Manga Ndumbe Bell
Encyclopedia
Auguste Manga Ndumbe Bell (1851 - 2 September 1908) was a leader of the Duala people
of southern Cameroon
from 1897 to 1908 during the period after the German
colonialists assumed control of the region as the Kamerun
colony.
region around the Wouri estuary
noted that they were engaged in fishing and agriculture to some extent, but primarily were traders with the people of the interior via the Wouri River
and its tributaries, and via the Dibamba
, Kwa Kwa and Mungo
rivers. In the 19th century they were bartering palm oil, palm kernels and ivory for European goods. Their leaders, whom the Europeans called "kings", came from the two lineages of Bell and Akwa.
.
He was English
-educated.
In the period leading up to the German annexation, his family was in the ascendancy over the Akwa family, was particularly strong in the Mungo River trade and was highly regarded by the Europeans.
However, after signature of the protection treaty in July 1884, the first German governor, Julius von Soden
, favored the Akwa family. Manga was even exiled to Togo
for two years on the basis that he was a "bad influence" in Douala.
While in Togo, Manga became a friend of Eugen von Zimmerer
, the German commissioner, who then became governor of Kamerun. On his.return, Manga took pains to establish good relations with the other important colonial officials.
The next year, he was given appeals jurisdiction over all the native people of the Littoral region.
As the colonial authorities became increasingly involved in administration of the region, tensions rose between the Bell and Akwa families and between the Duala people and the Germans.
In 1902-1903 Manga Bell went to Germany
to present his complaints and requests to the authorities.
He was accompanied by his son Rudolf Duala Manga Bell
, who been educated in Germany.
The trip was successful, and Manga benefited personally from the grant of a valuable elephant licence.
Manga Bell was the first of the Duala to turn from trade to direct production of agricultural goods.
The Atlantic Slave Trade
had long been abolished, replaced by trade in palm oil and other produce, but the slave system had persisted internally and continued after the Germans took control. However, the slave owners were gradually forced to improve their treatment of slaves, whose position evolved to that of dependent farm workers. When Manga Bell started his first cocoa plantation, he had to provide gifts to his slaves to persuade them to work the new and unfamiliar crop.
During his period of rule, the Mungo region gained almost 70% of the cocoa trade, almost entirely controlled by the Bells.
Manga Bell built a palace in the center of Douala, also known as the "Pagoda" due to its architectural style, completed in 1905.
Today, the Pagoda is one of the tourist attractions of the city.
He died on 2 September 1908.
Speaking at his funeral, the governor said "Duala people, the roof under which Whites and Blacks mingled has collapsed".
Manga's position was passed on to his son, Duala, who was executed by the Germans in 1914 after attempting to stir up a revolt against the colonialists.
|title=La Pagode
|language=French
|accessdate=2011-02-21
|work=Cameroun Découverte}}
Duala people
The Duala are an ethnic group of Cameroon. They primarily inhabit the littoral region to the coast and form a portion of the Sawa, or Cameroonian coastal peoples...
of southern Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
from 1897 to 1908 during the period after the German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
colonialists assumed control of the region as the Kamerun
Kamerun
German Cameroon was a West African colony of the German Empire from 1884 to 1916 in the region of today's Republic of Cameroon.-History:-1800s:...
colony.
Background
The first European records of the people of the DoualaDouala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
region around the Wouri estuary
Wouri estuary
The Wouri estuary, or Cameroon estuary is a large tidal estuary in Cameroon where several rivers come together, emptying into the Bight of Biafra. Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, is at the mouth of the Wouri River where it enters the estuary...
noted that they were engaged in fishing and agriculture to some extent, but primarily were traders with the people of the interior via the Wouri River
Wouri River
The Wouri is a river in Cameroon. The river is formed at the confluence of the rivers Nkam and Makombé, northeast of the city of Yabassi. The Wouri then flows about southeast to the Wouri estuary at Douala, the chief port and industrial city in the southwestern part of Cameroon on the Gulf of...
and its tributaries, and via the Dibamba
Dibamba River
The Dibamba River is in the Littoral Region of southern Cameroon, emptying into the Cameroon estuary near the city of Doula.-Location:The Dibamba river has a length of and a catchment area of...
