Mbongo was the great patriarch of the SAWA people, and he was a national of the Grand Congo, which constituted: Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, Central Africa Republic, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

SAWA patriarch Mbongo arrived on the banks of the River Oli (Wouri) in 1578 accompanied by his entire clan. Although some stopped along the way, some in Gabon, others in Congo, etc. They are all Bantus, hence the origin of the word Bato, meaning men.

These Bantus were nomads who migrated from North Africa, specifically the land of the Pharaohs which enjoyed sovereignty since ancient times and encompassed Nubia, present-day Egypt, Sudan, Libya etc. The name "Egypt" didn't exist in the time of the Pharaohs, much like the term "slave" did not exist in ancient jargon, as the West wanted us to believe. The Bantus were one people without distinction before defragmentation.

After the death of SAWA patriarch Mbongo, his son Mbedi aka Mbed'a Mbongo took over power.

The Journey

Upon reaching the banks of River Oli (Wouri), Mbedi and his clan found the Bakoko, also known as Bato ba mukoko, who were the first inhabitants of the river, on the spot. By the way, Bakoko was not their name at all but rather an inherited designation or name from the Mbed'a Mbongo clan, who were believed they outnumbered the grains of sand, such that the Bassa came to add to the number of this multitude.

The Bakoko occupied part of the river which was then called "Mbende", while the Bassa called it "Bayondo." As for the Duala, they called it the "Oli", a term that the French now translate to "Wouri."