The Duala (or Douala) 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. They have historically played a highly influential role in Cameroon due to their long contact with Europeans, high rate of education, and wealth gained over years as traders and land owners. Duala (also known by the French spelling Douala) is the language spoken around the Duala. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, believing him to be the Son of God and the savior of human souls from sin and death. ... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ... Bakweri, a Bantu nation of German Cameroon, West Africa. ... Józef Sawa-Caliński (died 1771) was a Polish noble and a prominent leader of the Confederation of Bar, a movement aimed against the Polish king and his close relations with Russia. ... Merchants function as professionals who deal with trade, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves, in order to produce profit. ... // Use of the term In common usage, property means ones own thing and refers to the relationship between individuals and the objects which they see as being their own to dispense with as they see fit. ...

The Duala are related to several ethnic groups (or tribes) in the Cameroon littoral, with whom they share a common traditional origin, and similar histories and cultures. These include the Bakole, the Bakweri (or Kwe), the Bamboko, the Isubu (Isuwu or Bimbians), the Limba (or Malimba), the Mungo, and the Wovea. The Duala have dominated the others historically, and these other groups all profess some sort of kinship to that people. Viewed historically or developmentally, a tribe consists of a social formation existing before the development of, or outside of, states. ... Bakweri, a Bantu nation of German Cameroon, West Africa. ...

History

Early population movements

Early Duala history may only be conjectured from oral traditions. The Duala trace their ancestry back to a man named Mbedi, who lived in an area called Bakota in what is today Gabon or the Republic of the Congo. His sons, Ewale and Dibongo, migrated north and reached a place called Pitti on the Dibamba River. Here, the brothers parted ways after a row. Ewale moved to the mouth of the Dibamba with his followers and then northwest to the east bank of Wouri River estuary. Meanwhile, Dibongo and his companions migrated southeast to the Sanaga River and then split up, some heading upstream with Dibongo and others moving downstream with a man named Elimbe. Ewale's people became the Duala, and Dibongo's the Limba.^[2] Oral history is an account of something passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. ... The Bakota are a Bantu ethnic group from the northeastern region of Gabon. ... Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing numerous ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits and services. ... The Sanaga River is a river of South Province, Cameroon, Centre Province, Cameroon, and West Province, Cameroon. ...

According to Duala traditions, the Bakoko and Bassa ethnic groups occupied the Wouri estuary when the Duala arrived. The Duala then drove them inland, a displacement that likely occurred in the late 17th or early 18th century.^[3]

European contacts

Portuguese traders reached the Wouri estuary in 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 displaced. The Portuguese described the Ambos as a fishing people who supplemented their diet with small-scale hunting and farming.^{[citation needed]} Events February 20 - The Orkneys and Shetlands are annexed to the crown of Scotland Discovery of Newfoundland by Didrik Pining and João Vaz Corte-Real. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish. ... A hunter on horseback shoots at deer or elk with a bow. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ...

Over the next few decades, more adventurers came to explore the estuary and the rivers that feed it, and to establish trading posts. The Duala provided ivory, kola nuts, and peppers, but slaves proved one of the more lucrative commodities. Most of these ended up working the growing plantations on nearby islands such as Annobon, Fernando Po, Príncipe, and São Tomé. The Duala had long kept and traded slaves, who lived in separate settlements and performed menial tasks such as cultivation. Slave owners could only trade their slaves to other Duala, however, and owners were responsible for paying their slaves' debts and arranging their marriages. With the Europeans providing such a hungry market, however, these customs gave way.^[4] A trading post is a place where trading of goods takes place. ... An elaborately carved ivory decoration Ivory is a hard, white, opaque substance that is the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals such as the elephant, hippopotamus, walrus, mammoth, narwhal, etc. ... Species See treat Kola nut (Cola) is a genus of about 125 species of trees native to the tropical rainforests of Africa, classified in the family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae (or treated in the separate family Sterculiaceae). ... Species C. annuum (incl. ... It has been suggested that Chattel slavery be merged into this article or section. ... A plantation is an intentional planting of a crop, on a larger scale, usually for uses other than cereal production or pasture. ... Annob n is an island south of S o Tom Island (S o Tom and ncipe), belonging to Equatorial Guinea. ... Bioko (spelled also Bioco) is an island off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea, formerly called Fernando Pó or Fernando Póo. ... Príncipe is the smaller of the two major islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. ... São Tomé (population 53,300 in 2003) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far the nations largest town. ...

