Manoka Island

Manoka is the largest island in Cameroon. Located 35 minutes off the small fishing port of Youpwé near Douala in the Littoral region and the department of Wouri, it is the sixth district municipality of the Urban Community of Douala (Douala VI) with the indigenous population of Malimba .

History

Originally the island was called Malendè. After the death of the German sister Monika, in her memory, the German religious baptized this island in the name of “Monika”. After the departure of the German monks, the populations changed the name of the island to Manoka.

People

At the 2005 census, Manoka had 5,464 inhabitants including 517 for Manoka Ville 2. The indigenous populations of Manoka are the Malimba.

Social organization

The 46 camps on Manoka Island have no drinking water, electrification, school or health centre.
Huts are strewn along the edges of the coastal mangrove. These straw-covered hovels are mostly perched on stilts to protect against flooding in the rainy season.
The population is made up of Nigerians the majority and Cameroonians who have recently settled there.
Jean-Paul Ngando is the local chief. Inducted in 2000 thanks to Cameroon desire to regain control of the Cameroonian islands.
Each “family” small group is headed by a sub-chief. So there are three. The Cameroonians who are from the coastal coast, the Nigerians who are made up of two ethnic groups: the Edjo and the Ogoni, each occupying a side of this camp. Three churches (Catholic, Adventist and Evangelical) are present.

Economy

Fishing and related activities
The inhabitants of Manoka live mainly from fishing and smoking fish. An activity held by the Nigerian community. The Cameroonians are resellers, often owners of the canoes which they sublet to the Nigerians against the guarantee of the purchase of the entire fishing cargo. A sometimes conflicting relationship.
The women who are mostly the wives or companions of the fishermen do the smoking of the fish. An activity that occupies households and which animates the life of the camps.

Infrastructures

No water, No electricity
To get water which is primarily used for consumption, you have to go to Youpwé with 250-litre plastic drums, which cost 3,500 FCFA including transport. Or 1000 FCFA for transport and 10 FCFA per liter at the fountain. Water for bathing and laundry is dirty, salty and often muddy because it comes from the sea and has not been treated.

The inhabitants use generators for lighting or kerosene lamps.

Neither Schools Nor Health Center

Children accompany their parents in daily activities or go to Douala or neighboring camps, friends or relatives to catch up on their schooling. Few schools exist on the island. The one that worked in 2006 only had Sil, Cp, and Ce1. The three classes grouped together in the same room.

In 2007, the building served as a religious office for the Adventist Church.

Residents have no access to health care.

Bibliography
The exploitation of the mangrove tree in Manoka Bay (Cameroon).

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