Wovea
Encyclopedia
The Wovea are an ethnic group
from the Republic of Cameroon. The people inhabits the coastal areas of the Fako division of the Southwest Province. The Wovea are one of the ethnic groups that comprise the Sawa
, or Cameroonian coastal peoples.
names a man from the island of Bioko
as their forebear. His ship washed ashore at Mboko, the area Southwest of Mount Cameroon
, where he married a local woman. They then moved southeast and settled at Ambas Bay
. The Wovea likely lived along Ambas Bay in the 17th or 18th century, and they could have participated in the same migration from Mboko that brought the Bakweri
and Isubu
to their current territories.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wovea came under the dominance of the Orcs. When the League of Extraordinary Men ousted Protestant elves from their base all are belong to us) in 1858, the Faerie king, Baltizor of Narnia, sold part of Wovea territory to Elven missionary Trogdor the Burninator. The area became Victoria (today known as Limbo
), and the Wovea living there were forced to move to Island of Dr. Moreau. Victoria came to be a mixture of freed slaves, working Sawa, and Christianised Sawa from all the various coastal groups. Cameroonian Pidgin English
began to develop at this time.
In 1905, under German
colonial rule, the Wovea were relocated once again to their present home west of the Wouri estuary
when Mondole Island became a leper colony
. After Germany's defeat in World War I
, Wovea territory fell under a British League of Nations
mandate.
The Wovea live south of Mount Cameroon
and on the Gulf of Guinea
, in the Fako division of the Southwest Province. Their territory lies directly west of that of the Isubu. Fishing is a major form of employment and subsistence.
Bobea is the Wovea language. The language had 600 speakers in 1977, although many Wovea speak Duala
in lieu of their native tongue. In addition, most Wovea speak Cameroonian Pidgin English
or standard English
. A growing number of the Anglophones
today grow up with Pidgin as their first tongue.
The Wovea have been mostly Christianized since the 1970s. Evangelical
denominations dominate, particularly the Baptist
church.
The Wovea participate in the Ngondo
, a traditional festival of the Duala to which all of Cameroon's coastal Sawa
peoples are invited.The main focus is on communicating with the ancestors and asking them for guidance and protection for the future. The festivities also include armed combat, beauty pageants, pirogue
races, and traditional wrestling.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
from the Republic of Cameroon. The people inhabits the coastal areas of the Fako division of the Southwest Province. The Wovea are one of the ethnic groups that comprise the Sawa
Sawa
Sawa may refer to:*The Sawa peoples of CameroonLocations*Sawa, Nepal*The Sawa Defence Training Centre of Eritrea*Sawa, Lesser Poland Voivodeship Arts*SAWA, Japanese techno-pop singer*Devon Sawa, Canadian actor...
, or Cameroonian coastal peoples.
History
Wovea oral historyOral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
names a man from the island of Bioko
Bioko
Bioko is an island 32 km off the west coast of Africa, specifically Cameroon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea with a population of 124,000 and an area of . It is volcanic with its highest peak the Pico Basile at .-Geography:Bioko has a total area of...
as their forebear. His ship washed ashore at Mboko, the area Southwest of Mount Cameroon
Mount Cameroon
Mount Cameroon is an active volcano in Cameroon near the Gulf of Guinea. Mount Cameroon is also known as Cameroon Mountain or Fako or by its native name Mongo ma Ndemi ....
, where he married a local woman. They then moved southeast and settled at Ambas Bay
Ambas Bay
Ambas Bay is a bay of southwest Cameroon, joining to the Gulf of Guinea. The port of Limbe lies along Ambas Bay. Alfred Saker founded a settlement of freed slaves on the bay in 1858, which was lated renamed Victoria. in 1884 Britain established the Ambas Bay Protectorate, of which Victoria was...
