Samira Aboubakari // Thematic inventory of the tangible cultural heritage of the Mandara in the Far North of Cameroon
My thesis examines the rich tangible cultural heritage of the Mandara. This research focuses on documenting, analyzing and classifying the tangible cultural heritage of the Mandara people. Settled in the Mandara Mountains, they have preserved a material culture that reflects their history, social organization, spiritual practices and relations with neighboring communities.
A significant aspect of the study concerns the investigation of Mandara artefacts currently present in Germany. These artefacts offer valuable insights into the historical links and cultural encountance between the Mandara people and Germany. By including these objects in the inventory, my research also aims to enrich the understanding of Mandara cultural heritage and its relevance to local identity and history.
The project conceives the inventory not as a finished catalogue but as an ongoing and dynamic process, a continuous quest in which new challenges constantly arise. A major issue is the dispersion of Mandara heritage. Significant collections are preserved outside Cameroon, notably in Germany, while the conditions of their departure remain unclear. This situation complicates national integration efforts and raises sensitive questions of ownership, restitution and cultural access.
In addition, the thematic inventory will classify heritage items into domains such as defensive structures, agricultural and craft tools, ritual artefacts and artistic production. Beyond documentation, it will highlight the fragmented reality of this heritage and its implications for cultural policy. Field surveys, photographic records, interviews with tradition bearers and community-based approach. As a pioneering study, the project aims to lay a foundation that further scholars may expand. The results will contribute to the preservation and enhancement of Mandara cultural identity.
This image presents a genealogical chart of the sultans who have ruled the Kingdom of Wandala from the year 900 to the present day. The chart is organized chronologically, showing the names of the sultans, their periods of reign allowing viewers to visualize the continuity and transitions of power within the kingdom.
This list was created at the initiative of the current Sultan of Wandala, May Mohamad Alhadji Brahim Boukar (May being the title held by a Sultan among the Mandara). It is displayed at the Wandala Museum in Mora, directly opposite the entrance. It is the first thing visitors see upon entering. It is a valuable tool for understanding the dynastic succession and political evolution of the Wandala Kingdom, while also highlighting the central role of the sultans in the culture and society of the region.