Bamileke

The Bamileke (French Bamiléké) are a collection of Semi-Bantu (or Grassfields Bantu) ethnic groups most highly concentrated in the western highlands of Cameroon's West Province, west of the Noun River and southeast of the Bamboutos Mountains and in the Mungo region of the Littoral, Southwest, and Centre Provinces. The Bamileke divide themselves into over 100 individual groups, each under the rule of a chief or fon. Nonetheless, all of these groups are related historically, culturally, and linguistically. With ov ...

Including:

• Bamileke - Tribal distinctions
• Bamileke - Major groups
• Bamileke - History
• Bamileke - Early population movements
• Bamileke - German administration
• Bamileke - French administration and post-independence
• Bamileke - Lifestyle and settlement patterns
• Bamileke - Political structure and agriculture
• Bamileke - Economic activities
• Bamileke - Religious beliefs
• Bamileke - Succession and kinship patterns

Read more here: » Bamileke: Encyclopedia - Bamileke

Bamileke - Early population movements. Because the Bamileke are such a diverse group of peoples, it is difficult to determine their exact origins and early history. The best estimate is that they and the related Tikar and Bamun occupied a western portion of the Adamawa Plateau before the 17th century. They eventually crossed the upper Mbam River into what is today Tikar territory. The Bamileke migrations southward likely resulted from the Fulbe invasion of the Adamawa Plateau led by Modibo Adama. The Bamil ...

See also:

Bamileke, Bamileke - Tribal distinctions, Bamileke - Major groups, Bamileke - History, Bamileke - Early population movements, Bamileke - German administration, Bamileke - French administration and post-independence, Bamileke - Lifestyle and settlement patterns, Bamileke - Political structure and agriculture, Bamileke - Economic activities, Bamileke - Religious beliefs, Bamileke - Succession and kinship patterns

Read more here: » Bamileke: Encyclopedia II - Bamileke - History

Baba can mean: Beb, an Egyptian god; An F-Zero Racer The word "father" or a derivation (like papa) in several languages, including Albanian, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, Turkish, Urdu, Syriac, etc.; Baba is shortened form of various persons whose full name includes baba, e.g. Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838?-1918); Ali Baba Sathya Sai Baba (born circa 1926-1929), a famous Indian guru in Puttaparthi; Meher Baba Derived from its original meaning of fath ...

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The earliest inhabitants of Cameroon were probably the Baka (Pygmies). They still inhabit the forests of the south and east provinces. Bantu speakers originating in the Cameroonian highlands were among the first groups to move out before other invaders. The Mandara kingdom in the Mandara Mountains was founded around 1500 and erected magnificent fortified structures, the purpose and exact history of which is still unresolved. During the late 1770s and early 1800s, the Fulani, a pastoral Islamic people of the western Sahel, conquered most of what is now northern Cameroon, subjugat ...

See also:

History of Cameroon, History of Cameroon - Early history, History of Cameroon - Colonization, History of Cameroon - Cameroon since independence

Read more here: » History of Cameroon: Encyclopedia II - History of Cameroon - Early history

West Province Cameroon - Land. The West sits at the geological crossroads of Cameroon; the soil varies greatly within a relatively small land area. The land along the Noun River and at the Bamendjing Reservoir, for example, is a lightly evolved blend of various raw minerals. The province's western half, on the other hand, is a haphazard mixture of raw minerals, granite, ferrallitic patches of red dirt, and other types. Finally, the soil of the eastern portions away from the reservoir is ferrallitic. Rocks in the ...

