Mundame
Encyclopedia
Mundame or Moundamé is a community in Cameroon
, in the Southwest Region, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Mungo River
.
The river is navigable south of Mundame for about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) as it flows through the coastal plain before entering mangrove swamps
, where it splits into numerous small channels that empty into the Cameroon estuary complex.
In the early colonial era, Mundame was seen as having potential as a station for collecting trade goods such as rubber, palm oil and ivory for transport by river to the coast.
The area was well-populated with people including Bakundu, Bafo
and possibly Bebum.
Dr. Schwartz's expedition of 1885 passed through Mundame, then went overland to Mambanda and Kumba
before turning back at Ikiliwindi.
The German
firm of Jantzen und Thormählen established a factory at Mundame in 1889, intending to use it as a stage for expansion into the northwest.
By 1892 the Germans had built a wooden house and a corrugated iron barracks, and were building a store house. They had made a clearing planted with palms, cocoyam, manioc, maize and rice, as well as potatoes and other European vegetables.
However, Duala
traders could transport goods down the Mungo more economically by canoe, and Efik traders from Calabar
in Nigeria
were drawing away trade from further north via the Cross River
.
In 1892 the factory was been abandoned.
In 1900 the Gesellschaft Nord-West Kamerun (GNK) sent an expedition led by Hptm von Ramsay from Douala
via Mundame to the Cross River.
Mundame become a military base from which the German forces retaliated against villagers who were up in arms due to the brutal conditions of the plantations. The town was revived as a trading post, and became a center for supplying posts further into the Cross River area using laborers to carry the goods.
By 1970, the community was described as a "forest village", with a relatively high level of infection by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus
, the causative agent of river blindness.
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...
, in the Southwest Region, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Mungo River
Mungo River, Cameroon
The Mungo River is a large river in Cameroon that drains the mountains in the southern portion of the Cameroon line of active and extinct volcanoes.-Course:The Mungo river has a catchment area of ....
.
The river is navigable south of Mundame for about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) as it flows through the coastal plain before entering mangrove swamps
Central African mangroves
The Central African mangroves ecoregion consists of the largest area of mangrove swamp in Africa, located on the coasts of West Africa, mainly in Nigeria.-Location and description:...
, where it splits into numerous small channels that empty into the Cameroon estuary complex.
In the early colonial era, Mundame was seen as having potential as a station for collecting trade goods such as rubber, palm oil and ivory for transport by river to the coast.
The area was well-populated with people including Bakundu, Bafo
BAFO
BAFO as an acronym can refer to:* Best And Final Offer, often a part of a Request For Proposal process* British Association of Forensic Odontology* BAFO Technologies Incorporated, manufacturer of cables and electronic devices...
and possibly Bebum.
Dr. Schwartz's expedition of 1885 passed through Mundame, then went overland to Mambanda and Kumba
Kumba
Kumba is a city in Southwest Province, western Cameroon also known around Cameroon as K town. It had a population of 144,268 . The N8 and N16 highways meet at Kumba.- History :...
before turning back at Ikiliwindi.
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...
firm of Jantzen und Thormählen established a factory at Mundame in 1889, intending to use it as a stage for expansion into the northwest.
By 1892 the Germans had built a wooden house and a corrugated iron barracks, and were building a store house. They had made a clearing planted with palms, cocoyam, manioc, maize and rice, as well as potatoes and other European vegetables.
However, Duala
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...
traders could transport goods down the Mungo more economically by canoe, and Efik traders from Calabar
Calabar
Calabar is a city in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language....
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
were drawing away trade from further north via the Cross River
Cross River (Nigeria)
Cross River is the main river in southeastern Nigeria and gives its name to Cross River State.It originates in Cameroon, where it takes the name of the Manyu River....
.
In 1892 the factory was been abandoned.
In 1900 the Gesellschaft Nord-West Kamerun (GNK) sent an expedition led by Hptm von Ramsay from Douala
Douala
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...
via Mundame to the Cross River.
Mundame become a military base from which the German forces retaliated against villagers who were up in arms due to the brutal conditions of the plantations. The town was revived as a trading post, and became a center for supplying posts further into the Cross River area using laborers to carry the goods.
By 1970, the community was described as a "forest village", with a relatively high level of infection by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus
Onchocerca volvulus
Onchocerca volvulus is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis or "river blindness" mostly in Africa. Long-term corneal inflammation, or keratitis, leads to thickening of the corneal stroma which ultimately leads to blindness. Humans are the only definitive host for O. volvulus. The intermediate host...
, the causative agent of river blindness.