The Reunification Debate in British Southern Cameroons: The Role of French Cameroon Immigrants

Chapter 3. Social Life among French Cameroon Immigrants

91 Chapter 3 Social Life among French Cameroon Immigrants A. French Cameroonian Associations The immigrants did not only settle in distinctive communities or quarters, they also grouped themselves in tribal and self-help associations. The most important immigrant social or cultural groups were the following; The SOLIBABI or Bassa Tribal Union The Babimbi District was one of the major victims of the French policy of forced labour. The French used all means to recruit labour from the interior of this Bassa land for the construction of the Njock-Yaounde railway. Also, a decree signed on August 8, 1924 on indigenat that provided punishment for all who did not enrol in the French army, pay tax or perform forced labour affected many people of the district. As such many Babimbi escaped to the Southern Cameroons where there was no forced labour224 . They worked in German plantation and later in the CDC. These workers created the SOLIBABI in 1948. It all started in 1947 when a general assembly of the Babimbi people in the Diaspora held in Ngambe225 . Amongst the close to 400 delegates were Babimbi sons and daughters living in the Southern Cameroons. At the end of the come-together, the delegates from the Southern Cameroons were asked to create the SOLIBABI in the Southern Cameroons226 . In 1948, the Babimbi in the Southern Cameroons assembled in Tiko where they created the Bassa Tribal Union or SOLIBABI. Joseph Ndoh was elected president – 224 D. Mokam, “Les associations rҿgionales,” p. 149. 225 NAY, 2AC 132, Union Tribale Babimbi, p.9. 226 Mokam, “Les associations rҿgionale”, p.149 92 coordinator227 . Several branches were sent up in Mpondo, Mulumdo, Mokondange, Sasse, Ekona, Victoria, Misselele, Likomba and Muyuka. The objectives of the SOLIBABI were many and largely sociocultural . The association had to promote the welfare of Babimbi people, offer financial assistance to members in case of death, poor health or accident. Widows and orphans were also protected and supported through education of orphans. The Solibabi also offered assistance to new immigrants from Ngambe and helped them to integrate the new society228 . The Solibabi also had to work for the political, economic and social advancement of Babimbi. The Babimbi Subdivision was one of the most enclaved in French Cameroon with very few access roads and institutions of learning. Each branch president served as a liaison officer between the colonial officials and the Bassa people within his branch area and between the Native Authorities and his people. Meetings of the branches were regular at three times a month. The association was opened to all Babimbi, their wives and foreigners who accepted to naturalize229 . Each member paid an admission fee which varied depending on the sex. It should be noted that not all Bassa people were members. With this association, it was difficult for the Babimbi people to limit their objectives to their social and cultural welfare. They faced many problems in their new homes. These included taxes, jobs, and scholarship for their kids and the right or not to vote and be voted. With these problems, they ventured into the politics of the Southern Cameroons as individuals and as Solibabi members. This was not strange given that the SOLIBABI or Solidarité Babimbi started as a subsidiary and complementary organization of the UPC party230 As a subsidiary organ of the UPC, the SOLIBABI like the les Amis du Progrès, L’Union démocratique des femmes Camerounaise, La voix du peuple 227 NAB, file S1/1935/1 Native societies, organization and institutions, Victoria Division 1935, p. 149 228 Ibid, p.50. 229 Mokam, “Les associations rҿgionales”, p. 151. 230Le Vine, Cameroons from Mandate, p. 148. 93 Bafia, La Jeunesse Démocratique Camerounaise, Amis des Nation Unies and other sub organs served as propaganda vehicles and petition-writing agencies for the UPC.231 The SOLIBABI was too critical of the French policies of forced labour, prestation, indigénat and conscription. Their petitions centred of these colonial policies and the call for the respect of the Trusteeship Agreement. This was certainly the way Babimbi leaders in the Southern Cameroons participated in the political activities of their host territory. The Bamileke Welfare Union The Bamileke people were amongst the many French Cameroonians in the Southern Cameroons. It should be recalled that the Anglo-French boundary divided the Bamileke people placing more than 20.000 of them within the Southern Cameroons. Many amongst the majority in the French...