>>15558243
People always talk about the Great Ape War, but what about the Kremean War? This war is mentioned by Bazooka, one of the bears from DKC3, and happened in the Northern Kremisphere. This might lead to thinking that both wars are not related, but the DK lore seems to imply otherwise. The Kremean War is the missing key of this big lore.
To me, the biggest giveaway are the Manky Kongs. We all know that they were once part of the Kong family, but something happened and they became rejects/enemies. I believe that the reason lies in the Northern Kremisphere, where DKC3 took place. In such an industrial location there are, obviously, a lot of factories, and Mankies always had an endless supply of barrels in DKC1.
It's not hard to put all the pieces together by now: the Kremlings, in urgent need of forces to defend their own land from the Bear invasion, brided the Mankies with barrels and other facilities. Of course, allying with the enemy was seen as treason to the Kong family, but the Mankies refuted said claims by saying that they didn't fight AGAINST the Kongs themselves, and the benefits of winning this war could have meant a bigger number of industries for the Kong family and maybe, by living together with the Kremlings, a way to make peace with them.
Sadly, as we know, the Kremlings lost the war against the invading Bears. Not only the Mankies commited treason in the eyes of the rest of the Kong: they also brought shame to the Kong family by allying with them and losing the war. Not every other kong was against the Mankies, some thought their actions, while not perfect, made a lot of sense. But by then, the topic had became so polemic it only raised the tensions between the once united Kong family. And this is how the Great Ape War took place: those against the Mankies and those in favor of the Mankies fought against each other side. Needless to say, the majority of Kongs hated the Mankies, which were already weaken by the Kremean War, and thus, Manky Kongs were exiled, and those who still dared to defend them, were either exiled or executed.
Such was the violence of these times that Donkey Kong changed his name to Cranky Kong. He didn't feel like the hero he once was, and his son didn't feel up to become the new hero of the Kongs, since he was an spoiled coward who never had to face responsibilities because of his overprotective mother. In fact, he called his son (Cranky's grandson) Donkey Kong so he could run away and force someone else to carry the DK torch. Maybe he would become the new hope and hero that the Kong family so desperately needed in such a dark time for their history.
Later on, the Kremlings, exhausted of looking for a new land to call come, decided to conquer DK Island. Not only their exodus would come to an end: they would also finish off their biggest enemies, and they were desperate and tired enough to either find a home or be exterminated. As part of their blitzkrieg, they stole the Kong's bananas while placing most of their army all over DK Island. And of course, it didn't take long for the Mankies to join in. They sacrificed themselves for the sake of the family that they loved so much only to be branded as traitors, had to fought two wars, lost both, and then exiled far away for their land. Not only the Kremlings had come up with a perfect plan that would allow them to take revenge against the Kongs: they would also be allowed to return to the land that they belonged to. Suddenly, it was clear to the Mankies that they were going through their own exodus as well, and it would all end pretty soon.
While this strategy was thought as perfect, they didn't count with this new war actually being their third lost war in a row. A new Donkey Kong was born, he was ready to defend his island and not keen on being dragged to old rivalries and hate. To make things even worse, the Mankies would lose to a fourth war, judging by the events of DKL1.
While this is mostly speculation, I think this is exactly what happened. Of course, who knows what really happened. The always expanding massive Donkey Kong lore keeps evolving, and one day, we might get an official answer to everything. Meanwhile, I'll keep believing that the history of the Kong family is just a terrible coincidence of misunderstandings and races fighting each other in a planet to small for everyone to find a place to call home.