Bamenda II Council is made up of four villages (Mankon, Nsongwa, Chomba and Mbatu). The villages have as main traditional Institution, the “Quifor” which is the main traditional structure for men. This means that, by birth, a man naturally should belong to the “Quifor”. This society collaborates with the Fon, the Clan head, the traditional council, the Quarter heads and the family heads and work hard to ensure the development of the people and the village as a whole. There are also other traditional institutions which operate in the villages but very often, they only help to disseminate the information that is taken from the “Quifor”. They have the Development and Cultural Association the Traditional / Village council, the Quarter council, women’s and men’s groups (Manjong). All these institutions and structures work hard to see to it that development is brought to the village.
A) Profile of the Mankon People:
Evidence from oral history shows that the Mankon people are a semi Bantu race of the Tikari group who were forced to move under the leadership of Fon Ndemagha and his successors between the 14th and 18th centuries. Evidence from oral history also shows that, the Mankon people originally settled in the Mbam plains North East of Foumban and were forced out of the region by the Fulbe tribesmen of Tibati. They moved southwards and settled in Bamunkumbit for a while and later continued their movement through the Bamileke region of Bawju and Dschang. This explains why the Mankon language is similar to that of Dschang, Bangwa, Bawaju and Bamunkumbit.
Later they moved and settled in the Ntarinkon forest in Widikum. Due to the unfriendly nature of the forest e.g. lots of mosquitoes and poor hunting grounds, they migrated East under the leadership of Fon Ndemagha IV and arrived at Alanyki (city of water). In search for a more secured territory they migrated further to Fumndvu and finally to Fozan present day site under the leadership of Fon Angwafo I.
Presently the Mankon Fondom is made up of 15 clans who came from diverse directions especially from the Mbam valley. The new site which they have been occupying for 4 centuries now is rich in game reserves fairly level and fertile lands. It also has good natural defences like the river Mezam which runs to the south and west of river Mili in the North and a large swamp in the East.
From 1886 – 1887 the German explorer Dr Eugene Zintgraft explored Mount Cameroon to Rio Del Rye and further inwards with objectives of creating a series of commercial establishments. He arrived in the North West in 1891 and was welcomed by some tribes. The people of Mankon did not welcome him.
In January 1891 Zintgraft in collaboration with fighters from Bali, Bakongwa, Meta and four other German officers attacked Mankon. Under the leadership of Fon Angwafo II of Mankon the enemies were defeated. Four German officers were killed Zintgraft fled and
took refuge in Babungo. In 1901 under the leadership of Von Pawel and Captain Glanning the Germans defeated Mankon. Later in 1902 Fon Angwafo II was decorated by the Germans with:
- An eagle crested gown
- An amour
- of Prussian guard A sword
- Four Brass Bulges
- A portrait of late Kaiser William and
- A German tricolour flag.
These decorations were because of his honesty, diplomatic principles, integrity, fair dealing and his jurisdiction role. The title “Kaiser of Kamerun” was given to him. He was given the right to maintain 100 soldiers whom he called “Sodyie Nkamgou”.
After the defeat of the Germans in 1914 during the first world war, eleven German colonies were ceased and this marked the end of German rule in Mankon. In October 1915 the British arrived in Mankon. In 1922 when the indirect system was introduced the British administrators in South Cameroon decided to create a traditional administrative court which tried all civil cases. In 1927 the Ngemba native court was created with Fon Ndefru III as president. Under the British rule, land was made available to most people for personal use and for the building of infrastructures such as bridges. The people of Mankon hated the German rule because of their long hours of labour.
Mankon has changed remarkably since its independence under the reign of Fon Angwafo III. Many new infrastructures have been raised such as schools, health centres and well tarred roads. ¾ of all the quarters in Mankon have pipe borne water and electricity. The people of Mankon now actively take part in political activities and pay their taxes willingly. The literacy rate has risen in the last two years except for the very old who are above 70 years of age.
The Mankon Fondom has also witnessed the visit of important personnel like His Excellency President Paul Biya in 1983 and 2010 and his Holiness late Pope John Paul II in the last two decades.
B) Profile of the Nsongwa People:
The Nsongwa people migrated from Widikum. They left the place because they felt they a grass field people unlike the Widikum people who were those of the forest area. With this realisation, they felt the land was no more favourable for them and so they had to leave. In addition to the unfavourable forest conditions, they were attacked by diseases.
They left the Widikum forest area under the leadership of Teneng-Azeh who also doubled as their first traditional ruler and chief. They left as one people and first arrived at Tadcon in the Meta land and had an intertribal war because their ruler did not want to be placed under the chief of Tadcon but wanted to remain as leader. This brought a lot of problems and eventually war which led to another migration of the people to their present place in the Bamenda plain area.
Teneng-Azeh was their first chief and was succeeded by 13 others before they moved to their present site. At their present site, they have had 4 chiefs with the first two leaders (Chiefs) ruling for 75 years each. The Nsongwa people speak the “Ngemba” language and have Achu and the yellow or black soup as their main traditional food even though there are different verities of food stuffs grown in the area. Their activities include farming, tapping, hunting, carving, weaving etc.
Their cultural activities include dances for various ceremonies depending on the event. Their traditional dances include the “Mbaghalum” and the “Lerre” which are palace dances. They chose to settle at the present site because they saw that the land was and is still fertile and full of streams that helped them in fishing. The hilly and undulated nature of their land acted as a shield against their foes and a protection against their enemies. They have ten neighbourhoods which include Kimbarre, Nching, Ntingafor, Asaba, Munjuh, Fortibui, Ndangh, Nekweneh, Ntingmunieh, and Ntahmbah. Nsongwa means the people of Ngwa the Fon.
C) Profile of the Chomba People:
The people left Sudan and settled in Tadkon in Widikum, from there, to the healthy highlands of the present place. About 300 years ago Mbah led his people and settled with them. Widikum is forested and unhealthy hence the airy highlands without mosquitoes. Key leaders perceived by the villagers: Kwifon, Fon, Traditional council, village council, Lineage heads, Quarter heads. The present Ruler o the Chomba people is Fon Fobuzie.
D) Profile of the Mbatu People:
The Mbatu people left from Widikum around Tadkon along with the two brothers, Mankon and Njong. Together they settled around Alamatu (Mile 8). Due to power tossle among the brothers and because of chieftaincy issues, Mbatu left, settled at Bali, then to Awing. Mbatu people left Awing to Babadjou and then back tobAkum and finally settled in the present site. They have had many rulers who led them through the many villages they passed through. Their Pesent Fon is Fon Fru Muma III.who was enthroned around 1988/89. Mbatu has its traditional administration and many other cultural practices like all the other Ngemba villages.