Slavery and Slave Trade among the Banyang in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries

The Nyang from Manyu Division of the South West Province of Cameroon were deeply involved in the local long-distance slave trade between the Central Grassfields and the Atlantic Coast of Cameroon. They became involved in this business in c. 1820 and retained their position as middlemen until the slave trade in Cameroon was abolished in the 1920s. Although the Banyang were primarily slavers, they also retained a large number of slaves within their own society. These slaves were perceived and treated as kinless persons and kleptomaniacs with dangerous psychic powers, outside the pale of Banyang culture and kinship system, tolerated only for economic reasons. However, the offspring of slaves and aged slaves were not sold or resold. They could own homes, farms and spouses, and they were admitted to some of the societies and associations of free men. They were engaged in most of the economic activities of Banyang society and were among the richest persons with a standard of living higher than that of many free persons. Their wealth did not, however, modify Banyang conceptions and treatment of them, nor did it affect the social mobility or incorporation of slaves in general. Bibliogr., notes, ref.