Batoufam
Encyclopedia
Batoufam is a town and commune
in the department of Koung-Khi
, Cameroon
. It has an estimated population of 12,000. Batoufam is also a language and is part of the Bantu group of languages.
to Bali
. During the migration to Bali, Nankam deserted the Bleble, and served the Bangwa Chief. He was very similar to the Bangwa Chief because of his hunting skills and service attitude. For this, he was give the title of “Fodoum” (translation: "Chancelor"). After Kankam fell in love with Princess Melo, the Bangwa Chief decided to kill Kankam. But when Kankam learned of the plot, he fled to Bandrefam. Eventually, the Chief of Bandrefam gave Kankam a plot (Tou-fam; translation: "above Fam") to build his home. After he moved from Bandrefam, he made a home in Batoufam (translation: "village of Tou-fam").
Nankam’s grandson, Chief Lekouelieu, was the third leader of the dynasty. He bought and freed slaves. He also made alliances with neighbouring villages, and attracted new friends. After conquering another chief, Lelouelieu made the palace of the conquered chief into the Batoufam Chief's palace. The first eleven chiefs of the dynasty fought for Batoufam's autonomy and independence against Bandjoun, Bayangam, and Bangwa. The Chiefs Tchantchouang, Pokam, Metang, and Fotso expanded Batoufam territories. The tenth chief, Chief Pokam, introduced the pseudo bamboo, Raffia palm
, Raphia farinifera, to Batoufam which energized the economy. Parts of the plant were used for home construction, furniture, and granaries. Other parts were extracted and made into a drink. Under Chief Pokan, farm instruments were introduced, as well as war armament, jewellery, drums and statues.
The twelfth chief, Chief Fotso , was known to be open-minded and eloquent. At the request by the Sultan of Bamoun
who wanted people to occupy empty lands in his kingdom, Fotso established two sub-chieftaincies: Famla, headed by Foh-joueh, and Foumbot, headed by Fogue. When Fotso died in 1954, he had 60 wives and 123 children. In 1989, at the age of 22, Chief Nayang Toukam Innocent became the fourteenth Chief, succeeding his father, Chief Toukam Fotso Elie Roger. He is known for rallying Batoufam people in Cameroon and abroad. Nayang has travelled to France to manage the French association of Batoufam and has been instrumental in the creation of FABUSA, the Batoufam association in the United States. In November 2006, he negotiated for the return of Batoufam's Armouries of the Chieftaincy, symbols of the traditional power of the Chief.
Batoufam had a history violent reactions against the colonial regimes and it was not uncommon for whole families to commit suicide by hanging in Batoufan as a sacrifice for the cause of their peoples.
In 1947, there were proposals to cut down a sacred forest in Batoufam which created objections from all across Cameroon, so in the end the proposals were dropped.
. It is situated on the N4 highway, 291 km from Douala
, 288 km from Yaoundé
and 25 km south of Bafoussam
. The commune, with an area of 172 km², contains villages such as Bayangam
, Bandrefam , Bandjoun
, Bangoua
, Bangang-Fokam, Bangwa and Bangang-Fondji. Batoufam contains the quartiers of Tsengui, Chila, Mbé, Ndeptse, Toula, Kaptchié, Tsep, Nkamke, Nkasse, Nguigang Nkaniè.
The altitude of the commune ranges between 1400–1700 metres above sea level. There is an estimated 12,000 in Bafoufam, but about 50% of the natives live outside of the village in the major urban cities of Cameroon and abroad. The residents of the commune occupy an area of about 27 km², for a density of 218 persons/km² as of 1976. In 2003, the Batoufam created the FABUSA (Famille Batoufam des USA). agreement with the United States.
General secondary school education includes:
chief is located in the village and it has a courtyard. It is the largest building in the village.
