The Manyu River rises near Wabane
52-862: In the Upper Banyang Subdivision of the Manyu Department of the Southwest Region , Cameroon . The river runs past the southern border of the Mone River Forest Reserve . Below Mamfe , it is joined by rivers draining the Takamanda Forest Reserve and the Cross River National Park in neighboring Nigeria. These protected areas are important habitats for the critically endangered Cross River gorilla . Around
104-853: A reasonable time, Southern Cameroons would declare its independence. The AAC was renamed the Southern Cameroons Peoples Conference (SCPC), and later the Southern Cameroons Peoples Organisation (SCAPO), with the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) as the executive governing body. Younger activists formed the Southern Cameroons Youth League (SCYL) in Buea on 28 May 1995. The SCNC sent a delegation, led by John Foncha, to
156-610: A sovereign state is acceptable, in the context of self-government, confederacy, or federation while preserving the territorial integrity of a State party, can be exercised under the African Charter. The Human Rights Commission recommended that the Respondent State (Republic of Cameroun) should among other things enter into constructive dialogue with the Complainants, and in particular SCNC and SCAPO, to resolve
208-516: A system of democratic government at the village level. The villages consisted of several lineages, which were represented, in the informal village council by lineage head. There also existed clans with clan councils, which were made up of the various village heads in the clan. It was by virtue of these that the Manyu (during and after the colonial period) were administered as different tribes with various villages and clans well mapped out. Manyu Division
260-686: A total population of 181,039. The capital of the division is Mamfe . ORIGIN, MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT OF THE MANYU PEOPLE The indigenous population of the Manyu Division who today constitute the tribes like the Banyang , Keakaas, Anyangs and Bokis all originated eastward from Ekoi in South Eastern Nigeria . The real factors responsible for their movements remain clouded because it is based on speculation. However, Ejagham and Banyang oral traditions hold that inter-tribal wars,
312-601: A view to agreeing measures for union of the two countries, was not implemented, and that the Government of the United Kingdom was negligent in terminating its trusteeship without ensuring that proper arrangements were made. They say that the adoption of a federal constitution by Cameroun on 1 September 1961 constituted annexation of the Southern Cameroons. Representatives of Anglophone groups convened
364-688: Is believed that the villages of Kembong, Ndepaya and Mbakem came into existence as a consequence of the separation and majority of the Ejagham speakers traced their origin from this historic movement. On the contrary, Banyang oral traditions traced the origin and migration of the indigenes of Mamfe , from the waterside areas, and not from Ekok borders. Sources here explained clearly that Efik fishermen have for long carried out fishing activities in Nigerian Cross River and during one of their downward fishing sessions they came back into contact with
416-594: Is exhibited among its speakers. The slight variation in their tongues has produced three different sub-dialects – The Ekwe (Ejagham), the Keaka (Keaka) and the Obang (Obang). Within the Ejagham dialect group, only theEkwe speak the pure Ejagham dialect. This can be explained by the fact that the people of Ekwe have close contacts with their Southern neighbours, the Ejagham of the Obang district of South- Eastern Nigeria who speaks
468-427: Is made up of about two hundred and thirty-three villages divided as follows: Mamfe Central having 11 villages, Upper Bayang having 80 villages, Eyumodjock having 63 villages and Akwaya having 99 villages. The society was ‘sedimentary’ or ‘headless’ with loose hierarchical structures. The Manyu people thus had no paramount chief exceeding control over large areas. With this system the chiefs could do nothing without
520-685: Is slightly different from the pure Ejagham dialect but is understood by the Ekwe, Obang and the Lower Banyang. A less marked bilingualism and cultural inter-penetration occur also along the northern and southern borders of Banyang territory. Both Denya (the Anyang language) and Kenyang are spoken in the villages of Nyang and Mukonyong. In general, the seemingly cultural similarities among the Banyang, Ejagham Anyang and Ekwe people in Manyu Division has been
572-672: The Nigerian border the river takes the name of the Cross River . 5°45′03″N 9°20′39″E / 5.750932°N 9.344215°E / 5.750932; 9.344215 This article related to a river in Cameroon is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Manyu (department) Manyu is a division of the Southwest Region in Cameroon . The division covers an area of 9,565 km and as of 2005 had