The Duala emerged by the 16th century as the leading traders on the Cameroonian coast, though the Isubu and Limba did not trail far behind. The earliest Duala merchants were likely chiefs or headmen.^[5] The main Duala villages soon grew into a prospering township named Douala for the people who lived there. The coastal Duala purchased goods and slaves from interior groups such as the Bakweri, Mungo, Bassa and Bakoko. In turn, they sold these items to the Europeans, typically aboard their ships (and later at mainland factories or stores). In exchange, the Europeans provided alcohol, gunpowder, guns, mirrors, shoes, textiles, and tools. Chief can refer to : Paramount chief is the highest political leader in a region or country typically administered with a chief-based system. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Europeans traders did their best to support friendly chiefs against their rivals, adulating them with titles such as King, Prince, or Chief. In exchange, these indigenes offered trade monopolies to their patrons and sometimes ceded land.^{[citation needed]} In this way, Ndumb'a Lobe of the Bell lineage propped himself up in the 19th century as King Bell. Heads of rival sub-lineages soon rivalled him, including the self-styled King Akwa (Ngando Mpondo) in 1814, King Deido (Jim Ekwalla) of the Deido (an Akwa splinter group), and Prince Lock Priso (Kum'a Mbape) of the Bonaberi. It has been suggested that coercive monopoly be merged into this article or section. ... The term lineage can refer to several things. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

By the mid-19th century, the British had taken the lead in trade with the Duala. This coincided with the abolition movement, and the Crown employed the traders to end slavery in the Gulf of Guinea. On 10 June 1840 and 7 May 1841, Akwa and Bell became the first to sign anti-slavery treaties. In exchange, the Europeans provided these rulers with annual gifts of alcohol, guns, textiles, and other goods.^[6] In addition, the rulers outlawed practices the British viewed as barbaric, such as sacrificing a chief's wives upon his death.^[7] Abolition is the act of formally destroying something through legal means, either by making it illegal, or simply no longer allowing it to exist in any form. ... The Gulf of Guinea is the part of the Atlantic southwest of Africa. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... take you to calendar). ... Human sacrifice was practiced in many ancient cultures. ...

The British also wanted to mould the Duala to their own concepts of civilization. This meant educating them in Western learning and converting them to Christianity.^[8] Alfred Saker opened a mission in Douala in 1845. By 1875, numerous missions and schools sprung up in Douala and other settlements. The early missionaries learned the Duala language and invented a written form for it, as Bible translation was one of their earliest priorities. Cameroonian Pidgin English began to develop at this time. Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... Monument to Alfred Saker in Limbé Alfred Saker (b. ... Duala (also known by the French spelling Douala) is the language spoken around the Duala. ... Cameroonian Pidgin English, or Cameroonian Creole, is a linguistic entity of Cameroon. ...

Trade dramatically altered Duala society. European goods became status symbols, and some rulers appointed Western traders and missionaries as advisors. A high proportion of Duala grew wealthy through the new trade, and tensions arose between the haves and have-nots. Competition escalated between coastal groups and even between related settlements. Traders exploited this atmosphere, and beginning in 1860, German, French, and Spanish merchants had established contacts and weakened the British monopoly. The Duala had gained a virtual hegemony over trade through the Wouri estuary. A fruit stand at a market. ... A status symbol is something, usually an expensive or rare object, that indicates a high social status for its owner. ...

King Bell, 1881.

In response to the threat from foreign merchants, the British put pressure on the Duala kings to request British annexation. In 1879, King Akwa sent such a request; Bell followed suit in 1881 (some historians believe that these documents were faked, however).^[9] 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 of 1884, however, German explorer Gustav Nachtigal staged a coup by signing land-cessation treaties with Kings Akwa, Bell, and Deido. The British arrived too late and on 28 March 1885 ceded Victoria to Germany.^[10] Gustav Nachtigal (February 23, 1834 - April 20, 1885), German explorer in Central Africa, son of a Lutheran pastor, was born at Eichstedt in the Mark of Brandenburg. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

