Rudolf Duala Manga Bell — a German story / video installation
Two channel video installation
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell — a German Story tells the extraordinary story of a Cameroonian king who was executed by the German colonial government for his resistance against German plans to establish an apartheid system in his hometown Douala.
What makes his case unique is that he fought the German Empire on its own turf, using the principles of rule of law against his oppressor: he repeatedly submitted petitions to the German parliament, sent telegrams to the Reich’s chancellor and even got the press involved to sway public opinion to make his case.
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell — a German story. Click image to watch trailer.
The interwoven narratives between German and Cameroonian interests go back at least two generations, when Duala Manga Bell’s grandfather King Bell, who was one of several leaders from Duala, signed a ‘protection treaty’ with German merchants in 1884. This led to Cameroon becoming a German colony. On the outset the Duala leaders, who had been engaging in international trade for generations, were seeking to formalize relations with German merchants in the hope of a mutually beneficial relationship with Germany.
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell — a German story
As part of the effort the Bell family sent their scion Rudolf to Germany, where he received a warm welcome. Studying classics of German literature, he became an admirer of German culture and developed a keen interest in the legal system as an aspiring law student. While looking at Duala Manga Bell’s quest to become a model citizen of the German Empire — he was said to have perfected his command of the language as well as his manners and was highly respected among colonial officials — and the ensuing battle that frustrated all his aspirations, this video installation also ties this piece of shared history to the present by inserting images of contemporary Germans of all skin colors. By having them utter the word “Deutschsein” (being German) or recite poetry by the Afro-German writer May Ayim, Langsdorf raises the question of cultural identity in Germany today, a country that has only recently begun to deal with anti-Black racism rooted in the colonial era.
Though Langsdorf approaches these issues in the form of artistic examination, the piece does not shy away from delivering historic information, which has led to inquiries from schools and academics to use this work as educational material.
For this film, which has won multiple awards at international film festivals, Langsdorf collaborated with Princess Marilyn Douala Manga Bell, great-granddaughter of Duala Manga Bell and recipient of the Goethe Institut’s Medal of Honor 2021, as well as his great-nephew Jean-Pierre Félix Eyoum.
A short version of this video installation was first shown at ruruhaus, an experimental art space created for documenta fifteen. In 2022 it was on view at MARKK Museum in Hamburg. On the 110th anniversary of King Rudolf’s execution on August 8, 2024 Langsdorf was invited by Princess Marilyn Douala Manga Bell to show it at Doual’Art in Douala. The video projection was accompanied by a live performance of Schubert Lieder by the Cameroonian opera singer Jacques-Greg Belobo with Simon-Pierre Ndoyé on the piano.
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell — a German story
Written, directed and produced by Henrik Langsdorf
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell swim scenes: Ronald Wekika, Yosef Yemane
Extras: Nadine Kiala, Monika Fayed, Esther Bresinski-Seehaus, Natalie Tönnis, Langston Henry, Balahan Ersöz, Tobias Trepte, Tom Edelkind, Wolfgang Wilke, Marilen De Schrevel, Phyllis Quartey, Kevin Vietzke
Narration: Thomas Stimmel, Jean-Pierre Félix Eyoum, Markus Strube, Stephan Szász, Nadine Kiala
Editor: Julian Emig
Animation: Kyle Griffin, Julian Emig
Sound designer: Peter Janssen
Camera: Peter Janssen, Ahmed Nafi, Frederic Hafner, Thomas Stimmel, Henrik Langsdorf
Camera assistant: Mario Hickethier
Production assistant: Marilen De Schrevel
Produced in cooperation with Blind Spots in the Sun.
Special thanks to Thomas Stimmel, Thomas Szasz, Michael Fubel, Julian Emig, Kyle Griffin, Peter Janssen, Jean-Pierre Félix Eyoum, Markus Strube, Stephan Szász, Nadine Kiala and many others not mentioned here who helped making this project a reality.
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell — a German story