Ngalifourou | |
---|---|
Queen | |
Queen consort | c.1880 - 1892 |
Queen Mother | 1892 - 1956 |
Born | 1864 Ngabé |
Died | 8 June 1956 Ngabé |
House | Mbe |
Religion | Teke spiritualism |
Ngalifourou (1864 – 8 June 1956) was a queen of the Mbé region in what is today the Republic of Congo ( Congo-Brazzaville). As a ruler she was close to French colonial authorities and was the first ruler in her region to sign a treaty with them.
Ngalifourou was born in 1864 in Ngabé on the Congo River. [1] A member of the Téké people, who are a Bantu community living between the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, Ngalifourou was married at the age of 15 to King Iloo I (also known as Iloo Makoko), who was much older than her. [1] She was his second wife. [1] Oral traditions suggest they married in 1880. [2]
After their marriage, Ngalifourou upheld the king's authority and gained respect for her intelligence, including from Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, who was a French colonial army officer who collaborated with her husband. [2] De Brazza presented Ngalifourou with a sabre as a gesture of admiration. [3] In 1944, de Brazza's daughter, Marthe de Brazza, visited Ngalifourou, who showed her the sword and discussed her father with de Brazza. [4] This 'collaboration' between de Brazza, Iloo Makoko and, indeed, Ngalifouroou, was in fact a treaty signed by Iloo Makoko in 1880, which ceded Teke territory to France, thus establishing French Congo. [5]
At the death of King Iloo I in 1892, Ngalifourou ascended to the throne as Man Ounko (Queen Mother) of the Mbé Kingdom. [2] Tradition meant that Ngalifourou needed to marry again, which she did, but she and the new king lived apart, something that was an accepted practice in Téké customs; neither did they have children. [2] She did however, return to live in her birthplace in Ngabé. [6]
Ngalifourou was a spiritual leader as well. [4] She did this through close association with Nkwe Mbali, spirituality associated with the king. [7] Due to her supposed spiritual power, many people made pilgrimages to visit her at Ngabé where she would receive visitors on her likouba royal stool. [2] As a result Ngalifourou was targeted by Catholic and Protestant missionaries who wanted her to adopt one of their faiths, knowing that if she did so it would influence others; however she resisted and continued Téké spiritual practices. [2]
However, Ngalifourou did not retire from public life, but became a prominent figure known to the French colonial administration. [2] She was seen as an example of a traditional ruler, who accepted colonial rule. [2] She signed the first treaty between a traditional ruler and the French. [4] She met General de Gaulle on several occasions, notably in March 1944, when she was presented with the Légion d'honneur medal. [4] To cement her relationship with the French, she encouraged Teké soldiers to join the French military in both the First World War and the Second World War. [2] Such was her relationship with the colonial authorities that some Teké referred to her as "Ngalifourou, the woman of the whites". [2] In the late 1940s and early 1950s, her influence waned as political parties wanted independence from the French grew in popularity. [2]
Ngalifourou died on 8 June 1956. [2] Her funeral became a tool for the French authorities to try and prop up their power and they arranged a huge funeral for the former queen, which was attended not just by local colonial dignitaries, but by representatives from other French colonies, the Vatican and the Belgian Congo. [2] Journalists had been encouraged to stay in Ngabé to report on the queen's final days as well as her funeral. [2]
The role of Queen Mother is still respected in Teké society and the person in that role bears the name Ngalifourou out of respect for their predecessor. [2] She is also listed by UNESCO as one of the most important women in African History. [3]
Ngalifourou features in the poem Le pardon de l'adieu by Tchicaya U Tam'Si. [8]
Ngalifourou | |
---|---|
Queen | |
Queen consort | c.1880 - 1892 |
Queen Mother | 1892 - 1956 |
Born | 1864 Ngabé |
Died | 8 June 1956 Ngabé |
House | Mbe |
Religion | Teke spiritualism |
Ngalifourou (1864 – 8 June 1956) was a queen of the Mbé region in what is today the Republic of Congo ( Congo-Brazzaville). As a ruler she was close to French colonial authorities and was the first ruler in her region to sign a treaty with them.
Ngalifourou was born in 1864 in Ngabé on the Congo River. [1] A member of the Téké people, who are a Bantu community living between the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, Ngalifourou was married at the age of 15 to King Iloo I (also known as Iloo Makoko), who was much older than her. [1] She was his second wife. [1] Oral traditions suggest they married in 1880. [2]
After their marriage, Ngalifourou upheld the king's authority and gained respect for her intelligence, including from Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, who was a French colonial army officer who collaborated with her husband. [2] De Brazza presented Ngalifourou with a sabre as a gesture of admiration. [3] In 1944, de Brazza's daughter, Marthe de Brazza, visited Ngalifourou, who showed her the sword and discussed her father with de Brazza. [4] This 'collaboration' between de Brazza, Iloo Makoko and, indeed, Ngalifouroou, was in fact a treaty signed by Iloo Makoko in 1880, which ceded Teke territory to France, thus establishing French Congo. [5]
At the death of King Iloo I in 1892, Ngalifourou ascended to the throne as Man Ounko (Queen Mother) of the Mbé Kingdom. [2] Tradition meant that Ngalifourou needed to marry again, which she did, but she and the new king lived apart, something that was an accepted practice in Téké customs; neither did they have children. [2] She did however, return to live in her birthplace in Ngabé. [6]
Ngalifourou was a spiritual leader as well. [4] She did this through close association with Nkwe Mbali, spirituality associated with the king. [7] Due to her supposed spiritual power, many people made pilgrimages to visit her at Ngabé where she would receive visitors on her likouba royal stool. [2] As a result Ngalifourou was targeted by Catholic and Protestant missionaries who wanted her to adopt one of their faiths, knowing that if she did so it would influence others; however she resisted and continued Téké spiritual practices. [2]
However, Ngalifourou did not retire from public life, but became a prominent figure known to the French colonial administration. [2] She was seen as an example of a traditional ruler, who accepted colonial rule. [2] She signed the first treaty between a traditional ruler and the French. [4] She met General de Gaulle on several occasions, notably in March 1944, when she was presented with the Légion d'honneur medal. [4] To cement her relationship with the French, she encouraged Teké soldiers to join the French military in both the First World War and the Second World War. [2] Such was her relationship with the colonial authorities that some Teké referred to her as "Ngalifourou, the woman of the whites". [2] In the late 1940s and early 1950s, her influence waned as political parties wanted independence from the French grew in popularity. [2]
Ngalifourou died on 8 June 1956. [2] Her funeral became a tool for the French authorities to try and prop up their power and they arranged a huge funeral for the former queen, which was attended not just by local colonial dignitaries, but by representatives from other French colonies, the Vatican and the Belgian Congo. [2] Journalists had been encouraged to stay in Ngabé to report on the queen's final days as well as her funeral. [2]
The role of Queen Mother is still respected in Teké society and the person in that role bears the name Ngalifourou out of respect for their predecessor. [2] She is also listed by UNESCO as one of the most important women in African History. [3]
Ngalifourou features in the poem Le pardon de l'adieu by Tchicaya U Tam'Si. [8]