German administration

Opposition to German rule followed the annexation. Prince Lock Priso still favoured the British and staged a rebellion in December of 1884. Around this same time, King Bell faced off against his own people, who were largely opposed to the German rule. Bell then found himself up against the other Duala chiefs in the Duala War, which was fought over the killing of a Bonaberi Duala and Bell's alleged refusal to share his profits with the other sub-lineages.^[11] Germany stopped the conflict when one of its nationals was killed. Bell survived, but his power had diminished significantly. Realising that the Duala would never again follow the rule of a single king, the Germans instead played the competitors against one another. They supported the weaker King Bell to counter the powerful King Akwa.^[12] Look up rebellion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Despite the unrest and small land area, Duala territory became the economic and political nexus of Kamerun.^{[citation needed]} The Germans initially ruled from Douala, which they called Kamerunstadt, but they moved their capital to the Bakweri settlement of Buea in 1901. Constant shipping traffic along the coast allowed individuals to move from one plantation or town to another in search of work. The coastal groups intermingled like never before, particularly the Duala and Bakweri.^{[citation needed]}

German arrival on the mainland meant that the coastal peoples' monopoly on trade had ended. Most Duala turned to subsistence farming or fishing to survive.^{[citation needed]} Years of contact with Westerners and a high level of literacy had allowed a literate upper class of clerks, farmers, and traders to emerge. This class were familiar with European law and conventions, which allowed them to pressure the German colonial government with petitions, legal proceedings, and special-interest groups to oppose unpopular or unfair policies.^[13] A series of these began in 1910, when the German administration initiated a new poll tax, attempted to seize lands in Douala township, and then tried to oust the native population from the town completely. King Bell's successor, King Rudolf Duala Manga Bell tried to rally resistance by sending emissaries to visit the leaders of inland groups. Ibrahim Njoya of the Bamun tipped the Germans off, and Bell and his collaborators were executed in 1914 for high treason.^{[citation needed]} Like most farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, this Cameroonian man cultivates at the subsistence level. ... A clerk can be someone who works in an office and whose duties include record-keeping or correspondence. ... This is not a neutral term and should not be an article title. ... A poll tax, head tax, soul tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual (as opposed to a percentage of income). ... Bamun artisan at work in Foumban The Bamun, alternate names Bamum or Mum, are an ethnic group of Cameroon with around 215,000 members. ...

British and French administrations

In 1918, Germany lost World War I, and her colonies became mandates of the League of Nations. France became the new steward of Duala territories. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead: 5 million Civilian deaths: 3 million Total of dead: 8 million Military dead: 4 million Civilian deaths: 3 million Total dead: 7 million The First... The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. ...

The Duala continued to prosper. Though the French had largely stripped their kings of power, almost half of the ethnic group's 15-20,000 members were important traders, plantation managers or owners, chiefs, or clerks in the civil service by the 1930s. The rest of the people were fishermen and farmers. By the 1940s, many Duala had attained prominence as builders, as well, servicing the growing cities of Douala and Victoria.^[14] Cranes are essential in large construction projects, such as this skyscraper In project architecture and civil engineering, construction is the building or assembly of any infrastructure. ... The shore at Limbe Limbe (also spelled Limbé) is a city in western Cameroon. ...

The new colonials maintained the German policies of ousting uncooperative rulers and of impressing workers for the plantations.^[15] 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 thus encouraged people from the interior to move to the coast and work the plantations (settled well away from the influence of the Duala chiefs). These immigrants were primarily Bamileke. The newcomers grew numerically and economically dominant over time, leading to ethnic tensions with the indigenes. By the early 1930s, the Duala were a minority in the town named for them.^[16] The Bamileke ( French Bamiléké) are a collection of Semi-Bantu (or Grassfields Bantu) ethnic groups most highly concentrated in the western highlands of Cameroons West Province, west of the Noun River and southeast of the Bamboutos Mountains and in the Mungo region of the Littoral, Southwest, and Centre Provinces. ...

By this time, the Duala had lost most of their reverence for Europeans. They did not hesitate to oppose new taxes and to demand their independence.^{[citation needed]} On 19 December 1929, for example, four paramount chiefs sent a petition to the League of Nations asking for independence for the Cameroons. Their largest concern, however, was the return of seized Duala lands. This Duala land problem reached a head in 1925 when the French sold lands on the Joss Plateau that the Germans had appropriated. In response to pressure from the Bell clan, the French offered other territory in compensation. The Bells initially refused, but the Great Depression eventually prompted them to accept the French compromise. The Bells gained land in Bali district, and the French promised not to take any of the Akwa or Deido clans' holdings. December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Great Depression was known as a worldwide economic downturn, starting in 1929 and lasting through most of the 1930s. ... Bali is an Indonesian island located at , , one of the Lesser Sunda Islands. ...

