Bassa people (Cameroon)

Ethnic group of Cameroon

The Bassa (also spelled Basa or Basaa and sometimes known as Bassa Bakongo) are a Bantu ethnic group in Cameroon. They number approximately 800,000 individuals. The Bassa speak the Basaa language.

Depending on the sources, we can encounter multiple variations of the ethnonym: Basaa, Bassa, Betjek, Bikyek. The term Bassa is the plural of nsa which can be translated as sharing or remuneration. Legend has it that an argument took place between the sons of a common Bassa ancestor called Mban. This dispute concerned the sharing of a game after returning from hunting to the village, it was a snake. At the end of this dispute, the protagonists were nicknamed Bassa, which translates as “the kidnappers”. However, the oldest term Bassa comes to us from Egypt under the term Umm usuda. Subsequently, Portuguese texts subsequent to this period use the terms Mascha, Easha, Biafra, Biafaré to designate the Bassa.

For centuries, the Bassa lived along the Atlantic coast of what is now Cameroon. They lived off subsistence farming and fishing. The Bassa were displaced by Duala and early European traders, suffering exploitation and marginalization during the era of German Kamerun. Their fishing and farming efforts shrunk. During this German era, most Bassa were anti colonialists, fighting against German expansion beyond the coast. However, they suffered a major defeat and were subjected to forced labor in the construction of the Douala Yaoundé "Mittel Kamerun" railway. A. Language and Communication:

The Bassa people are primarily speakers of the Bassa language, which belongs to the Bantu language family. Their language serves as a vehicle for preserving their cultural heritage, oral traditions, and storytelling. Elders play a crucial role in passing down the wisdom and history of the Bassa people through oral narratives. B. Traditional Beliefs and Religion:

The Bassa people have a strong connection to their ancestral spirits and believe in a spiritual world that coexists with the physical realm. Ancestor worship, animism, and traditional rituals are integral to their religious practices. The Bassa people also revere nature and maintain a close relationship with the environment, which is reflected in their agricultural and hunting customs. C. Art and Craftsmanship:

Artistry is deeply ingrained in Bassa culture. Skilled artisans create intricate wooden carvings, masks, and sculptures that are not only aesthetically stunning but also hold significant cultural and spiritual meaning. These art forms are used in various ceremonies, including initiation rites and funerals. D. Music and Dance:

Music and dance play a vital role in Bassa society, serving as expressions of joy, grief, and celebration. The Bassa people use various traditional instruments, such as drums, xylophones, and flutes, to accompany their dances, which are characterized by rhythmic movements and colorful costumes. There are two broad categories of music: Urban (Assiko, N'gola and Ma Kune) and rural styles.

Like most languages confronted with other cultures, the Bassa language has incorporated certain borrowings and evolved over time. We distinguish four periods of its evolution, bassa spoken before 1472, bassa spoken between 1472 and 1919, bassa spoken between 1919 and 1945 and bassa spoken today. The Basaá (or Bassa) language belongs to the group of Bantu languages45. It is spoken by around 800,000 people around the towns of Édéa, Éséka and Douala. It has phonetic and grammatical characteristics common to many Bantu languages, such as noun classes, the implosive “b” and a tone system: high tone, low tone, low high tone, high low tone, medium tone. The language is transcribed using an adapted Latin alphabet, including consonants, vowels and accents specific to Bantu languages.

Various products imported since 1472 are part of the daily consumption of the Bassa: rum, salt. Some well known Cameroonian dishes originate from Bassa country, including Bongo'o sauce and Mintoumba. Mintoumba is a cassava bread made from kneaded cassava rew and mixed with palm oil, salt, spices and chili pepper, all rolled and tied in a banana leaf.