See also:

West Province Cameroon, West Province Cameroon - Geography, West Province Cameroon - Land, West Province Cameroon - Drainage, West Province Cameroon - Relief, West Province Cameroon - Climate, West Province Cameroon - Plant and animal life, West Province Cameroon - Demographics, West Province Cameroon - Settlement patterns, West Province Cameroon - People, West Province Cameroon - Economy, West Province Cameroon - Agriculture, West Province Cameroon - Industry, West Province Cameroon - Transportation, West Province Cameroon - Tourism, West Province Cameroon - Administration and social conditions, West Province Cameroon - Government, West Province Cameroon - Education, West Province Cameroon - Health, West Province Cameroon - Cultural life, West Province Cameroon - History, West Province Cameroon - Early population movements, West Province Cameroon - European contacts, West Province Cameroon - German administration, West Province Cameroon - French administration, West Province Cameroon - Post-independence

Read more here: » West Province Cameroon: Encyclopedia II - West Province Cameroon - Geography

Duala peoples - Early population movements. Early Duala history may only be conjectured from oral traditions. The Duala proper and most Limba trace their ancestry back to a man named Mbedi, who lived in an area called "Bakota" in what is today Gabon or the Republic of the Congo. His sons, Ewale and Dibongo, migrated north and reached a place called Pitti on the Dibamba River. Here, the brothers parted ways after a row. Ewale moved to the mouth of the Dibamba with his followers and then northwest to the east bank ...

See also:

Duala peoples, Duala peoples - History, Duala peoples - Early population movements, Duala peoples - European contacts, Duala peoples - German administration, Duala peoples - British and French administrations, Duala peoples - Geography, Duala peoples - Culture, Duala peoples - Language, Duala peoples - Marriage and kinship patterns, Duala peoples - Religion, Duala peoples - Arts, Duala peoples - Sports, Duala peoples - Institutions, Duala peoples - Classification, Duala peoples - Subgroups, Duala peoples - External link

Read more here: » Duala peoples: Encyclopedia II - Duala peoples - History

Adamawa Province - Land. The Adamawa is one of Cameroon's more geologically diverse areas. The Gotel and Mambila Mountains at the border with Nigeria are largely composed of granite, which gives way to crystalline and metamorphic rock such as mica, schists, and gneiss. These are often covered in volcanic basalt, a combination that dominates until the Faro River. East of this, granites once again prevail, though sedimentary rock forms the valley of the Mbéré River, and a zone of metamorphic rock surrounds this. ...

See also:

Adamawa Province, Adamawa Province - Geography, Adamawa Province - Land, Adamawa Province - Drainage, Adamawa Province - Relief, Adamawa Province - Climate, Adamawa Province - Plant and animal life, Adamawa Province - Demographics, Adamawa Province - Settlement patterns, Adamawa Province - People, Adamawa Province - Religion, Adamawa Province - Economy, Adamawa Province - Livestock, Adamawa Province - Agriculture, Adamawa Province - Industry, Adamawa Province - Transport, Adamawa Province - Tourism, Adamawa Province - Administration and social conditions, Adamawa Province - Government, Adamawa Province - Education, Adamawa Province - Health, Adamawa Province - Cultural life, Adamawa Province - History, Adamawa Province - Early population movements, Adamawa Province - Fulbe jihads, Adamawa Province - European contacts, Adamawa Province - German administration, Adamawa Province - French administration, Adamawa Province - Post-independence

Read more here: » Adamawa Province: Encyclopedia II - Adamawa Province - Geography

Beginning on July 5, 1884, all of present-day Cameroon and parts of several of its neighbors became the German colony of Kamerun, with a capital first at Buea and later at Yaoundé. After World War I, this colony was partitioned between the United Kingdom and France under a June 28, 1919 League of Nations mandate. France gained the larger geographical share, transferred outlying regions to neighboring French colonies, and ruled the rest from Yaoundé as Cameroun (French Cameroons). Britain's territory, a strip bordering Nigeria from the sea to Lake Chad, with an equal population was ruled ...

See also:

History of Cameroon, History of Cameroon - Early history, History of Cameroon - Colonization, History of Cameroon - Cameroon since independence

Read more here: » History of Cameroon: Encyclopedia II - History of Cameroon - Colonization

West Province Cameroon - Settlement patterns. The West's population density is high in general, especially in the towns of Bafoussam, Dschang, Mbouda, and Bafang. This is due to the pleasant climate and fertile soils. Bafoussam is both the provincial capital and the centre of the Bamileke lands. Populations thin out toward the southern border and in the eastern Bamun-dominated territories. Settlements are scattered. The region experiences significant out-migration, particularly when the vast plantations of ...

