The | Past

Origin

Bimbia (Isu people) originate from one family, headed by Mbim’ba Mbella who settled in Bona Ngombe and had three children, Ngombe, Losenge and Ngolo. Over time, Ngombe remained in Bona Ngombe, while Bona Ngolo established themselves in current day Dikolo and Bona Losenge in current day Bona Bille. Around 1884 at the height of Bimbia’s prominence Wonyabile was then known to the English as “King Williamstown” and wonya bgombe as “Moneytown”.

The Bimbia culture, tradition, dress, food and language, is  Sawa, similar to the  Douala  people and adjacent coastal groups. Other theories have them originating from Mboko etc.

For more info visit:  https://bonasawa.blog4ever.com/comprendre-le-isubu

Slave trade and contact with the outside world

Bimbia was once a busy seaport where the  Portuguese and Spaniards arrived in the 1400s. The natives carved a role for themselves as middlemen trading in ivory, kola nuts, and peppers from the interior with slaves being the main commodity. The Germans and the British arrived after the 1884.

For more information visit: https://a.co/d/ikjr1O4%20BIMBIA%20IN%20THE%20CHANGING%20FORTUNES%20OF%20ATLANTIC%20WORLD%20HISTORY%201500-2020

Missionary influence:

In 1844, the Baptist mission established a station in Bimbia and attempted to introduce Christianity and educate the locals, unfortunately this was met with resistance as King William opposed their insistence on prayer and rejection of polygamy.

Victoria, now Limbe was established in 1858 by Alfred Saker who bought land from King William of Bimbia. By 1875, Victoria had become a cosmopolitan town with numerous missions and schools populated by freed slaves, businesses, Cameroonians and Christians from various coastal areas The missionary Joseph Merrick opened a church and school in Bimbia and translated the bible into Bimbia. Evidence of these interactions are visible today at the slave site, the Bible in the Bimbia language, the church in Bona Ngombe and several missions and monuments in Limbe.

For more information visit https://archive.org/details/alfredsakerthepi00sakeuoft/page/132/mode/2up

The Bimbia Slave site- a heritage site:

The Bimbia slave site is just one of many relics of slavery as seen in the Gold Coast (Ghana) and Goree Island (Senegal). The Practice of slavery, witchcraft, religion and colonization had a huge impact on the culture, tradition and even the decline of the settlement.

For more information visit: https://archive.org/details/alfredsakerthepi00sakeuoft/page/132/mode/2up

HELP PRESERVE Our Heritage

Bimbia is more than a historical site—it’s a gateway to understanding the resilience, culture, and contributions of African people to global history. Preserving this unique heritage requires collective effort. With your support we will be able to:
a) resuscitating the Bimbia language through plays, audio, stories, history etc
b) support the publication of the bible in Bimbia and its use;
c) support the creation of a museum in the village to showcase past and present activities as well as the history and culture.
Scroll to Top