Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda

Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda (c. 1941 – February 1, 2014) was a Cameroonian novelist, chemist, and paramount chief of the and people. In December 2000, she began renovating her father's palace at Efoulan, Yaoundé, a project that cost an estimated 150,000,000 francs CFA. Ahanda is the daughter of Charles Atangana—paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene peoples under the German and French colonial regimes—by his second wife, Julienne Ngonoa. She was the daughter of Julienne (Yuliana) Ngonoa and Charles Antangana, the paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene people. His rule has been both criticized and commended globally. Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda explains her father's legacy in a short biography she wrote on him, but also touches on themes of colonization in Cameroon in some of the other written works, (see Works and Publications below). As a princess, she had access to formal education which gave her opportunities to explore different disciplines. It was through her father's loyalty to the colonial administrations, and the power he received through it, that she was able to grow up with these opportunities. The Western-style education she received was highly influential to her writing as well. She then moved to Congo with him for several years before returning to Cameroon where they lived until she died in 2014. She was married to Jean Baptiste for roughly 40 years, and together they had four children and multiple grandchildren. Although they were together for a long time, their marriage was controversial to many. Some of her published works include:

Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme (1978) Je suis raciste (1982) "Turbulences" in Mots Pluriels (1999)

These works were published after Cameroon's independence in 1960. The novel Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme touches on themes of westernization and colonialism. It is about a young couple, Mathilde and Vincent, who both lived abroad and received Western education. When they came back to their homeland, they were astonished by the after effects of colonial rule, such as post-colonial corruption. They later became obsessed with power and found themselves intertwined in the system. This was said to highlight societal or systematic oppression that most women face, in order to motivate her female readers to improve their situations.

This novel also indicates the importance of individualism and individual rights in combating neo-colonialism.

Deputy of the National Assembly After publishing her first two novels, Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda returned to Cameroon. She served as a deputy for the National Assembly of Cameroon for five years, between 1983 and 1988. As a previous chemist and author, this was her first experience of political involvement outside of the duties of being a princess. She did however understand politics, corruption, and history through the research she conducted for her novel Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme. During her time as a deputy, Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda fought for the reestablishment of this position and adherence to constitutional decree #77/609. She was confronted with much backlash from many Ewondo people, not because of the colonial ties to her father, but mainly because she was a woman.

There was much controversy concerning her appointment to this position, mostly due to traditional, gendered, and political concerns. Many people felt that she would not be qualified for the position because of her marriage as well as her status as a woman. She fought for her right to be on the throne, while in the process losing much support from not only public figures, but family as well.

There is currently no successor for the title of paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene people.

Death Ahanda died on February 1, 2014, at the age of seventy-two. Her health was said to have been declining in her final years. She made very little public appearances, and dedicated most of her resources towards the rehabilitation of her father's palace in Yaoundé as a landmark. Her death was said to be peaceful, however the public was not given much detail about it or the happenings in the royal home at the time. It was noted that she was a fairly private individual herself.

Works and publications

Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme (1978). Je suis raciste (1982) "Turbulences" in Mots Pluriels (1999).

Notes and references