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#1732773017891624-447: The African Charter and broad international law, Southern Cameroons meets the definition of a "people" under international law "because they manifest numerous characteristics and affinities, which include a common history, linguistic tradition, territorial connection, and political outlook". The Human Rights Commission declared itself incompetent rationae temporis , to rule on allegations that occurred prior to 18 December 1989, date on which
676-599: The African Charter came into force for the Respondent State (Republic of Cameroun). Hence, the Human Rights Commission declared itself incompetent to rule on the complainants' allegations with respect to events that occurred from the 1961 United Nations plebiscite to 1972 when the Federal and Union Constitutions were adopted to form the United Republic of Cameroon during which the Complainants claim
728-701: The African Charter. The SCNC and SCAPO ultimately seek the independence of the territory of Southern Cameroons. In a decision reached at its 45th Ordinary Session on 27 May 2009, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights found that the Republic of Cameroun has violated Articles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7(1), 10, 11, 19 and 26 the Charter. The Human Rights Commission determined that Articles 12, 13, 17(1), 20, 21, 22, 23(1) and 24 have not been violated. The Human Rights Commission further recognized that under
780-818: The Anglophones in Cameroon did not feel represented in government politics. In 1993, the All Anglophone Conference argued at their meeting that "the 1961 Foumban Accord. . .was hardly represented by the Francophone majority who ultimately scrapped the Federal Constitution and replaced it with a Unitary Constitution." The Foumban Accord "was the basis of Cameroon's post-independence Federal Constitution". Southern Cameroons became part of Cameroon on 1 October 1961. Foncha served as Prime Minister of West Cameroun and vice-president of
832-752: The Bantu speaking stock and fall specifically under the Niger-Benue linguistic family. P.A Talbot on his part classifies the Banyang and Ejagham of the Ekok main group under the Semi-Bantu stock, the two being considered as separate sub-language groups. The Banyang and Ejagham like the Anyang and the Assumbo groups are in some consideration linguistically the same group, especially as they have common identical cultural forms as well as socio-political organisation with
884-526: The Banyang and Ejagham. The people have two main dialects: - The Banyang dialect ( Kenyang ) and the Ejagham dialect (Keaka). The slight variations in their tongues help producing the different contacts with their different Western, Eastern and Southern neighbours. A number of sub-dialects have been produced within each of the main dialect groups. Thus, in the Banyang speaking aea, there is a distinction between Upper Banyang (Kenyang Nfai) and Lower Banyang (Kenyang Ntan) sub-dialects. The description generally follows
936-424: The Banyang, Anyang and Boki speakers traced their history from this migratory trend. Nevertheless, in spite of this controversy about the origin of migration and settlement of the indigenous population of the Banyang people, a large majority of the informants held tied to the fact that the history of the people generally came from two migratory routes. According to chief Esim therefore, while some indigenes came through
988-657: The British territory of Nigeria through the British Resident (although some incumbents had the rank of District Officer , Senior Resident or Deputy Resident) with headquarters in Buea . Applying the principle of indirect rule , the British allowed native authorities to administer populations according to their own traditions. These also collected taxes, which were then paid over to the British. The British devoted themselves to trade and to exploiting mining resources of
1040-482: The Commission shall have competence to examine it. The Human Rights Commission addressed the question, whether the people of Southern Cameroons are entitled to the right to self-determination contextualizing the question by dealing, not with the 1961 UN Plebiscite, or the 1972 Unification, but rather the events of 1993 and 1994 on the constitutional demands vis-à-vis the claim for the right to self-determination of
1092-488: The Ejagham dialect. The Keaka, because of their close contact with their immediate Eastern neighbours, have developed a sub-dialect of their own – Keaka. This dialectical distinction and some differences in their social organisation with their immediate Western neighbours, the Obang as well as their closest kinsmen of Ekwe, are all elements that bring the Keaka people nearest to the Bayang. The Keaka therefore speak Keaka, which
