The Bangwa resistance

BANGWA RESISTANCE 1898-1915

As the Germans expanded and penetrated into Cameroon, they came across different tribes and wanted to explore more natives for slavery, minerals and much more. Most of these tribes resisted to some of the Germans treatment leading to fights and resistances. A well know resistance we shall talk is the Bangwa resistance of 1898 to 1915

Causes of Bangwa resistance.

The Bangwa chiefs were not willing to surrender their sovereignty to the German people they call “small white men”.
They hated to work as labourers I the German plantations.
The poor treatment of Bangwa workers by the German agent, Conrau. He transformed Bangwa carriers given to him by Chief Asonganyi. Furthermore, the Bangwa carriers given to Conrau were poorly treated in the plantations. They were subjected to long working hours, very low wages, poor feeding, medical care and housing leading to the death of so many Bangwa workers.
The return of Conrau to Fontem without the carriers given to him by chief Asonganyi.
Conrau’s poor explanation to the whereabouts of the Bangwa carriers annoyed them.
The arrogance and immoral behavior of Conrau’s body guards especially towards Bangwa women. They hated their close contact with the chief’s wives. This increased hatred for Conrau and the Germans by the Natives.
Conrau’s attempt to escape when he had not produced the carriers annoyed the witty Bangwa people.

Course of Bangwa Resistance.

The Bangwa people wisely traced the shoes print of Conrau, (since he was the only one putting on shoes regularly in Fontem at that time) and discovered him in the bush.
The Bangwa natives claimed that the dishonest German trader Conrau committed suicide but the Germans blamed the Bangwa natives for his death. The Bangwa natives removed Conrau’s head, right hand and testis.
Chief Asonganyi got Chief Defang of Tali to mediate to avoid German attack, but chief Defang discouraged the Germans to attack by handing stones to them with the message of the Bangwa that if they could break the stones, with their hands then would be strong enough to fight Bangwa.
The Germans sent a punitive expedition to Fontem led by Von Basser in 1990
Asonganyi tried to appease the Germans by offering pigs and the rifles of Conrau, but the Germans refused.
The Bangwa natives fortified against the Germans, with the help of large stones and their hilly environment which eased their rolling down of stones against the Germans, making German attacks ascending from Tali very difficult.
The Germans launched a successful attack from the North with suspected help from the Lewoh and most Lebang fighters were defeated by the German forces led by Von Pavel.
The Bangwa continued resistance in some places, until 1911 that Chief Asongayi was captured by the Germans.

Results of Bangwa Resistance

Chief Asonganyi was exiled to Garoua
The Germans established a station in Fontem
Bangwa was split into two. One part led by chief Fotabong and the other led by Kwetta.
Some Bangwa were captured and used as German carriers
It led to heavy destruction such as houses, farms and lives.
It led to human destruction. Many natives lost their lives.
It strained relations between Lewoh and Lebang because Lebang felt Lewoh betrayed them to the Germans. It also strained relations between Fontem and Tali because Chief Defang of Tali betrayed them to the Germans.
The Bangwa had to pay a heavy fine. Chief Foreke-cha-cha was detained until the fine was paid.
It made Asonganyi, to be exiled to Garoua, which exposed him to modern storey buildings and that inspired him to construct a modern Palace in Fontem when he returned from Exile.

chief asonganyi image of Fon Asongayi