See also:

West Province Cameroon, West Province Cameroon - Geography, West Province Cameroon - Land, West Province Cameroon - Drainage, West Province Cameroon - Relief, West Province Cameroon - Climate, West Province Cameroon - Plant and animal life, West Province Cameroon - Demographics, West Province Cameroon - Settlement patterns, West Province Cameroon - People, West Province Cameroon - Economy, West Province Cameroon - Agriculture, West Province Cameroon - Industry, West Province Cameroon - Transportation, West Province Cameroon - Tourism, West Province Cameroon - Administration and social conditions, West Province Cameroon - Government, West Province Cameroon - Education, West Province Cameroon - Health, West Province Cameroon - Cultural life, West Province Cameroon - History, West Province Cameroon - Early population movements, West Province Cameroon - European contacts, West Province Cameroon - German administration, West Province Cameroon - French administration, West Province Cameroon - Post-independence

Read more here: » West Province Cameroon: Encyclopedia II - West Province Cameroon - Demographics

The West is one of Cameroon's soundest economic areas due primarily to its agricultural prosperity and the enterprising traditions of the Bamileke people. In areas that do not have a daily market, market days are typically every eighth day (the Bamileke follow an eight-day week). West Province Cameroon - Agriculture. The Bamileke are skilled farmers who exploit virtually every strip of land available. Along with the neighbouring Northwest Province, the West supplies most of the food consumed in Cam ...

See also:

West Province Cameroon, West Province Cameroon - Geography, West Province Cameroon - Land, West Province Cameroon - Drainage, West Province Cameroon - Relief, West Province Cameroon - Climate, West Province Cameroon - Plant and animal life, West Province Cameroon - Demographics, West Province Cameroon - Settlement patterns, West Province Cameroon - People, West Province Cameroon - Economy, West Province Cameroon - Agriculture, West Province Cameroon - Industry, West Province Cameroon - Transportation, West Province Cameroon - Tourism, West Province Cameroon - Administration and social conditions, West Province Cameroon - Government, West Province Cameroon - Education, West Province Cameroon - Health, West Province Cameroon - Cultural life, West Province Cameroon - History, West Province Cameroon - Early population movements, West Province Cameroon - European contacts, West Province Cameroon - German administration, West Province Cameroon - French administration, West Province Cameroon - Post-independence

Read more here: » West Province Cameroon: Encyclopedia II - West Province Cameroon - Economy

The West's high population and economic dominance lend it great political importance. However, Cameroon's government and state-run media, largely run by President Paul Biya's numerically inferior Beti-Pahuin tribal group, are often accused of anti-Bamileke bias. The Bamileke thus stand to gain a great deal from a more free and transparent government, and the West harbors many sympathisers for the presidential party's main opponents, the Social Demo ...

See also:

West Province Cameroon, West Province Cameroon - Geography, West Province Cameroon - Land, West Province Cameroon - Drainage, West Province Cameroon - Relief, West Province Cameroon - Climate, West Province Cameroon - Plant and animal life, West Province Cameroon - Demographics, West Province Cameroon - Settlement patterns, West Province Cameroon - People, West Province Cameroon - Economy, West Province Cameroon - Agriculture, West Province Cameroon - Industry, West Province Cameroon - Transportation, West Province Cameroon - Tourism, West Province Cameroon - Administration and social conditions, West Province Cameroon - Government, West Province Cameroon - Education, West Province Cameroon - Health, West Province Cameroon - Cultural life, West Province Cameroon - History, West Province Cameroon - Early population movements, West Province Cameroon - European contacts, West Province Cameroon - German administration, West Province Cameroon - French administration, West Province Cameroon - Post-independence

Read more here: » West Province Cameroon: Encyclopedia II - West Province Cameroon - Administration and social conditions

All of the Duala peoples are Bantu in language and origin. More narrowly, they fall into the Sawa, or the coastal peoples of Cameroon. Duala peoples - Subgroups. In addition to the tribal distinctions noted in the introduction, the Duala groups further sort themselves into a number of sub-lineages or clans. Among the Bakweri and Isubu, sub-lineages typically fall along village lines. Each village thus is composed of one extended family. Among the Duala proper, these are the Bonanjo (including the Bonapriso ...

