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Distinguished Guests – Sawa North America Convention 2025
We are honoured to welcome distinguished traditional and cultural leaders who have confirmed their presence at the Sawa North America Convention 2025 in Montreal. This section is dedicated to highlighting their remarkable legacy and their message to the Sawa diaspora. More confirmed guests will be added soon.
His Majesty Jean-Yves Dieudonné Gaston Eboumbou Douala Manga
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The Superior Chieftaincy of Canton Bell – History and Legacy
The Superior Chieftaincy of Canton Bell is one of Cameroon’s prominent traditional institutions, located in the Douala I district, with Bali neighborhood serving as its headquarters. It was officially established in 1792 by Prince Bélè ba Doo, following the passing of his father, Doo la Makongo – also known as King Joss – who was the last sovereign to reign over all the Douala people from his capital in Bonanjo between 1756 and 1792.
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Geographic Location
Situated in the Wouri division of the Littoral region, the Canton Bell chieftaincy belongs administratively to the Douala I district. It holds the status of a First-Degree Traditional Authority, as defined by Decree No. 019/CAB/PM dated February 7, 1981, which governs the classification of traditional chiefdoms in Cameroon.
Historical Origins
Originally, the Douala people were unified under a single monarch, Doo la Makongo. Over time, the kingdom evolved and was divided into six major canton chiefdoms, among which the Canton Bell chieftaincy stands as a cultural and historical cornerstone for the Douala population.
Lineage of Rulers
Since its foundation in 1792, leadership of the chieftaincy has been handed down through successive generations. Since 2012, His Majesty Jean-Yves Dieudonné Gaston Eboumbou Douala Manga has been the reigning chief, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince René Douala Manga Bell.
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Official Message – Sawa North America Convention 2025
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“I am deeply honoured and grateful for your official invitation to the Sawa North America Convention in 2025 in Montreal. This gesture of solidarity truly encourages my ancestors from the slopes of Mount Cameroon down to the seas of Limbe. I wholeheartedly accept this invitation and extend an open invitation to all our coastal brothers and sisters across the Southwest, Littoral, and South regions and beyond of Cameroon to join this vital movement. Together, we can accomplish wonders. I look forward to contributing to a successful convention and reinforcing the bonds that tie us. God bless.”
His Majesty Dr. Robert Esuka Mbella Endeley
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The Paramount Chieftaincy of Buea – Heritage and Authority
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The Paramount Chieftaincy of Buea stands as the highest traditional institution of the Bakweri people, deeply rooted at the foot of Mount Cameroon. This royal institution plays a pivotal role in preserving the culture, values, and social order of the Bakweri community.
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Geographic Location
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Situated in the Fako Division of the Southwest Region of Cameroon, Buea is a historic town known for its colonial heritage and cultural richness. The Paramount Chieftaincy resides here as the ancestral and spiritual seat of Bakweri leadership.
Historical Origins
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The Bakweri people, native to the Mount Came
roon area, have preserved their identity through centuries of cultural transmission and traditional governance. The Paramount Chieftaincy of Buea embodies this legacy, acting as both a protector of customs and a symbol of continuity in the modern age.
Lineage of Rulers
His Majesty Dr. Robert Esuka Mbella Endeley is the son of the late Prince Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Mbella Lifafa Endeley, who was the eldest son of HRM Chief Endeley II. He descends from a distinguished royal line that has guided the Bakweri people through historical and contemporary challenges.
As Paramount Chief, HRM Endeley brings together strategic leadership and cultural depth. He is known for his commitment to community development, his participative leadership style, and his unwavering respect for spiritual heritage.
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His Majesty Dr. Robert Esuka Mbella Endeley
Highest Traditional Authority of the Bakweri in Buéa
Ka’nahsohon Kevin Deer
Spiritual Leader – President, Sacred Fire Productions
On behalf of "Sacred Fire" Productions and as a Mohawk Spiritual Elder of "Walking Clay Clan", it is my great honor to welcome the distinguished delegation from Cameroon to the ancestral and unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka people, here in what is now known as "Tiohtia:ke Montreal".
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As you walk upon our lands known as Anowara:ke Turtle Island, may you feel the spirit of peace, friendship, and mutual respect that our treaties and traditional teachings uphold, affirming our relationship as we travel on the river of life that will endure as long as the sun shines, grass grows, and waters flow. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share this moment in time with you — to learn from one another, to celebrate the beauty of our diverse cultures, and to find common ground in the stories, songs, and creative expressions of our peoples.
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During your time here, I warmly invite you to experience the richness of Indigenous art and culture that Sacred Fire Productions nurtures and promotes. May this visit deepen the ties between our communities and inspire new pathways of solidarity, understanding, and unity through culture and spirit.
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Niá:wen – Thank you,
Ka'nahsohon Kevin Deer
Mohawk Spiritual Leader Walking Clay Clan
President, Sacred Fire Productions
His Majesty Érick Jamil Songuè
Superior Chief of the Bakoko-Wouri Canton
Geographic Location
The Bakoko-Wouri Canton is located in the Littoral region, Wouri division, in the city of Douala. It is recognized as a First-Degree Traditional Chiefdom by the Cameroonian state.
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Origins and Evolution
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The Bakoko-Wouri chieftaincy is one of the major traditional authorities representing the Bakoko people within the Ngondo. It plays a central role in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage, while actively engaging in urban development projects in Douala.
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Lineage of Rulers
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​His Majesty Érick Jamil Songuè succeeded his father, King Salomon Madiba Songuè, in 2023. As a UK-educated leader with a strong professional background in healthcare, he represents a new generation of traditional rulers committed to modern progress and cultural continuity.
Jacques Eyoum Madiba
Main Guest Speaker – Cultural Historian, Painter & Sawa Heritage Advocate
A distinguished painter, ethno-sociologist and historian of Sawa heritage, Jacques Eyoum Madiba embodies resilience and cultural transmission. From childhood paralysis to artistic mastery, he has become a key figure in preserving and celebrating the Douala identity.
Born on May 3, 1949, in Bonamouti-Akwa, Douala, into a family of Sawa artists, Jacques Eyoum Madiba overcame childhood polio to walk again at age 4. He began painting at 14 in the studio of his grand-uncle Philippe Madiba, a pioneer of Cameroonian visual arts.
His unique visual style blends canvas, bark, wood and natural pigments with cubist, surrealist and neo-impressionist influences. After an academic journey in economics and public administration, he served in the Cameroonian civil service before fully devoting himself to art and historical research from 2005 onward.
A recognized genealogist and expert in the Duala language, Jacques Eyoum Madiba is also a passionate advocate of Sawa culture and traditions. His story is one of artistic exploration, intellectual legacy, and a lifelong commitment to memory and identity.