The rulers of the Duala are the headmen, chiefs, paramount chiefs, and kings of the Duala people of Cameroon. The earliest Duala rulers known, according to Duala's oral history, were Mbongo and his son Mbedi. From Mbedi's home at Pīti, northeast of the modern city of Douala, his sons migrated southward. Ewale a Mbedi settled on the Wouri River at the Bight of Bonny (modern Douala) and became the eponymous founder of the Duala people.Austen and Derrick 9.
Over time, the Duala split into various lineages. The earliest was the Priso sublineage, which established independence from the Bell lineage in the late 18th century.Jackson, a British trader from the period, gives the date for this split as 1814, as reported in Austen and Derrick 38. The Akwa lineage followed suit sometime in the early 19th century.Jackson gives the date for this split as 1814. Austen and Derrick, p. 38, caution against giving the date too much credence. Each of these families established a population centre along the banks of the Wouri. By the 19th century, Douala was thus divided into several of these residential areas, referred to as towns.
Beginning as early as the 18th century with Doo a Makongo, European traders started referring to the Duala rulers as chiefs and kings (kine in Duala). A dichotomy emerged under which the rulers of Akwa and Bell were kings, while the leaders of smaller lineages were chiefs or princes.Austen and Derrick 6. These rulers were given Europeanised names, such as King George or King Akwa. Beginning with the colonial era, German, French, and British colonial governments designated various Duala rulers as paramount chiefs. During this era, Duala rulers were often deposed and exiled for any perceived infraction against the colonial government.Austen and Derrick 132. Traditions of royalty have since ceased in some of these lineages, although in modern times, the royal line of some lineages has been reconstituted after an interregnum.Worldstatesmen.org.
Early rulers ReignCommon nameDuala nameTitle(s)RemarksUnknownMbengo/Mbongo?UnknownMbedi a Mbongo?Lived at Pīti, the ancestral home of the Duala and other Sawa ethnic groups.UnknownEwale a Mbedi?Eponymous ancestor of the Duala (Dwala). Moved from Piti to Douala. May have had contact with European traders.Early 17th centuryMonnebaMulabe/Mulobe a Ewale?Flourished . Mentioned in Dutch sources.Austen and Derrick 15. His name is the only known for the first 150 years of European contact with the Duala.Austen and Derrick 37. Father of Mase and Ngie below.
Bonanjo/Bonadoo/Bell lineage ReignCommon nameDuala nameTitle(s)RemarksUnknownMase a Mulabe?UnknownNjo a Mase?UnknownMakongo/Mukonga a Njo?Late 18th centuryJoss or GeorgeDoo a Makongo/MukongaSenior chief, KingFlourished 1788–90. Was the senior chief of his time.Austen and Derrick 36.Early 19th centuryBellBele a DooKingEponymous ruler of the Bell lineage. Born . Adopted by Joss after seizing his mother. Birth father was a Mungo. Chosen as father's successor after Joss expelled for violent behaviour. Founded Bonaberi, which is named for him.19th centuryBellBebe a BeleKing?–1858BellLobe a BebeKingYoung in 1842. Died 1858.c. 1858–1897Ndumbe Lobe BellNdumbe a LobeKing, Paramount ChiefThe famous King Bell who signed the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.c. 1897–?Manga Ndumbe BellManga a NdumbeKing, Paramount Chief1908–1914Rudolf Duala Manga BellDuala MangaKing, Paramount ChiefExecuted in 1914.?–1966Alexandre Douala Manga BellAlexander NdumbeKingDied 1966.1950?–presentLobe BellBellKing, Paramount Chief
Bonapriso/Joss sublineage ReignCommon nameDuala nameTitle(s)RemarksLate 18th centuryPreshaw, Preese, or PeterPriso a DooChiefEldest son of Joss, brother of Bell I. Seems to have lost his inheritance due to violent behaviour with European traders. Eventually came to dominate the town Bonapriso. He may have been known as Peter. Legend states he died at Bimbia.Austen and Derrick 46.Doo a PrisoChiefLate 19th centuryElame a DooChiefSignatory to the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.
Bonaberi/Hickory sublineage ReignCommon nameDuala nameTitle(s)RemarksUnknownMbape a BeleChiefSon of Bell I.Late 19th centuryLock PrisoKum a MbapePrince, ChiefSignatory to the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.
Bonambela/Akwa lineage This list omits several rulers who served but briefly and who were succeeded by brothers rather than sons. ReignCommon nameDuala nameTitle(s)RemarksUnknownNgie/Mbela/Mbele a Mulobe?The Bonabele/Deido sublineage is descended through his son Kwane.17th or 18th centuryMapoka a Ngie?Tradition holds that he travelled to Europe.UnknownKue/Kuo a Mapoka?May have been a slave and adopted son . May have been related to a Bassa group through maternal descent, marriage, or residence.UnknownKwa a Kuo?1814(?)–1846AkwaNgando a KwaKingEponymous ruler of the Akwa lineage. Flourished 1814. He claimed the Bonambela succession after the death of Ewonde and claimed equal standing with Bele. Died 1846.mid-19th centuryAkwaMpondo a NgandoKingbefore 1879–c. 1905AkwaDika a MpondoKing, Paramount ChiefWas in power in 1879. Served five months hard labour for exploiting several oil wells in Bassa villages in 1905.Austen and Derrick 107.UnknownErnest Betote AkwaBetoteKing, Paramount ChiefDied 1976.
Bonebele/Deido sublineage ReignCommon nameDuala nameTitle(s)RemarksLate 18th centuryQuan or AnguaKwane a NgieChiefSon of Ngie. Flourished 1788–90. He seems to have been the most powerful Duala ruler during the time of Doo (King George).Early 19th centuryEwonde a KwaneChiefDuala tradition states that his daughter Lesenge married into Isubu royalty and was the mother of King William I of Bimbia.Austen and Derrick 7, 38.UnknownEnjobeChiefHe was an Abo captive or immigrant. Married Kanya, daughter of above.UnknownEbele a EnjobeChiefEponymous founder of the Bonabele (Pidgin: Deido) sublineage.before 1845 – after 1874Ned DeidoEbule an EbeleChief1876Charley DeidoEyum an EbeleChiefYounger half brother of Ebule. Executed in 1876.1876–after 1884EkwalaChiefSignatory of the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.UnknownEpeeParamount Chief?–EboaWorldstatesmen.org calls him Esaka.Paramount Chiefc. 1900–1949Interregnum1949–presentEkwala II?
Notes
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. Cameroon Traditional states. Worldstatesmen.org. Accessed 1 June 2006.