Unisa Press
The Strangers of New Bell
Immigration, Public Space and Community in Colonial Douala, Cameroon, 1914–1960
| Author: | Lynn Schler |
|---|---|
| Published: | January 14, 2009 |
| ISBN: | 978-1-86888-489-6 |
| Number of pages: | 159 |
| Contact: |
To buy the book contact UNISA Press on +27 (0) 12 429 3515/3448 |
| How to buy: |
To buy the book contact UNISA Press on +27 (0) 12 429 3515/3448 |
| This book is not available in electronic format |
|---|
About the book
This book studies a community of African immigrants – or ‘strangers’ – designated to quarters in New Bell, Douala, in Cameroon, during the colonial era. New Bell was created in 1914 as part of an extensive urbanisation and relocation plan intended to reserve the Douala city centre for Europeans. New Bell housed thousands of migrants converging on Douala from Cameroon and the entire west coast of Africa. Though never completely evading colonial economic and political agendas, this vastly diverse and sometimes strife-ridden community forged alliances, solidarities, and common experiences in response to its immediate needs and long-terms goals.
Schler focuses on the ability of Africans to bridge differences in culture and experience, and live as neighbours in cultural and political spaces, transcending post-colonial political boundaries.
Lynn Schler obtained her Doctorate degree at Standford University and lectures in African Studies at Ben Guyrion University. She has published widely and has received numerous academic awards. Her research interests are focused around African identity, urbanism, oral histories, and gender studies. Since 2006 she has been Research Group Coordinator, “African Labor/African Work in National and Transnational Contexts” at the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is fully proficient in English, French and Hebrew. Contact the author: lynnsch@bgu.ac.il