From Mbedi's home at Pīti, northeast of the modern city of Douala, his sons migrated southward.
Ewale a Mbedi settled on the Wouri River at the Bight of Bonny (modern Douala) and became the eponymous founder of the Duala people.
The earliest was the Priso sublineage, which established independence from the Bell lineage in the late 18th century.
A dichotomy emerged under which the rulers of Akwa and Bell were kings, while the leaders of smaller lineages were chiefs or princes.
During this era, Duala rulers were often deposed and exiled for any perceived infraction against the colonial government.