In the late 1930s, Alexandre Duala Manga Bell had emerged as the unofficial leader of the Duala proper. The French grew more hostile toward these Duala elites, whom they considered "precociously developed".^{[citation needed]} In 1937, they expelled the Duala from Akwa town (an area of Douala), although they allowed them to maintain ownership of the land. During World War II, the French and British showed favouritism toward white-owned plantations, and many Duala-owned farms became unprofitable.^[17] Meanwhile, other Cameroonian ethnic groups had caught up to the Duala's lead in education and Westernisation. Over the next two decades, peoples such as the Beti-Pahuin and Bamileke came to rival the Duala's position.^{[citation needed]} Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... The Beti-Pahuin are a group of related peoples who inhabit the rain forest regions of Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe. ...

At war's end, the United Nations set in motion the decolonisation of Africa. The Duala remained important in this process. For example, many Duala supported the pro-independence Union des Populations du Cameroun party (UPC) when it first formed. Other parties that had either Duala founders or significant backing include the Bloc Démocratique Camerounais (BDC), and Action Nationale (AN). United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Decolonization generally refers to a movement following the Second World War in which the various European colonies of the world were granted independence. ...

Geography

Map showing the location of the various Duala ethnic groups of Cameroon

The Duala are primarily concentrated in Cameroon's Littoral Province in the Moungo, Nkam, and Wouri divisions. Their settlements lie largely along the coast or just inland. The Wouri estuary, where the Wouri, Mungo, and Dibamba Rivers empty, forms the centre of Duala country. Douala is their traditional capital, and many Duala live in and around the city, although today it has come to reflect the diversity of Cameroon as a whole. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x998, 324 KB) Map showing the location of the various Duala ethnic groups of Cameroon. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x998, 324 KB) Map showing the location of the various Duala ethnic groups of Cameroon. ... The Littoral Province is a province of Cameroon. ...

Culture

The Duala today are divided into the urban and rural. Those who live in the cities, particularly Douala itself, earn a living at a number of skilled and unskilled professions. Many Duala still own parts of the city, allowing them to live off rents and development. The rural Duala, in contrast, work as fishermen and farmers, mostly at the subsistence level. Fishing is the trade of choice.

Traditional Duala society was divided into three strata. At the top were the Wonja, native Duala, with full rights of land ownership. The next tier consisted of the Wajili, either non-Duala peoples or the descendants of slaves. Finally, the Wakomi, or slaves, made up the bottom rung. Chiefs and headmen sat at the pinnacle of this hierarchy in the past, though today such figures have very little power in their own right. Instead, such individuals are more likely to own property and to have inherited wealth. Councils of elders and secret societies allow communities to decide important issues.^[18] A secret society is an organization that requires its members to conceal certain activities—such as rites of initiation—from outsiders. ...

Language

The Duala speak a language of the same name. The tongue is closely related to other Duala languages, which may represent a dialect continuum.^{[citation needed]} For example, Malimba speakers have little difficulty understanding Duala.^[19] Duala is part of the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo language family. Duala (also known by the French spelling Douala) is the language spoken around the Duala. ... A dialect continuum is a range of dialects spoken across a large geographical area, differing only slightly between areas that are geographically close, and gradually decreasing in mutual intelligibility as the distances become greater. ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (dull yellow) vs. ... Map showing the distribution of Niger-Congo languages The Niger-Congo languages constitute one of the worlds major language families, and Africas largest in terms of geographical area, number of speakers, and number of distinct languages. ...

Duala is used as a trade languages, due largely to the spread of the tongue by early missionaries. This is particularly true among the neighbouring Wovea, many of whom speak Duala in lieu of their native tongue, and the Isubu, many of whom are bilingual in Duala.^[20]

In addition, individuals who have attended school or lived in an urban centre usually speak French, although English and German were more common in historical periods. The rate of literacy is relatively high among the Duala, though this is for reading and writing European languages.^[21] Wiktionary has related dictionary definitions, such as: English, english The language of English started in Europe and came to the US with the British immigrants. ... World literacy rates by country The traditional definition of Literacy is the ability to use language ie to read, write, listen and speak. ...

