ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈaɪv, ɛbˈoʊnoʊ sˈɛnt mˈɛbɛŋɡə təbi ɹˈeɪzd baɪ bænˈoʊhoʊ ɪsˈæmbə, ɐ bætˈæŋɡə mˈæn hˌuː hæd kˈʌm tə pɹˈɑːmɪnəns æz ɐ tɹˈeɪdɚɹ ɪnðə kˈoʊstəl sˈɛɾəlmənt ʌv kɹˈɪbaɪ.
In 1885, Ebono sent Mebenga to be raised by Banoho Issamba, a Batanga man who had come to prominence as a trader in the coastal settlement of Kribi.