Bafut Subdivision
Encyclopedia
The Bafut Subdivision or the Kingdom / Chiefdom / Fondom of Bafut is a subdivision in the Mezam
Division of Northwest Province, Cameroon
. It is located in the Western Grassfields region - a name for the Northwest Province, Cameroon and surrounding grassland areas. Bafut is the most powerful of the traditional kingdoms of the Grassfields, now divided into 26 wards along a 10 kilometre stretch of the "Ring Road" that trails along a ridge above the Menchum Valley.
Bafut is primarily an agrarian region. The major languages of the region are the Bafut language
and Pidgin English
. Its headquarters are located in the town of Bafut.
dom or kingdom - ruled by the Fon of Bafut
using traditional power structures. (See Traditional administrative system of Bafut
). However, following the Bafut Wars
in the early 20th century, the region came under the German Empire
. The Germans forced the Fon of Bafut into exile, but had to ultimately reinstate him as leader when their puppet ruler was not accepted.
The fall of the German Empire in World War I
brought the region under the British Empire
as part of the British Cameroons. At least one Fon of Bafut, Achirimbi II
maintained friendly ties with the British. When the British left Cameroon in 1961, the region had a choice of joining either the newly formed Cameroon
or Nigeria
. The Fon Achirimbi II is famously said to have remarked that it was a choice between the "Fire and the Deep Sea". The region ultimately joined Cameroon.
and covers an area of roughly 340
. The estimated population of 80,000 (2005) is settled in three main zones.
), where traditional power structures are still in place. Bafut is a chiefdom or fon
dom. It was long the centre of the local kingdom of the Tikar
people (originally from the Northern regions of Lake Chad
), and is presently administered by the Fon of Bafut
. The Fon of Bafut was, and to some extent still is, the paramount Fon of the region, with all other Fons pledging allegiance to him.
wow
Mezam
Mezam is a county of Southern Cameroons currently occupied by the government of the Republic of Cameroon and currently known as a department of Northwest Province in Cameroon...
Division of Northwest Province, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
. It is located in the Western Grassfields region - a name for the Northwest Province, Cameroon and surrounding grassland areas. Bafut is the most powerful of the traditional kingdoms of the Grassfields, now divided into 26 wards along a 10 kilometre stretch of the "Ring Road" that trails along a ridge above the Menchum Valley.
Bafut is primarily an agrarian region. The major languages of the region are the Bafut language
Bafut language
The Bafut language, Fut, is an Eastern Grassfields language of the Niger–Congo languages, and related to Bamum. Oral tradition traces dynastic origins to the Ndobo or Tikari areas...
and Pidgin English
Pidgin English
Pidgin English is a non-specific name used to refer to any of the many pidgin languages derived from English. English-based pidgins include:*American Indian Pidgin English*Bislama...
. Its headquarters are located in the town of Bafut.
History
Traditionally, Bafut was a fonFon (Cameroon)
A fon is a chieftain or king of a region of Cameroon, especially among the Tikar and Bamiléké peoples of the Bamenda grassfields . Though once independent rulers, most fons were brought under the German rule or military subjugation during the colonial period...
dom or kingdom - ruled by the Fon of Bafut
Fon of Bafut
The Fon of Bafut is the fon or Mfor of the town of Bafut and its adjoining areas in the Northwest Province, Cameroon which comprise the erstwhile Fondom of Bafut. Presently, the Fon of Bafut is still a local ruler, but under jurisdiction from the Government of Cameroon, and a board of Fons...
using traditional power structures. (See Traditional administrative system of Bafut
Traditional administrative system of Bafut
The Fondom of Bafut political system centred on the Fon or Mfor who was the fount of the political and religious life of the people.The Fon had multifarious functions:*He controlled external relations and internally he made laws....
). However, following the Bafut Wars
Bafut Wars
The Bafut Wars were a series of wars fought in the early 20th century between the troops of the Fon of Bafut and German-backed troops of neighbouring fondoms and German troops....
in the early 20th century, the region came under the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. The Germans forced the Fon of Bafut into exile, but had to ultimately reinstate him as leader when their puppet ruler was not accepted.
