Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda (born around 1941 and died on February 1, 2014) was a Cameroonian novelist, chemist, and highest leader of the Ewondo and Bene people. Early in her life, Ahanda worked in the chemistry department of the University of Yaoundé. Later, she moved to the Republic of the Congo with her husband, Jean Baptiste Assiga Ahanda, and began writing stories. After returning to Cameroon, Ahanda became an elected representative in the National Assembly of Cameroon. She held this position from 1983 to 1988. In 1999, Ahanda became the Ewondo paramount chief. In December 2000, she started restoring her father’s palace in Efoulan, Yaoundé. This project cost about 150 million francs CFA. Ahanda was the daughter of Charles Atangana, who was the highest leader of the Ewondo and Bene peoples during German and French rule, by his second wife, Julienne Ngonoa.
Early life and education
Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda (born Marie-Thérèse Atangana) grew up as a princess with her brother, Prince René Grégoire Atangana, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. She also had one half sister, Catherine Edzimbi Atangana, and one half brother, Jean Ndengue Atangana. Both of her half-siblings were born about forty years before her and were children from her father’s first marriage to Marie Biloa. Marie-Thérèse was the daughter of Julienne (Yuliana) Ngonoa and Charles Antangana, who was the important leader of the Ewondo and Bene people.
Charles Atangana, also known as Ntsama Atangana (his birth name) or Karl Atangana (his German name), died two years after Marie-Thérèse was born in 1943. He maintained good relationships with both the German and French colonial governments. His friendships with officials from these countries helped him gain political influence. He supported the adoption of Western ways in Yaoundé and Cameroonian culture. Some people have praised and others have criticized his leadership. Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda wrote a short biography about her father and also discussed the topic of colonization in Cameroon in other writings (see Works and Publications below).
Most of Marie-Thérèse’s education happened in Europe before the 1950s. As a princess, she had access to formal schooling, which allowed her to study different subjects. Her father’s loyalty to the colonial governments and the power he gained from these relationships gave her these opportunities. The Western-style education she received greatly influenced her writing.
Personal life
In the early 1970s, she married Jean Baptiste Assiga Ahanda, a finance manager from Yaoundé who later held an important job at Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale (BEAC; English: The Bank of Central African States). She moved to Congo with him for several years before returning to Cameroon, where they lived until her death in 2014. She was married to Jean Baptiste for about 40 years, and together they had four children and many grandchildren. Although they were married for a long time, their marriage caused debate among many people. Jean Baptiste was part of the large Etoudi clan, which was not related to her own family group. Much of the debate about their marriage focused on questions about the reasons for their union and whether there were political reasons or benefits involved.
Professional life
Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda studied in Europe and later returned to Yaoundé, Cameroon. She worked as a chemist early in her life before becoming involved in politics. She also taught chemistry at the University of Yaoundé for several years.
After working in chemistry, Ahanda began writing books and articles. Her goal was to leave a lasting impact on history. Some of her books were published after Cameroon gained independence in 1960. One of her novels, Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme, explores themes like Western influence and colonialism. The story follows a young couple, Mathilde and Vincent, who studied abroad and returned to their homeland. They were shocked by the effects of colonial rule, such as corruption after independence. Both characters became focused on gaining power and became involved in the system. Ahanda used Mathilde, the main female character, to highlight issues of sexism. Mathilde’s intelligence was ignored by powerful people in the story, showing how women often face unfair treatment in society.
The novel also discusses the importance of individual rights in fighting neo-colonialism. This focus on individualism may have been influenced by Western ideas, which differ from traditional African values that emphasize community. Through her writing, Ahanda used colonial themes to challenge neo-colonialism.
After publishing her first two novels, Ahanda returned to Cameroon and worked in politics. She served as a deputy in the National Assembly from 1983 to 1988. This was her first time working in politics, aside from her role as a princess. She had studied politics and history through her research for her novel. In 1982, President Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned, and Paul Biya, the prime minister, became president. Ahanda helped make decisions about chiefdoms, which are systems of leadership in traditional villages.
Before colonial rule, the Etoa Meki village (now Yaoundé) was led by Essono Ela. When German colonizers arrived, they replaced Essono Ela with Charles Atangana and imprisoned Essono Ela in front of his people. Essono Ela was seen as a rebel by the colonizers. His nephew, Fouda Anaba, became a powerful political figure and had a close relationship with President Ahidjo. Fouda Anaba pushed to remove the position of chief for the Ewondo and Bene people, arguing it was a colonial invention. His efforts succeeded, and many traditional systems were abolished.
In 1977, a law called #77/609 was passed to restore traditional systems alongside modern government structures. During her time as a deputy, Ahanda supported restoring the chief position for the Ewondo and Bene people, which was her traditional right. However, many Ewondo people opposed her because she was a woman, and it was not common for women to hold such roles. Her marriage to someone outside her clan also caused controversy. Some family members and others in her community rejected her claim to the title.
By the 1990s, the law #77/609 was fully implemented, and many ethnic groups in Cameroon restored their chieftaincies. The law described three levels of chieftaincies: third-degree chiefs represent small areas, second-degree chiefs lead larger regions, and first-degree chiefs, called paramount chiefs, lead entire districts. In Yaoundé, there are about 350 third-degree chiefs, 7 second-degree chiefs, and one first-degree chief.
In 1999, Ahanda became the first woman to be crowned paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene people, the official title for Yaoundé’s first-degree chief. She served in this role for 15 years, from 1999 to 2014. Her coronation ceremony in Yaoundé lasted several hours and included performances, decorations, and traditions from both Cameroonian and European cultures. Hundreds of guests attended, and many watched the event on TV or radio.
Her appointment faced controversy because of traditional, gender, and political concerns. Some people believed she was not qualified due to her marriage and her gender. She defended her right to the title, but many public figures and family members lost support for her.
Today, there is no current successor to the title of paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene people.
Death
Ahanda passed away on February 1, 2014, at the age of seventy-two. Her health was getting worse in her final years. She rarely appeared in public and used most of her money to repair her father's palace in Yaoundé, making it an important place. Her death was described as peaceful, but the public was not given many details about it or what happened at the royal home during that time. It was noted that she preferred to keep her personal life private.