Communes of Cameroon
The Communes of Cameroon are the third-level units of administration in Cameroon. The communes are organised by arrondissements of the Divisions of Cameroon of each province....
in the department of Koung-Khi
Koung-Khi
Koung-Khi is a department of West Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 353 km² and as of 2001 had a total population of 121,794. The capital of the department lies at Bandjoun.-Subdivisions:...
, 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 has an estimated population of 12,000. Batoufam is also a language and is part of the Bantu group of languages.
History
The founder of Batoufam was named Kankam. He was a hunter and a member of Bleble, a Tikar people that moved from the Adamawa PlateauAdamawa Plateau
The Adamawa Plateau is a plateau region in west-central Africa stretching from south-eastern Nigeria through north-central Cameroon to the Central African Republic. The plateau was named after Fulani Muslim leader Modibo Adama. The part of the plateau that lies in Nigeria is more popularly known...
to Bali
Bali, 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....
. During the migration to Bali, Nankam deserted the Bleble, and served the Bangwa Chief. He was very similar to the Bangwa Chief because of his hunting skills and service attitude. For this, he was give the title of “Fodoum” (translation: "Chancelor"). After Kankam fell in love with Princess Melo, the Bangwa Chief decided to kill Kankam. But when Kankam learned of the plot, he fled to Bandrefam. Eventually, the Chief of Bandrefam gave Kankam a plot (Tou-fam; translation: "above Fam") to build his home. After he moved from Bandrefam, he made a home in Batoufam (translation: "village of Tou-fam").
Nankam’s grandson, Chief Lekouelieu, was the third leader of the dynasty. He bought and freed slaves. He also made alliances with neighbouring villages, and attracted new friends. After conquering another chief, Lelouelieu made the palace of the conquered chief into the Batoufam Chief's palace. The first eleven chiefs of the dynasty fought for Batoufam's autonomy and independence against Bandjoun, Bayangam, and Bangwa. The Chiefs Tchantchouang, Pokam, Metang, and Fotso expanded Batoufam territories. The tenth chief, Chief Pokam, introduced the pseudo bamboo, Raffia palm
Raffia palm
The Raffia palms are a genus of twenty species of palms native to tropical regions of Africa, especially Madagascar, with one species also occurring in Central and South America. They grow up to 16 m tall and are remarkable for their compound pinnate leaves, the longest in the plant kingdom;...
, Raphia farinifera, to Batoufam which energized the economy. Parts of the plant were used for home construction, furniture, and granaries. Other parts were extracted and made into a drink. Under Chief Pokan, farm instruments were introduced, as well as war armament, jewellery, drums and statues.
The twelfth chief, Chief Fotso , was known to be open-minded and eloquent. At the request by the Sultan of Bamoun
Kingdom of Bamum
The kingdom of Bamum or Bamoum, also known as Bamun or Bamoun or Mum was a pre-colonial West African state in what is now northwest Cameroon. It was founded by the Mbum, a semi-Bantu ethnic group from northeast Cameroon....
who wanted people to occupy empty lands in his kingdom, Fotso established two sub-chieftaincies: Famla, headed by Foh-joueh, and Foumbot, headed by Fogue. When Fotso died in 1954, he had 60 wives and 123 children. In 1989, at the age of 22, Chief Nayang Toukam Innocent became the fourteenth Chief, succeeding his father, Chief Toukam Fotso Elie Roger. He is known for rallying Batoufam people in Cameroon and abroad. Nayang has travelled to France to manage the French association of Batoufam and has been instrumental in the creation of FABUSA, the Batoufam association in the United States. In November 2006, he negotiated for the return of Batoufam's Armouries of the Chieftaincy, symbols of the traditional power of the Chief.
Batoufam had a history violent reactions against the colonial regimes and it was not uncommon for whole families to commit suicide by hanging in Batoufan as a sacrifice for the cause of their peoples.
In 1947, there were proposals to cut down a sacred forest in Batoufam which created objections from all across Cameroon, so in the end the proposals were dropped.