At least until the German period, Duala men used a kind of "drum language", tapping out coded messages to communicate news over long distances.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage and kinship patterns

Duala inheritance is patrilineal; upon the father's death, his property is split among his male heirs. The Duala have traditionally practiced polygamy, although with Christianisation, this custom has become rarer.^[22] The Duala have never barred marriage between sub-lineages of the same group, nor have they ever put much restriction on inter-tribal marriage. In fact, today, such unions have grown increasingly common, particularly in urban centres like Douala. Children of such marriages become full members of their father's ethnic group.^{[citation needed]} Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, and obligations upon the death of an individual. ... Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to ones fathers lineage; it generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well. ...

Religion

The Duala have been mostly Christianized since the 1930s. Evangelical denominations dominate, particularly the Baptist church. Nevertheless, remnants of a pre-Christian ancestor worship persist. As might be expected for coastal peoples, the sea also plays an important role in this faith. For example, Duala belief holds that their ancestors live in the sea. In this worldview, demi-human water spirits known as Miengu (singular: Jengu) live in the waters and mediate between worshippers and God. Other, evil sprits live in the forests and the sea, and many Duala believe that witchcraft holds a malign influence on everyday life.^{[citation needed]} Traditional festivals held each year serve as the most visible expression of these traditional beliefs in modern times.^[23] The word evangelicalism usually refers to a tendency in diverse branches of conservative Christianity, typified by an emphasis on evangelism, a personal experience of conversion, biblically-oriented faith, and a belief in the relevance of Christian faith to cultural issues. ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. ... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ... A jengu (plural miengu) is a water spirit and deity in the traditional beliefs of the Sawa ethnic groups of Cameroon, particularly the Duala peoples. ... Witchcraft, in various historical, religious and mythical contexts, is the use of certain kinds of alleged supernatural or magical powers. ...

Arts

A lively heritage of music and dance most visibly expresses the Duala's colourful culture.^[24] Ambasse bey, a style of folk music marrying guitar with found-object percussion, developed in the 1950s in the Mungo area. Makossa, a popular musical style in West and Central Africa, originated with the Duala around this same time. The style mixes jazz, highlife, and soul with African traditional music.^{[citation needed]} Manu Dibango popularised it in the mid-1970s with Soul Makossa, also a pioneering Disco album.^{[citation needed]} Salle John followed with a rejuvenation of both makossa and ambasse bey. Makossa is a type of music which is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ... Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana and Sierra Leone in the 1920s and spread to other West African countries. ... Soul music is a combination of rhythm and blues and gospel which began in the late 1950s in the United States. ... Africa is a large and diverse continent, consisting of dozens of countries, hundreds of languages and thousands of races, tribes and ethnic groups. ... Manu Dibango (born December 12, 1933) is a Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player. ... Soul Makossa is a 1972 single by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango. ... Disco is a genre of music that originated in discothèques. ...

Duala dances serve a number of purposes. The Abélé dance is performed after a wedding to accompany the newlyweds to their home. Other dances are purely for enjoyment, such as the maringa and the ashiko, which arose in the 1930s, and the makossa and ambasse bey dances that accompany those musical styles.^{[citation needed]}

The greatest venue for Duala music and dance is the yearly Ngondo, held each December. This is a traditional festival of the Duala, although today all of Cameroon's Sawa coastal peoples are invited to participate. It originated as a means of training Duala children the skills of warfare. Now, however, the main focus is on communicating with the ancestors and asking them for guidance and protection for the future. The festivities also include armed combat, beauty pageants, pirogue races, and traditional wrestling.^[25] Józef Sawa-Caliński (died 1771) was a Polish noble and a prominent leader of the Confederation of Bar, a movement aimed against the Polish king and his close relations with Russia. ... A beauty contest, or beauty pageant, is a competition between people, based largely, though not always entirely, on the beauty of their physical appearance. ... These are small flat hulled boats used primarily by the Cajuns of the Louisiana marsh to travel around. ... Andrell Durden (top) and Edward Harris grapple for position during the All-Marine Wrestle Offs. ...

Sports

Duala war canoe, 1884.

Pirogue racing has traditionally been the most important sport among the Duala.^[26] The sport reached its peak during the German colonial period, when organisers held races annually on 27 January (the Kaiser's birthday). Under the French, they became biannual, occurring on 14 July (Bastille Day) and 11 November (Armistice Day). A typical Duala racing pirogue is 20-28 metres long with no keel and a bow carved with intricate designs. A team of 40-50 canoeists, mostly men who make their livings as 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.^[27] Up to the late 1930s, a family on Jebale Island claimed to be able to summon the Miengu water spirits to help favoured participants.^[28] // This article is about flatwater canoe racing. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... The Champs-Élysées decorated with flags for the 14 July. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Armistice Day is the anniversary of the official end of World War I, November 11, 1918. ... This article is about the religious practice of divination. ...