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#17327730178911144-666: The Federal Republic of Cameroun. However, the English-speaking peoples of the Southern Cameroons (now West Cameroun) did not believe that they were fairly treated by the French-speaking government of the country. Following a referendum on 20 May 1972, a new constitution was adopted in Cameroun which replaced the federal state with a unitary state . Southern Cameroons lost its autonomous status and became
1196-481: The Kenyang dialect. The Upper Banyangs acquired some of their cultural values from which they also borrowed and derived some of their cultural institutions. The Lower Banyangs who are closer to the Keaka with whom they have long been inter-marrying, borrowed most of their institutions from them. Thus it has become difficult to establish a demarcation line between areas of pure Banyang and Keaka cultures in this zone. Here
1248-629: The Northwest Province and Southwest Province of the Republic of Cameroun. The Southern Cameroonians felt further marginalised. Groups such as the Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM) demanded greater autonomy, or independence, for the provinces. Pro-independence groups claim that UN Resolution 1608 21 April 1961, which required the UK, the Government of the Southern Cameroons and Republic of Cameroun to engage in talks with
1300-676: The Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS). On 9 January 2003, the SCNC and SCAPO filed a complaint with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights against the Republic of Cameroun. Among other allegations, the complainants alleged that the Republic of Cameroun is illegally occupying the territory of Southern Cameroons. The Complainants alleged that the Republic of Cameroon has violated Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(1), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17(1), 19, 20, 21, 22, 23(1), 24 of
1352-776: The Republic. They renamed the British Southern Cameroons as Ambazonia (from Ambas Bay ). Following the Treaty of Versailles , the German territory of Kamerun was divided on 28 June 1919, between a French and a British League of Nations Mandate , the French, who had previously administered the whole occupied territory, getting the larger. The French mandate was known as Cameroun. The British mandate comprised two adjacent territories, Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons. They were administered from, but not joined to,
1404-481: The Respondent State (Republic of Cameroun) "...established its colonial rule there, complete with its structures, and its administrative, military and police personnel, applying a system and operating in a language alien to the Southern Cameroon." The Human Rights Commission stated, however, that, if the Complainants can establish that any violation committed before 18 December 1989 continued thereafter, then
1456-605: The Southern Cameroonian people. The Human Rights Commission stated that to invoke Self Determination as prescribed by Article 20 the African Charter, the Complainant must satisfy the Commission that the two conditions under Article 20(2), namely oppression and domination have been met. Based on events that occurred after 18 December 1989, the Human Rights Commission noted that the Complainants have not demonstrated if these conditions have been met to warrant invoking
1508-618: The Southern Cameroons representatives, unhappy with the domineering attitude of Nigerian politicians and lack of unity among the ethnic groups in the Eastern Region, declared a "benevolent neutrality" and withdrew from the assembly. At a conference in London from 30 July to 22 August 1953, the Southern Cameroons delegation asked for a separate region of its own. The British agreed, and Southern Cameroons became an autonomous region with its capital still at Buea. Elections were held in 1954 and
1560-566: The United Nations, which was received on 1 June 1995 and presented a petition against the 'annexation' of the Southern Cameroons by French Cameroun. This was followed by a signature referendum the same year, which the organisers claim produced a 99% vote in favour of independence with 315,000 people voting. Armed members of the SCNC took over the Buea radio station in Southwest Province on the night of 30 December 1999 and in
1612-477: The border of Ekok because of slave raids, others who were involved in fishing activities came through the water side, hence both sources are quite substantial in explaining the people‘s history. Worth noting is that those who came through the borders (Keaka speakers) later on trekked to join their brothers (Banyang, Anyang and Boki) who had settled along the banks of the river and carried out fishing. Hence in spite of this double trend migration, population concentration