, Kwa Kwa and Mungo
Mungo River
The Mungo River is a river of the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. The major source of the Hokitika River, it flows generally west from the Southern Alps, becoming the Hokitika River at the point where it turns north as it flows through a gap in the Diedrich Range...
rivers. In the 19th century they were bartering palm oil, palm kernels and ivory for European goods. Their leaders, whom the Europeans called "kings", came from the two lineages of Bell and Akwa.
Early years
Manga came from the Bell lineage, son of King Ndumbe Lobe BellNdumbe Lobe Bell
Ndumbé Lobé Bell or King Bell was a leader of the Duala people in Southern Cameroon during the period when the Germans established their colony of Kamerun...
.
He was English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-educated.
In the period leading up to the German annexation, his family was in the ascendancy over the Akwa family, was particularly strong in the Mungo River trade and was highly regarded by the Europeans.
However, after signature of the protection treaty in July 1884, the first German governor, Julius von Soden
Julius von Soden
Julius Freiherr von Soden was a German colonial official and politician. He was Governor of the colonies of Kamerun and German East Africa, and later became Chef de Cabinet and Foreign Minister of the King of Württemberg....
, favored the Akwa family. Manga was even exiled to Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
for two years on the basis that he was a "bad influence" in Douala.
While in Togo, Manga became a friend of Eugen von Zimmerer
Eugen von Zimmerer
Eugen Ritter von Zimmerer was a governor of the German colony of Kamerun between 1890 and 1893.-Early career:Zimmerer was born on 24 November 1843 in Germersheim, the son of a Bavarian officer....
, the German commissioner, who then became governor of Kamerun. On his.return, Manga took pains to establish good relations with the other important colonial officials.
Ruler
When his father Ndumbe Lobe Bell, generally known as "King Bell", died in December 1897, Manga Bell inherited his position and salary in exchange for taking greater responsibility for his people and supplying porters to the government.The next year, he was given appeals jurisdiction over all the native people of the Littoral region.
As the colonial authorities became increasingly involved in administration of the region, tensions rose between the Bell and Akwa families and between the Duala people and the Germans.
In 1902-1903 Manga Bell went to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to present his complaints and requests to the authorities.
He was accompanied by his son Rudolf Duala Manga Bell
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell was a Duala king and resistance leader in the German colony of Kamerun. After being educated in both Kamerun and Europe, he succeeded his father, Manga Ndumbe Bell, on 2 September 1908. Manga Bell styled himself after European rulers, and he generally supported the colonial...
, who been educated in Germany.
The trip was successful, and Manga benefited personally from the grant of a valuable elephant licence.
Manga Bell was the first of the Duala to turn from trade to direct production of agricultural goods.
The Atlantic Slave Trade
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
had long been abolished, replaced by trade in palm oil and other produce, but the slave system had persisted internally and continued after the Germans took control. However, the slave owners were gradually forced to improve their treatment of slaves, whose position evolved to that of dependent farm workers. When Manga Bell started his first cocoa plantation, he had to provide gifts to his slaves to persuade them to work the new and unfamiliar crop.
During his period of rule, the Mungo region gained almost 70% of the cocoa trade, almost entirely controlled by the Bells.
Manga Bell built a palace in the center of Douala, also known as the "Pagoda" due to its architectural style, completed in 1905.
Today, the Pagoda is one of the tourist attractions of the city.
He died on 2 September 1908.
Speaking at his funeral, the governor said "Duala people, the roof under which Whites and Blacks mingled has collapsed".
Manga's position was passed on to his son, Duala, who was executed by the Germans in 1914 after attempting to stir up a revolt against the colonialists.
Cited books
|url=http://cameroon_pics.voila.net/vivre/douala_31.html|title=La Pagode
|language=French
|accessdate=2011-02-21
|work=Cameroun Découverte}}