Geography
Batoufam is located in the West Region in the department of Koung-KhiKoung-Khi
Koung-Khi is a department of West Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 353 km² and as of 2001 had a total population of 121,794. The capital of the department lies at Bandjoun.-Subdivisions:...
. It is situated on the N4 highway, 291 km from Douala
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
, 288 km from Yaoundé
Yaoundé
-Transportation:Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport is a major civilian hub, while nearby Yaoundé Airport is used by the military. Railway lines run west to the port city of Douala and north to N'Gaoundéré. Many bus companies operate from the city; particularly in the Nsam and Mvan neighborhoods...
and 25 km south of Bafoussam
Bafoussam
Bafoussam is the capital of the West Province of Cameroon, in the Bamboutos Mountains. It is the prefecture of the Mifi department, one of three arrondissements in the department. The city had a population of 239,287 inhabitants . The city is the region's center of trade. People are farming...
. The commune, with an area of 172 km², contains villages such as Bayangam
Bayangam
-References:* * - Thèse de Donation Avele, Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV * Charles Nanga, , Mémoire ENA....
, Bandrefam , Bandjoun
Bandjoun
Bandjoun is a town and commune in West Province, Cameroon. Bandjoun is the capital of the Banjun people. The chief dwells in Hialah, and has many wives....
, Bangoua
Bangoua
-References:*This article was initially created from French Wikipedia...
, Bangang-Fokam, Bangwa and Bangang-Fondji. Batoufam contains the quartiers of Tsengui, Chila, Mbé, Ndeptse, Toula, Kaptchié, Tsep, Nkamke, Nkasse, Nguigang Nkaniè.
The altitude of the commune ranges between 1400–1700 metres above sea level. There is an estimated 12,000 in Bafoufam, but about 50% of the natives live outside of the village in the major urban cities of Cameroon and abroad. The residents of the commune occupy an area of about 27 km², for a density of 218 persons/km² as of 1976. In 2003, the Batoufam created the FABUSA (Famille Batoufam des USA). agreement with the United States.
Economy
The people of the commune of Batoufam are mainly employed in agriculture and livestock. However there is also a small increase in business; Batoufam has a local community bank, MC2.Education
Batoufam has several primary schools, both public and private. These include:- Chefferie Kindergarten to Batoufam chiefdom
- Kindergarten to Batoufam marha (Kaptchié)
- Kindergarten to kagnis-Batoufam
- Public School Batoufam Market (kaptchié)
- Public School Batoufam Chefferie (Tula)
- Public-School kagnis Batoufam
- Public School Famla
- Catholic School Batoufam (Mbe)
- School of CEBEC Batoufam (Chila)
General secondary school education includes:
- Lyceum Batoufam
- SAR kagnis SM
Communication
A monthly newspaper, La Tribune Batoufam, is produced each month for the village. It is based in Douala, produced by the painting company, Compagnie Equatoriale des Peintures (CEP) and is run by a team of volunteers. Dr. Armand Nghemkap writes a column for La Tribune Batoufam, providing public health prevention tips.Culture
The large, square house of the BamilekeBamileke
The Bamileke is a folk whose native ancestral area is in the western highlands of Cameroon's West Province, west of the Noun River and southeast of the Bamboutos Mountains and in the Moungo region of the Littoral, Southwest, and Centre Provinces. They are a part of the Semi-Bantu ethnic groups...
chief is located in the village and it has a courtyard. It is the largest building in the village.
List of village rulers
The Batoufam ruler's title is Fô. The rulers have been:- Nankam
- ...
- Lekouelieu
- Nankap
- Djipnang
- Toukap
- Nanche
- Tchatchouang
- Pwokap (Megaptche)
- Metang
- (–1927) Pokam
- (1927–1954) Fotso David
- (1954–1989) Toukam Fotso Elie Roger
- (1989–present) Nayang Toukam Innocente