid unit of measurement on Jebale Island claimed to live able to summon the Miengu H2O spirits to assistance favoured participants
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