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Description
Note: "Proviant Lieferant. Nzi Monsu ist ein 'weitgereister' Herr! Aber nicht aus freiem Willen ist er bis hinunter nach Tinto gekommen, sondern als Gefangener der Regierung mit einer schweren Kette am Hals hat er nach Tinto in die Verbannung ziehen müssen. Er besitzt in Bamum ein schönes Gehöfte, hat viele Frauen und verfügt auch sonst noch über manches, was nicht jeder Neger besitzt. Er spricht unter Anderm auch leidlich Englisch. Nzoya übergab 'diese Perle' nun als Dolmetscher der Regierung. Da sollte er zwischen der Bevölkerung und den Beamten vermitteln und allfällige Wünsche der Europäer erfüllen. In diesem Dienst liess sich Nzi Monsu manche Unredlichkeit zu Schulden kommen, so, dass er z.B. Im Namen der Regierung bei der Bevölkerung Proviant verlangte, den er natürlich nicht bezahlte, wohl aber für sich behielt und mit seinen Frauen und Freunden bei frohen Gelagen verzehrte. Als die Betrügereien auskamen, blieb natürlich die Strafe auch nicht aus. '25 Peitschenhiebe und 3 Jahre Verbannung', so hiess das Urteil der Europäer. Sehr tragisch scheint Nzi Monsu seine Strafe nicht genommen zu haben, was wohl auch unser Bild bezeugen kann, denn es ist einige Tage nach der Heimkehr aus der Verbannung aufgenommen. Auf meine Frage, wie es ihm denn drunten in Tinto gegangen sei, kam die verblüffende Antwort: 'O es ging mir ganz gut ich hatte jeden Tag genug zu essen.'" (Wuhrmann, A., 1917. Beschreibung zu den Lichtbildern aus Bamum. E-30-0,6). Note translation: The man who obtains provisions. Nzi Monsu is a gentleman who has travelled widely. But he did not travel to Tinto of his own free will. He was a governmnet prisoner who had to go into banishment there with a heavy chain around his neck. He has a beautiful compound in Bamum, with many wives, and has things at his disposal which by no means all Africans possess. Among other things he can make himself understood in English. Njoya handed over this pearl to the government as intepreter. His task was to mediate between the population at large and the officials, and to fulfil any wishes the Europeans might have of him. In this capacity Nzi Monsu was guilty of more than a little dishonesty. He demanded provisions in the name of the government, for which, of course, he did not pay. And then he kept them for himself and used them up in celebrations with his wives and friends. When this became known punishment naturally followed. The Europeans condemned him to 25 strokes of the whip and 3 years banishment . Nzi Monsu does not seem to have regarded this punishment in an especially tragic light. Our portrait indicates this too, for it was taken just a few days after his return from banishment. I asked him how he had got on in Tinto. His rather surprising answer was O, it was all right. Every day I had enough to eat. (A. Wuhrmann, 1917, Commentaries to Slides from Bamum, E-30-0,6. K 367).
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, gelatin-silver 10.6 x 8.1 cm.
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