See also:

Duala peoples, Duala peoples - History, Duala peoples - Early population movements, Duala peoples - European contacts, Duala peoples - German administration, Duala peoples - British and French administrations, Duala peoples - Geography, Duala peoples - Culture, Duala peoples - Language, Duala peoples - Marriage and kinship patterns, Duala peoples - Religion, Duala peoples - Arts, Duala peoples - Sports, Duala peoples - Institutions, Duala peoples - Classification, Duala peoples - Subgroups, Duala peoples - External link

Read more here: » Duala peoples: Encyclopedia II - Duala peoples - Classification

Adamawa Province - Settlement patterns. The Adamawa is sparsely populated. Large swathes of land are devoted almost entirely to the use of Fulbe cattle herders, this pasture punctuated only by occasional settlements. The Cameroonian government has made efforts to persuade Fulbe herdsmen to adopt sedentary ways, but the nomadic traditions show little signs of change. Because the savanna has been pushing south, however, there is now a substantial amount ...

See also:

Adamawa Province, Adamawa Province - Geography, Adamawa Province - Land, Adamawa Province - Drainage, Adamawa Province - Relief, Adamawa Province - Climate, Adamawa Province - Plant and animal life, Adamawa Province - Demographics, Adamawa Province - Settlement patterns, Adamawa Province - People, Adamawa Province - Religion, Adamawa Province - Economy, Adamawa Province - Livestock, Adamawa Province - Agriculture, Adamawa Province - Industry, Adamawa Province - Transport, Adamawa Province - Tourism, Adamawa Province - Administration and social conditions, Adamawa Province - Government, Adamawa Province - Education, Adamawa Province - Health, Adamawa Province - Cultural life, Adamawa Province - History, Adamawa Province - Early population movements, Adamawa Province - Fulbe jihads, Adamawa Province - European contacts, Adamawa Province - German administration, Adamawa Province - French administration, Adamawa Province - Post-independence

Read more here: » Adamawa Province: Encyclopedia II - Adamawa Province - Demographics

The Duala peoples are primarily concentrated in Cameroon's Littoral and Southwest Provinces. Their settlements lie largely along the coast or just inland. The Wouri estuary, where the Wouri, Mungo, and Dibamba Rivers empty, forms the centre of Duala country. Douala is the traditional capital of the Duala proper, who live in and around the city, though today it has come to reflect the diversity of Cameroon as a whole. The Wovea live on the west coast of the estuary, and the Isubu occupy the coast directly west of them, with their main settlem ...

See also:

Duala peoples, Duala peoples - History, Duala peoples - Early population movements, Duala peoples - European contacts, Duala peoples - German administration, Duala peoples - British and French administrations, Duala peoples - Geography, Duala peoples - Culture, Duala peoples - Language, Duala peoples - Marriage and kinship patterns, Duala peoples - Religion, Duala peoples - Arts, Duala peoples - Sports, Duala peoples - Institutions, Duala peoples - Classification, Duala peoples - Subgroups, Duala peoples - External link

Read more here: » Duala peoples: Encyclopedia II - Duala peoples - Geography

Adamawa Province - Livestock. The Adamawa's economy is based almost entirely on one single thing: cattle, a Fulbe monopoly. The region's low population, high humidity, and vast fields of grass make it ideal for grazing. Herdsmen rotate pastures, and they often construct watering holes or wells for themselves and their animals. The close relationship between the Bororo and their herds lends a great cultural importance to a Fulbe's number of cattle, and the more heads of cattle a man has, the wealthier he is ...

