Tag: German colonial treaty

German Colonial Treaties in Africa : German Treaty in Bimbia – 11 July 1884

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Flag of Deutsch Kamerun 1914

We are introducing you to the German colonial treaty signed with the Chiefs of Bimbia in Cameroon in July 1884. In a few days, we will tell you a lot more about Bimbia and its important place in the transatlantic slave trade along the gulf of Guinea. By 1898, the Jantzen & Thormählen German trading firm had their headquarters in Bimbia, in the Victoria District, and lands in Debundscha, Isongo Udje and Mokundange. As we read the text, we can still find the River Bimbia in today’s geography of the locality, but what does River Mofinioselle, which sounds like a European butchering of a local name, correspond to?

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Agreement with Chiefs of Bimbia.

Adolf Woermann, owner of the Woermann-Linie, which was at the time the largest ship line in the world, and a biggest German trader to West Africa

WE, the undersigned independent Chiefs of the country called Bimbia, situated between the River Bimbia on the south side, the River Mofinioselle on the north side, and up to 5 miles on the sea shore, have, in a meeting held to-day in the German factory on King William’s Beach, voluntarily concluded as follows:—

We give this day our rights of sovereignty—the legislation and management of this our country—entirely up to M. Edward Schmidt, acting for the firm of C. Woorrmann [Woermann], and M. Johannes Vos, acting for Messrs. Johnson and Thormeihlen [Thormälen], both in Hamburgh, and for many years trading in this river.

We have conveyed our rights of sovereignty, the legislation and management of this our country, to the firms mentioned above, under the following reservations:—

  1. Under reservation of the rights of third persons.
  2. Reserving that all friendships and Commercial Treaties made before with other foreign Governments should have full power.
  1. That the land allotted or occupied by us now, and the plains the towns are built on, shall be the property of the present owners and successors.
  2. That the “dash” shall be paid as before.
Adolf Woermann Monument in Douala, Cameroon

King William’s Town—

(Signed)

QUAN, his X mark.

EKONGOLA, ditto.

FREEBORN, ditto.

MAT KING, ditto.

NEVERWASH, ditto,

DAUBE KING WILLIAM, ditto.

CHARLES ERN ART, ditto.

BIMBIA PINISO, ditto.

JOHN PINISO, ditto.

Two Chiefs of Eciollo Town.

Money Town—

(Signed)

MONEY, his + mark.

JOHNNY MONEY, ditto.

(And 8 Chiefs).

Signed at Bimbia, German Factory, Hanusa, July 11, 1884.

Colonial Treaties in Africa: 15 July 1884 treaty in Cameroons

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Here is the text of the 15 July 1884 treaty signed between the Chiefs of Jibarret (Djebale) and Sorrokow (Sodiko) and the German merchants of the Adolph Woermann and Jantzen & Thormählen firms in Cameroons. It basically does not show the entire text, but rather cites the treaty signed on 12 July 1884 between Kings Bell and Akwa and the Germans. It is pictured here:

“We the undersigned chiefs of Jibarret and Sorrokow, under King Bell’s juridiction declare herewith that we are perfectly agreeing with the treaty made by Mr. Edouard Schmidt acting for the company C. Woermann and Mr. John VoK acting for Misters Jantzen & Thormählen both of Hamburg, with the said King Bell.

The treaty has been properly explained to us and we have signed this paper as follows.

Cameroons the fifteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.”

Source: Abretungs-Urkunde Jibarret und Sorrokow, 15-7-1884 DZA-potsdam 4204 f.192.

Cameroon_Traite Germano Douala.jpg
15 July 1884 treaty between the Chiefs of Jibarret (Djebale) and Sorrokow (Sodiko), and the German merchants