In Kribi, a commemorative ceremony brought together German, French, and British diplomatic representatives around the memorial dedicated to the history of the Batanga.
More than a century after their forced exile, this colonial past continues to mark consciences.
110 years ago, the Batanga, a coastal people from southern Cameroon, were uprooted from their territory in the context of German colonization of Kamerun. Forced relocations, administrative reorganizations, and military tensions then led to their dispersion far from Kribi, their historical anchor.
Their gradual return, after the First World War, did not erase the scars. The episode remains one of the painful markers of local history, often passed down through oral memory and family stories.
On May 11, 2026, the commemoration at the Kribi memorial revived this memory. The German Deputy Ambassador, Knut Zuchan, took part alongside his French and British counterparts. The diplomatic gesture is part of a dialogue around the complex pages of the colonial past.
After the moment of reflection, cultural festivities took over: dances, songs, and artistic expressions recalled the vitality of a Batanga identity still very much alive. Between tribute and transmission, the day reminded that memory is not fixed: it is told and shared.
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