Beginning in the 1930s, football has grown to eclipse other sports in popularity. The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ...

Institutions

Assemblies, secret societies, and other groups play an important role in keeping the Duala unified, helping them set goals, and giving them a venue to find solutions to common problems.^[29] Chief among these is the Ngondo, an assembly of important chiefs. Another of these is the muemba (plural: miemba), a grouping of all Duala of a certain age range or tribal clan. The miemba serve to let their members network and socialise. Other secret societies include the Ekongolo, Jengu, Losango, and Munji.^[30]

Classification

The Duala are Bantu in language and origin. More narrowly, they fall into the Sawa, or the coastal peoples of Cameroon. Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (dull yellow) vs. ...

Subgroups

In addition to the tribal distinctions already noted, the Duala further sort themselves into a number of lineages or clans. Among the Duala proper, these are the Bonanjo (including the Bonapriso), the Bonaku, the Bonabela, and the Bonaberi. These names represent the principal families in each clan: Njo, Priso, Akwa, Ebele-Deido, and Bell, respectively. In addition, the Duala sometimes include the Bodiman, Pongo, and Wuri among their ranks, but not as sub-lineages. A clan is a group of people united by kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor. ...

Notes

1. ^ This is the estimated number of first-language speakers of the Duala language according to Ethnologue. This includes the Mungo ethnic group as well, so this number is inflated for 1982.
2. ^ Fanso, History, 49-50, 52.
3. ^ Fanso, History, 50-1.
4. ^ Fanso, History, 68.
5. ^ Fanso, History, 73.
6. ^ Fanso, History, 73.
7. ^ Austen and Derrick 66.
8. ^ Austen and Derrick 67.
9. ^ Ngoh 57.
10. ^ Fanso, "Trade", 68-80.
11. ^ Ngoh 102.
12. ^ Ngoh 75.
13. ^ Derrick 107.
14. ^ Derrick 108.
15. ^ Derrick 133.
16. ^ Derrick 123.
17. ^ Derrick 132.
18. ^ Ngoh 26, 28.
19. ^ "Malimba", Ethnologue.
20. ^ "Duala" and "Isu", Ethnologue.
21. ^ "Duala", Ethnologue.
22. ^ Guide touristique 94.
23. ^ Guide touristique 126.
24. ^ Guide touristique 94.
25. ^ Guide touristique 126.
26. ^ Derrick 118.
27. ^ Derrick 118.
28. ^ Derrick 118.
29. ^ Ngoh 28.
30. ^ Ngoh 28.

References

• Austen, Ralph A., and Derrick, Jonathan (1999): Middlemen of the Cameroons Rivers: The Duala and their Hinterland, c. 1600–c.1960. Cambridge University Press.
• Chrispin, Dr. Pettang, directeur. Cameroun: Guide touristique. Paris: Les Éditions Wala.
• DeLancey, Mark W. and DeLancey, Mark Dike (2000). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon. 3rd ed.
• Derrick, Jonathan (1990). "Colonial élitism in Cameroon: the case of the Duala in the 1930s". Introduction to the History of Cameroon in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Palgrave MacMillan.
• Elango, Lovett Z. (1990). "Trade and diplomacy on the Cameroon coast in the nineteenth century, 1833–1879: the case of Bimbia." Introduction to the History of Cameroon in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Palgrave MacMillan.
• Fanso, V. G. (1989). Cameroon History for Secondary Schools and Colleges, Vol. 1: From Prehistoric Times to the Nineteenth Century. Hong Kong: Macmillan Education Ltd.
• Fanso, Verkijika G. (1990). "Trade and supremacy on the Cameroon coast, 1879–1887". Introduction to the History of Cameroon in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Palgrave MacMillan.
• Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005): "Duala". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. Dallas: SIL International. Accessed 6 June 2006.
• Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005): "Isu". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. Dallas: SIL International. Accessed 6 June 2006.
• Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005): "Malimba". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. Dallas: SIL International. Accessed 6 June 2006.
• Ngoh, Victor Julius (1996). History of Cameroon Since 1800. Limbe: Presbook.

June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Rulers of the Duala

External link

• Peuple Sawa (in French)