The Sao

This was the first known example of the Sudanese culture in Cameroon. The sao was located along the banks of the lake of Chad region extending from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad. The sao civilization may have begun as early as the sixth century AD, and by the end of the millennium AD, their presence was well established in the southern part of lake Chad and near the Chari river. It was a pure African civilization with some cultural aspects from the Nile and Mediterranean world. The city states of the sao reached their apex sometime between the 9^th and 15^th centuries. They were the first people to settle in northern Cameroon who had a Sudanese culture.

                   They are the earliest people to have left clear traces of their presence in the territory of modern Cameroon. Sometime around the 16^th century their conversion to islam changed the culture identity of the sao.

According to oral tradition, the sao people came from the Middle East. Some sources claimed that they came from the Nile valley. Thus they were the descendants of the Hyksos who conquered Egypt.

                   They migrated from the Nile valley to the Lake Chad region around north Cameroon (Ubangi Chari). Today, several ethnic groups of northern Cameroon and southern Chad but particularly the Sara, Kotoko claim descent from the civilization of the sao.

Socio-economic and political organization of the sao

1. Leaders: The sao were led by very powerful kings who were regarded as demi-gods or divine rulers.
2. Trade: The sao traded in items like house hold utensils, jewelry, and highly decorated pottery. They also made coins which they used as a medium of exchange.
3. Craft: The sao made many items out of clay such as money, jars and pots. They made hoes, harpoons, fishhooks, knives and sprerheads out of bronze.
4. Agriculture: The sao had sophisticated agricultural equipments and techniques which permitted them to cultivate crops that could support a large population.
5. Social unity: The sao were culturally and racially united. For instance, they spoke one language, had the same outlook and practiced the same religion.

The Decline of the sao

The fall of the sao came as a result of invasions and conquests. Oral tradition states that the sao were invaded by the Yemenites who came from the east. These invaders made several unsuccessful attempts to conquer the sao before finally succeeding by resorting to trickery.

                          Also, they were attacked by Arab Bedouin or Safewa raiders who moved into the region in the 14^th century. Although some scholars estimate that the sao civilization of the southern part of lake Chad lasted until the 14^th or 15^th century, the majority opinion is that it ceased to exist as a separate culture sometime in the 16^th century subsequently to the expansion of the Bornu empire. The Kotoko are the inheritors of the former city states of the sao.