The fall of the German Empire in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
brought the region under the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
as part of the British Cameroons. At least one Fon of Bafut, Achirimbi II
Achirimbi II
Achirimbi II was the tenth king or Fon of Bafut who ruled over the town of Bafut and adjoining areas in a semi-autonomous fashion. His reign lasted from 1932 to 1968, and included the time of handover from the British protectorate of British Cameroon to the independent country of Cameroon...
maintained friendly ties with the British. When the British left Cameroon in 1961, the region had a choice of joining either the newly formed Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
or Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The Fon Achirimbi II is famously said to have remarked that it was a choice between the "Fire and the Deep Sea". The region ultimately joined Cameroon.
Geography
The region of Bafut is situated about twenty kilometres northwest of BamendaBamenda
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the North West Province. The city had a population of 269,530 at the 2005 Census, and is located 366 km north-west of the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé...
and covers an area of roughly 340
. The estimated population of 80,000 (2005) is settled in three main zones.
- At the centre are the people of Mumala'a (heart of the country) clustered around the Fon's palace who refer to themselves as the real Bafut (Bufu). This name can be applied to the whole chiefdom.
- To the south is the Ntare (ridge area)
- To the north is the Mbunti (lower) which descends abruptly to the MenchumMenchumMenchum is a department of Northwest Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 4469 km² and as of 2001 had a total population of 157,173.The capital of the department lies at Wum....
river valley
Traditional power structures
Bafut is one of the two regions in Cameroon (the other being Bali, CameroonBali, Cameroon
Bali is a town and commune in Cameroon, lying west of Bamenda. It has a population of 32,000 . Formerly the centre of a kingdom, it is known for its palace and its regular festival....
), where traditional power structures are still in place. Bafut is a chiefdom or fon
Fon (Cameroon)
A fon is a chieftain or king of a region of Cameroon, especially among the Tikar and Bamiléké peoples of the Bamenda grassfields . Though once independent rulers, most fons were brought under the German rule or military subjugation during the colonial period...
dom. It was long the centre of the local kingdom of the Tikar
Tikar
The Tikar are a group of related ethnic groups in Cameroon. They live primarily in the northwestern part of the country, in the Northwest Province near the Nigerian border. They speak Bantoid language, also called Tikar. Their population is approximately 25,000.The Tikar have elements of...
people (originally from the Northern regions of Lake Chad
Lake Chad
Lake Chad is a historically large, shallow, endorheic lake in Africa, whose size has varied over the centuries. According to the Global Resource Information Database of the United Nations Environment Programme, it shrank as much as 95% from about 1963 to 1998; yet it also states that "the 2007 ...
), and is presently administered by the Fon of Bafut
Fon of Bafut
The Fon of Bafut is the fon or Mfor of the town of Bafut and its adjoining areas in the Northwest Province, Cameroon which comprise the erstwhile Fondom of Bafut. Presently, the Fon of Bafut is still a local ruler, but under jurisdiction from the Government of Cameroon, and a board of Fons...
. The Fon of Bafut was, and to some extent still is, the paramount Fon of the region, with all other Fons pledging allegiance to him.
The region in popular culture
The Bafut Subdivision is known for- its palace of the Fon of Bafut, which houses a museum (see Fon of BafutFon of BafutThe Fon of Bafut is the fon or Mfor of the town of Bafut and its adjoining areas in the Northwest Province, Cameroon which comprise the erstwhile Fondom of Bafut. Presently, the Fon of Bafut is still a local ruler, but under jurisdiction from the Government of Cameroon, and a board of Fons...
for a section on the palace) - for its annual festival Abin e Mfor or the Dance of the Mfor/Fon
- as the place where the famous naturalist Gerald DurrellGerald DurrellGerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...
came on two animal-collecting expeditions in 1949 and 1957. Durrell wrote two accounts - The Bafut Beagles and A Zoo in My Luggage - on his travels in Bafut, and created a mini TV series To Bafut with Beagles.
wow