Traditional Institutions:

1) Mankon Village: Mankon Village has as main traditional Institutions, 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 village but very often, they only help to disseminate the information that is taken from the “Quifor”. They have the Mankon Development and Cultural Association (MACUDA), 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.

2) Nsongwa Village: Nsongwa Village has two main traditional Institutions which are the “Kwifor” (the main traditional structure only for men) and the “Takembeng” which represents the women’s traditional structure. This means that, by birth, a man naturally should belong to the “Kwirfor” while the women should belong to the “Takembeng”. These two societies collaborate 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 village but very often, they only help to disseminate the information that is taken from the two major structures. They have the Nsongwa Development and Cultural Association (NDECA), 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.

3) Mbatu Village: Mbatu Village has as main traditional Institution, the “Kwifor” which is the main traditional structure for men. This means that, by birth, a man naturally should belong to the “Kwifor”. 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 village but very often, they only help to disseminate the information that is taken from the “Kwifor”. They have the Mbatu Development and Cultural Association (MBACUDA), the Traditional/Village council, the Quarter council, women’s, youth and men’s groups (Manjong). All these institutions and structures work hard to see to it that development is brought to the village.

4) Chomba Village: Chomba Village also has as main traditional Institution, the “Kwifor” which is the main traditional structure for men. This means that, by birth, a man naturally should belong to the “Kwifor”. 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 village but very often, they only help to disseminate the information that is taken from the “Kwifor”. They have the Chomba Development and Cultural Association (CHODECA), the Traditional/Village council, the Quarter council, women’s, youth and men’s groups (Manjong). All these institutions and structures work hard to see to it that development is brought to the village.

Cultural Heritage:

The Ngemba people have a lot to exhibit about themselves that has been handed down from their fore parents. Aspects of Ngemba culture include the arts (craft work - bamboo work, weaving, embroidery and knitting, pottery); dress, housing, festivals, food, courtship and marriages, birth rites, divorce, death rites, widowhood, and the situation of the woman.

More important is how this cultural heritage is kept intact and transmitted from one generation to the next such that it is manifested or exploited with little adulteration. One of the striking ways has been naming of children and events or other symbolic things for example, there are 8 days of the week, marriage and burial rites etc.

a) Music and Dance: Traditional grassland rhythms characterize the music of the people. Traditional dances include ‘Samba, Mbagalum and Njang’. Musical instruments include drums, xylophones, flute and rattles of various kinds. The most common music enjoyed is the Bottle Dance.

b) Dressing: The ordinary dressing pattern of the people does not show any peculiarities as compared to other grassland cultures. The traditional dress is the embroidered material made in several colours and common in the North West Region. The characteristic traditional caps and gowns are common. On certain important traditional occasions, however, particular dressing styles may be
obligatory.

c) Craft: The people are involved in some small craftwork. This concerns woodwork for masks, statues; Common craft works, mostly done by men of the area include bamboo chairs, carvings, traditional gowns and antiques characteristic of most grassland cultures. Craft works by women are mainly bamboo and elephant and stalk baskets and embroiling.

d) Food: The main traditional dish in the area is Achu made from pounded cocoyams. The paste is eaten with Yellow soup (a mixture of palm oil and lime stone “Nikii”) or the traditional Black soup. The traditional drink of the area is raffia palm wine considered as a drink for men and drunk alongside kolanuts or raffia fruits (The ‘Ankup’). At times the dish is accompanied with garden eggs or huckleberry.

Development and Cultural Associations:

Bamenda II Municipality being a cosmopolitan city, the Regional and Divisional Headquarters and above all the cross-road and entry point of the region hosts in addition to the VDAs of the four villages that make up the council more than thiry (30) other VDAs.
Development Associations have been actively involved in social and infrastructure development projects within the Council area. Some of the most active are:
- Mankon Cultural and Development Association (MACUDA)
- Mbatu Cultural and Development Association - (MBACUDA)
- Nsongwa Development and Cultural Association (NDECA) Chomba Cultural and Development Association (CHODECA)
- Cameroon Hausa Development Association (CHDA)
- Mankon Women Development Association (“NKAH NIKWI” which means Light Maturity),
- Other VDAs. Bamenda II Council host many ethnic and village development
associations who have contributed to the development of the Council and their
village back home.

The development associations have been involved in projects ranging from community water supply schemes, construction of community halls, improvement and maintenance of village earth roads, rural electrification and construction of classrooms for both secondary and primary schools.