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1664-403: The chiefdom was patrilineal where a son succeeds the father and inherits his wealth. The successor to the chief was certainly the chief’s eldest son who assumed in totality all the powers and functions of his late father. The division is divided administratively into 4 sub-divisions and in every sud-division there are villages or wards. Southern Cameroons The Southern Cameroons
1716-814: The constitutional issues, as well as grievances. Following the International Court of Justice ruling of 10 October 2002 that sovereignty over the Bakassi peninsula rested with Cameroon, SCAPO claimed that Bakassi was, in fact, part of the territory of Southern Cameroons. In 2002, SCAPO took the Nigerian government to the Federal High Court in Abuja to require it to take a case before the International Court of Justice to establish
1768-487: The early hours of 31 December broadcast a tape of a proclamation of independence read by Judge Ebong Frederick Alobwede. Amnesty International has accused the Cameroun authorities of human right violations against Southern Cameroons activists. Southern Cameroons, since then renamed to Ambazonia, is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) since 2005 and a charter member of
1820-488: The escape from slave raiders and the desire by some Efik fishermen to do fishing at the Manyu River were the three fundamental factors responsible for the people’s migration. In their Southward movement from Nigeria, the people were led by a hunter, Akwen who took them through the forests, crossing rivers and streams, and trekking upon hills and valleys. They subsequently arrived the Ekok border and eventually settled at
1872-546: The famous River Manyu . Realising that their fishing activities were more fruitful in the Virgin River, they saw no need going back to Nigeria where there were a lot of fishing competition. Having got this revelation, they began erecting permanent structures for settlement. With time, as other fishermen migrated downward towards the River Manyu, their number increased and new sites were cleared for settlement. Most of
1924-414: The first German explorer who came into the area and these hamlets were transformed into organised communities which are reflecting present day communities. What was really common with these communities was the characteristic qualities and attribute of the languages they spoke and their culture, which united and distinguished them from other tribes in the area. The Manyu society was a stateless society with
1976-455: The first All Anglophone Conference (AAC1) in Buea from 2 April to 3 April 1993. The conference issued the "Buea Declaration", which called for constitutional amendments to restore the 1961 federation. This was followed by the second All Anglophone Conference (AAC2) in Bamenda in 1994. This conference issued the "Bamenda Declaration", which stated that if the federal state was not restored within
2028-474: The forested area today known as Eyumodjock from where internal dissension led to a split within the group. This was due to the fact that the leader of the group Akwen, began raiding some of his able men and sold them out of the group as slaves , to Nigerian slave traders who wandered across the length and breadth of the border in search for escaped slaves. Those who separated from Akwen’s group later settled elsewhere and opened up new sites for their settlement. It
2080-650: The parliament met on 1 October 1954, with E.M.L. Endeley as Premier. As Cameroun and Nigeria prepared for Independence, South Cameroons nationalists debated whether their best interests lay with union with Cameroun, union with Nigeria or total independence. Endeley was defeated in elections on 1 February 1959 by John Ngu Foncha . Referendums were held in 1959 and 1961 in the Cameroons to determine union with Nigeria or Cameroun. In 1961, Northern Cameroons voted for union with Nigeria and Southern Cameroons for union with (the formerly French) Cameroun. Despite being united,
2132-411: The people believed that the ancestors were merely accomplices in whateve good or evil should befall them. This notwithstanding, the people still believed in one Supreme Being. It was alleged that chief who was regarded as a demi-god drew inspiration from ngbe. In spite of this, each family has its own god, which could punish or reward the family according to the deeds of the family towards it. Succession in
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2184-475: The people understand both the Kenyang and Keaka dialects, and some villages like Mbinjong, Mfuni, Ndekwai, Ossing and Talangaye are purely bilingual. Since the Upper Banyang and the Lower Banyang speak the Kenyang dialect as people of the same ethnic group, the linguistic variation is only slightly. The Ejagham have a common dialect, which is also known as Ejagham. Despite this, the same linguistic variation
