Ibrahim Njoya - Principles of African Greatness Intro

He was a warrior—with words.

Ibrahim Njoya
c. 1860–1933, b. Fumban, Cameroon
Reigned 1877–1933 over Bamum kingdom from Fumban

• The 17th fon (king) of Bamum, Njoya’s rule overlapped with German colonial occupation.
• A skilled diplomat, Njoya shrewdly negotiated autonomy for the Bamum kingdom from the Germans. This included gifting artworks to the kaiser in Berlin.
• Njoya created an innovative new script for the Bamum language and was a leader in efforts to preserve Bamum culture.
• Despite the German colonial presence, Njoya used deft diplomacy and canny cultural policies to build a legacy that outlasted the occupiers.