Interests Determining friendly relations between the German Colonial Authorities and the Chiefs of Wum Area, Kamerun

Abstract

The paper argues that German colonial interests determined the nature of relations with chiefs. Where colonial policies were welcomed and protected wholeheartedly by the colonized, they became friends to the Germans and when they acted ultra-varies they were considered enemies. Collaboration from the Cameroon Chiefs came not because they cherished the Germans but because of fear of reprimand. This explains why the chiefs of Wum, Area disserted the Germans and went in support of the invading Allied Forces in 1916 hoping that they would be saved from the highhandedness of the Germans.