See also:

Adamawa Province, Adamawa Province - Geography, Adamawa Province - Land, Adamawa Province - Drainage, Adamawa Province - Relief, Adamawa Province - Climate, Adamawa Province - Plant and animal life, Adamawa Province - Demographics, Adamawa Province - Settlement patterns, Adamawa Province - People, Adamawa Province - Religion, Adamawa Province - Economy, Adamawa Province - Livestock, Adamawa Province - Agriculture, Adamawa Province - Industry, Adamawa Province - Transport, Adamawa Province - Tourism, Adamawa Province - Administration and social conditions, Adamawa Province - Government, Adamawa Province - Education, Adamawa Province - Health, Adamawa Province - Cultural life, Adamawa Province - History, Adamawa Province - Early population movements, Adamawa Province - Fulbe jihads, Adamawa Province - European contacts, Adamawa Province - German administration, Adamawa Province - French administration, Adamawa Province - Post-independence

Read more here: » Adamawa Province: Encyclopedia II - Adamawa Province - Economy

The Duala today are divided into the urban and rural. Those who live in the cities, particularly Douala itself, earn a living at a number of skilled and unskilled professions. Many Duala proper still own parts of the city, allowing them to live off of rents and development. The rural Duala, in contrast, work as fishermen and farmers, mostly at the subsistence level. Among the Duala proper, Isubu, Limba, Mungo, and Wovea, fishing is the trade of choice, while the Bakole, Bakweri, and Bamboko make use of Mount Cameroon's fertile volcanic soils to cultivate cocoyams, ...

See also:

Duala peoples, Duala peoples - History, Duala peoples - Early population movements, Duala peoples - European contacts, Duala peoples - German administration, Duala peoples - British and French administrations, Duala peoples - Geography, Duala peoples - Culture, Duala peoples - Language, Duala peoples - Marriage and kinship patterns, Duala peoples - Religion, Duala peoples - Arts, Duala peoples - Sports, Duala peoples - Institutions, Duala peoples - Classification, Duala peoples - Subgroups, Duala peoples - External link

Read more here: » Duala peoples: Encyclopedia II - Duala peoples - Culture

What social inequalities exist in the Adamawa largely stem from the region's high level of cultural homogeneity. Most people in the province are Muslim Fulbe, and those who are not often fall prey to racism and discrimination, especially in more rural areas. The Cameroonian government has made efforts to encourage the region's nomads to settle, but so far has made little progress. With its low population, the Adamawa holds little import to Cameroonian politicians. However, the Fulbe tribe is spread throughout the country, especially i ...

See also:

Adamawa Province, Adamawa Province - Geography, Adamawa Province - Land, Adamawa Province - Drainage, Adamawa Province - Relief, Adamawa Province - Climate, Adamawa Province - Plant and animal life, Adamawa Province - Demographics, Adamawa Province - Settlement patterns, Adamawa Province - People, Adamawa Province - Religion, Adamawa Province - Economy, Adamawa Province - Livestock, Adamawa Province - Agriculture, Adamawa Province - Industry, Adamawa Province - Transport, Adamawa Province - Tourism, Adamawa Province - Administration and social conditions, Adamawa Province - Government, Adamawa Province - Education, Adamawa Province - Health, Adamawa Province - Cultural life, Adamawa Province - History, Adamawa Province - Early population movements, Adamawa Province - Fulbe jihads, Adamawa Province - European contacts, Adamawa Province - German administration, Adamawa Province - French administration, Adamawa Province - Post-independence

Read more here: » Adamawa Province: Encyclopedia II - Adamawa Province - Administration and social conditions

The Bamileke did not consider themselves a single people until colonial times. Even today, individual Bamileke usually regard themselves as members of one or another chiefdom (or fondom). Of these, the fondoms of Bafang, Bafoussam, Bandjoun, Bangante, Bawaju, Dschang, and Mbouda are the most prominent. The Bamileke also share much history and culture with the neighbouring Tikar fondoms, but the groups have been divided since their territories were split between the French and English in colonial times. < ...

See also:

Bamileke, Bamileke - Tribal distinctions, Bamileke - Major groups, Bamileke - History, Bamileke - Early population movements, Bamileke - German administration, Bamileke - French administration and post-independence, Bamileke - Lifestyle and settlement patterns, Bamileke - Political structure and agriculture, Bamileke - Economic activities, Bamileke - Religious beliefs, Bamileke - Succession and kinship patterns

Read more here: » Bamileke: Encyclopedia II - Bamileke - Tribal distinctions