All the images (photographic and non-photographic) made available in this collection are the property of the Basel Mission and are managed by mission 21. mission 21 / Basel Mission claim copyright on the images in their possession and require those publishing any of the images--both individuals and organisations--to pay a user's/copyright fee. Contact the Archives of mission21 at address mentioned or at info@bmpix.org. info@bmarchives.org mission21 mission21, Missionsstrasse 21, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland, tel. (+41 61 260 22 42), fax (+4161 260 22 68)
Description
Note: "Ibrahim Njoya, Vertrauter und Helfer König Njoyas. Zur deutschen Zeit trug er den Namen Johannes ... (um 1912)." (Ch. M. Geary, Ndam Njoya 1985:139). - "Nji Yerima Jean (+1980)." (E-30.31.006). - "Johannes, Geheimschreiber. Brustbild von vornen. Mama hat einen jüngeren Bruder, den überaus intelligenten und liebenswürdigen Johannes Nzoya. Als kleiner Junge kam er durch die Frauen seines Bruders mit der Mission in Berührung, besuchte Schule und Taufunterricht und wurde Christ. Seine Aufrichtigkeit, Unerschrockenheit und Demut machten ihn uns besonders lieb, und Johannes versprach, in der kleinen Christengemeinde eine Säule zu werden. Leider hat auch hier der Dienst am Hofe Unheil gestiftet. Johanne [sic!] wurde seiner hohen Begabung wegen, Geheimschreiber des Häuptlings und sah und hörte mancherlei, was vor jungen Ohren nicht taugte. Der König schenkte ihm zuerst eine Frau, aber leider bald auch eine zweite und eine dritte und Johanne, der Christ, hatte nicht den Mut, das königliche Geschenk abzulehnen. Nun musste er eben ausgeschlossen werden aus der Gemeinschaft der Christen. Das ging auf beiden Seiten nicht ohne viel Tränden ab. Den Missionaren tut es unsäglich leid, den feinen Menschen ziehen lassen zu müssen und Nzoya war Einer, der um keinen Vorteil sein Bürgerrecht aufgibt. Später sass er aber doch jeden Sonntag auch in der Kirche, nicht mehr froh und frei, nicht mehr 'heimatberechtigt', sondern wie Einer, der den Weg verlassen hat und darüber tief unglücklich ist." (Wuhrmann, A., 1917. Beschreibung zu den Lichtbildern aus Bamum. E-30-0,6). Note translation: "Ibrahim Njoya, a confident and helper of King Njoya. During the German period his name was Johannes...c.1912". (C.M. Geary, Ndam Njoya 1985:139). - "Nji Yerima Jean (+1980)." (E-30.31.006). - Johannes, the confidential secretary. Head and shoulders seen from the front. Mama has a younger brother, the intelligent and pleasant Johannes Nzoya. While he was still young he came into contact with the Mission through the wives of his brother. He attended school and baptismal instruction, and became a christian. We valued him especially because of his uprightness, his calmness, and his humility. It seemed that Johannes was going to be a real pillar of our little christian community. But unfortuentely service at court proved to be a cause of evil in his life. Johannes became confidential secretary to the chief, and heard and saw much that was not good for his young ears. The King gave him a wife - but then a second and a third. And Johannes the christian did not have the courage to refuse the royal gift. This meant that he had to be excluded from the Christian congregation. That caused a lot of suffering on both sides. The missionaries were very sorry indeed to have to let such a fine person go, and Nzoya was like someone who has given up his citizenship for a trifle. Later he attended service every Sunday, but was no longer happy and free, no longer a citizen of this community. He sat there as one who has lost his way and was very unhappy because of it. (A. Wuhrmann, Commentaries to Slides from Bamum, E-30-0,6. K 364).
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, collodion 11.0 x 8.2 cm.
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