2236-461: The representatives of the principal lineages. Manyu villages were also independent from one another, which has made it difficult for one to proudly trace the origin of the different Manyu tribes. Linguistically, the Manyu people have been classified by various schools of thought as the Bantus , Semi-Bantu and Bantoid . According to D. W. Crabb, the Banyang and Ejagham are linguistically grouped under
2288-428: The result of contact and process of interaction and of spread. Socially, polygamy was widely practised and a means through which social status and wealth in the society was determined partly by the number of women and children he had. It was not strange for the chof to have about twenty-five wives. In the field of religion, the indigenes worshipped ancestral spirits and other deities. Although the ancestors were worshipped,
2340-404: The right to self-determination. The Human Rights Commission also noted that in their submission, the Respondent State (Republic of Cameroun) implicitly accepted that self-determination may be exercisable by the Complainants on condition that they establish cases of massive violations of human rights or denial of participation in public affairs. The Human Rights Commission noted that autonomy within
2392-626: The territory. South Cameroons students, including Emmanuel Mbela Lifafa Endeley , created the Cameroons Youth League (CYL) on 27 March 1940, to oppose what they saw as the exploitation of their country. When the League of Nations ceased to exist in 1946, most of the mandate territories were reclassified as UN trust territories , henceforth administered through the UN Trusteeship Council . The object of trusteeship
2444-585: The topography of the area. The Upper Banyang land is located on a more elevated altitude and follows the orientation of the flow of the major rivers which waters the area, while the Lower Banyang land is located around the lower course of the Manyu River. The Lower Banyang is closer to the Central Ejagham (Keaka), their immediate western neighbours. The above description corresponds with the slight variation in culture and certain words and expressions in
2496-705: The two states of Cameroon and Nigeria , the people of the Manyu Region of Cameroon and those in the Eastern Region of Nigeria still found reasons to commune with one another. POLITICAL AND SOCIO-CULTURAL ORGANISATION Before the imposition of the European colonial rule , the people were not united as one. They were scattered throughout the forest in many small separate settlements with larger recognised political groupings unlikely to have exceeded more than 2000 people and in many cases much fewer. The Manyu communities were having dotted hamlets until Alfred Mansfield ,
2548-650: Was appointed Special Resident , and on 1 October 1954, when political power shifted to the elected government, succeeded himself as first of only two commissioners . Following the Ibadan General Conference of 1950, a new constitution for Nigeria devolved more power to the regions. In the subsequent election thirteen Southern Cameroonian representatives were elected to the Eastern Nigerian House of Assembly in Enugu . In 1953, however,
2600-439: Was around the River Manyu where the trade in smoked fish had developed, and Egbekaw village was the first village that developed.This history of migration and settlement necessitated the practice of the parallel trade as the people of the Manyu Division of Cameroon and those of the Eastern Region of Nigeria considered as having the same historical background. Even after the erection of the national and international boundaries between
2652-450: Was the southern part of the British League of Nations mandate territory of the British Cameroons in West Africa . Since 1961, it has been part of the Republic of Cameroon , where it makes up the Northwest Region and Southwest Region . Since 1994, pressure groups in the territory claim there was no legal document (treaty of union) in accordance to UNGA RES 1608(XV) paragraph 5, and are seeking to restore statehood and independence from
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#17327730178912704-446: Was to prepare the lands for eventual independence. The United Nations approved the Trusteeship Agreements for British Cameroons to be governed by Britain on 6 December 1946. Southern Cameroons was divided in 1949 into two provinces: Bamenda (capital Bamenda , hence also thus named) and Southern (capital Buea ). Yet the residential type of administration was continued with a single British Resident at Buea, but in 1949 Edward John Gibbons
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