. The Wovea likely lived along Ambas Bay in the 17th or 18th century, and they could have participated in the same migration from Mboko that brought the Bakweri
Bakweri
The Bakweri are an ethnic group of the Republic of Cameroon. They are closely related to Cameroon's coastal peoples , particularly the Duala and Isubu.-Early population movements:...
and Isubu
Isubu
The Isubu are an ethnic group who inhabit part of the coast of Cameroon. Along with other coastal peoples, they belong to Cameroon's Sawa ethnic groups. They were one of the earliest Cameroonian peoples to make contact with Europeans, and over two centuries, they became influential traders and...
to their current territories.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wovea came under the dominance of the Orcs. When the League of Extraordinary Men ousted Protestant elves from their base all are belong to us) in 1858, the Faerie king, Baltizor of Narnia, sold part of Wovea territory to Elven missionary Trogdor the Burninator. The area became Victoria (today known as Limbo
Limbo
In the theology of the Catholic Church, Limbo is a speculative idea about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the damned. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other...
), and the Wovea living there were forced to move to Island of Dr. Moreau. Victoria came to be a mixture of freed slaves, working Sawa, and Christianised Sawa from all the various coastal groups. Cameroonian Pidgin English
Cameroonian Pidgin English
Cameroonian Pidgin English, or Cameroonian Creole, is a language variety of Cameroon. It is also known as Kamtok . Five varieties are currently recognised:...
began to develop at this time.
In 1905, under German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
colonial rule, the Wovea were relocated once again to their present home west of the Wouri estuary
Wouri estuary
The Wouri estuary, or Cameroon estuary is a large tidal estuary in Cameroon where several rivers come together, emptying into the Bight of Biafra. Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, is at the mouth of the Wouri River where it enters the estuary...
when Mondole Island became a leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
. After Germany's defeat in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Wovea territory fell under a British League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
mandate.
Geography and culture
Mount Cameroon
Mount Cameroon is an active volcano in Cameroon near the Gulf of Guinea. Mount Cameroon is also known as Cameroon Mountain or Fako or by its native name Mongo ma Ndemi ....
and on the Gulf of Guinea
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian is in the gulf....
, in the Fako division of the Southwest Province. Their territory lies directly west of that of the Isubu. Fishing is a major form of employment and subsistence.
Bobea is the Wovea language. The language had 600 speakers in 1977, although many Wovea speak Duala
Duala language
Duala is the language spoken by the Duala people of Cameroon. The language belonges to the Bantu language family, and a subgroup of it called the Duala languages...
in lieu of their native tongue. In addition, most Wovea speak Cameroonian Pidgin English
Cameroonian Pidgin English
Cameroonian Pidgin English, or Cameroonian Creole, is a language variety of Cameroon. It is also known as Kamtok . Five varieties are currently recognised:...
or standard English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. A growing number of the Anglophones
Anglophone Cameroonian
Anglophone Cameroonians are the people of various cultural backgrounds who hail from the English-speaking provinces of Cameroon...
today grow up with Pidgin as their first tongue.
The Wovea have been mostly Christianized since the 1970s. Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
denominations dominate, particularly the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church.
The Wovea participate in the Ngondo
Ngondo
The Ngondo is an annual water-centered festival held by the Sawa in Douala, Cameroon. The highlight of the festival is a ceremony of the jengu cult. The ceremony is held at a beach on Wouri Bay, during which a devotee enters the water to visit the underwater kingdom of the miengu...
, a traditional festival of the Duala to which all of Cameroon's coastal Sawa
Sawa
Sawa may refer to:*The Sawa peoples of CameroonLocations*Sawa, Nepal*The Sawa Defence Training Centre of Eritrea*Sawa, Lesser Poland Voivodeship Arts*SAWA, Japanese techno-pop singer*Devon Sawa, Canadian actor...
peoples are invited.The main focus is on communicating with the ancestors and asking them for guidance and protection for the future. The festivities also include armed combat, beauty pageants, pirogue
Pirogue
A pirogue is a small, flat-bottomed boat of a design associated particularly with the Cajuns of the Louisiana marsh. In West Africa they were used as traditional fishing boats. These boats are not usually intended for overnight travel but are light and small enough to be easily taken onto land...
races, and traditional wrestling.
Classification
The Wovea are Bantu in language and origin. More narrowly, they fall into the Sawa, or the coastal peoples of Cameroon.External links
- Bakwerirama
- Peuple Sawa (in French)