Kumba
Encyclopedia
Kumba is a city
in Southwest Province
, western Cameroon
also known around Cameroon as K town. It had a population of 144,268 (at the 2005 Census). The N8 and N16 highways meet at Kumba.
s, and has a timber
industry as well. Kumba is a local road junction, making it one of the main commercial towns in anglophone
Cameroon.Trading in Kumba has attracted the interest of foreigners, mostly Nigeria
ns {The Igbos}, who have always controlled a greater percentage of the Kumba main market.
, the former German
colonial capital. Because of its size, most major roads to the provincial interior radiate from Kumba, running to the Nigerian border at Mamfe
, the Korup National Park
at Mundemba
, and Mount Koupe to the east. The premier geographical attraction in Kumba is Barombi Mbo, a large crater lake located two kilometers northwest of Kumba's city center.
, some English
or Pidgin
, and at least one of a variety of indigenous languages including Bafaw or Bakossi.
The indigenes of Kumba are the Bafaw, an ethnic group who speak the Bafaw language, a language similar to Duala
, Mboh and Bakossi, and certainly Bantoid
. Due to its cosmopolitan nature, the Bafaw now form just a percentage of the general population of the city, and have in most part lost many aspects of their culture, except for their language which is spoken mostly by the elderly and some of the younger generation.
Kumba is the birthplace of French
international
rugby union
great Serge Betsen
.
One of the most well-known families in Kumba is the Mandi family with Honorable Augustin Nkumbah Mandi as the family head. Honorable Mandi was the city's appointed parliamentarian for 8 years under the later part of president Ahidjo's regime and the earlier part of president Biya's regime. Honorable Mandi contributed in the development of the city during and after serving as a member of parliament, becoming a building contractor; building schools and hospitals for the city. In 1994 he became the branch president of the political party N.U.D.P for the Meme division and went on to be elected as the president of the Kumba health care society in 1996.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Southwest Province
Southwest Province
The Southwest Region or South-West Region of Cameroon is a province of Cameroon and constitutes part of the territory of Southern Cameroons. Its capital is Buea. , its population was 838,042...
, western 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...
also known around Cameroon as K town. It had a population of 144,268 (at the 2005 Census). The N8 and N16 highways meet at Kumba.
History
well the history of kimba is a very long story it started in 1938.Economy
The city is a trade centre for cacao and oil palmOil palm
The oil palms comprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to West Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to...
s, and has a timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
industry as well. Kumba is a local road junction, making it one of the main commercial towns in anglophone
English-speaking world
The English-speaking world consists of those countries or regions that use the English language to one degree or another. For more information, please see:Lists:* List of countries by English-speaking population...
Cameroon.Trading in Kumba has attracted the interest of foreigners, mostly 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...
ns {The Igbos}, who have always controlled a greater percentage of the Kumba main market.
Geography
Although it is the largest city in the southwest province of Cameroon, it is not the provincial capital; which is located in BueaBuea
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The town is located on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon and has a population of 90,088 . Buea was the colonial capital of the German Kamerun from 1901 to 1919,and the capital of the Southern Cameroons from 1949 until 1961...
, the former German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
colonial capital. Because of its size, most major roads to the provincial interior radiate from Kumba, running to the Nigerian border at Mamfe
Mamfe
Mamfe is a city and capital of the Manyu department of the Southwest Province in Cameroon. It is located from the border of Nigeria, on the Manyu River. It has a population of 20,300 . It is known as a centre for traditional religion and traditional medicine...
, the Korup National Park
Korup National Park
Korup National Park is in the Southwest Province of Cameroon and extends over 1,260 km2 of mostly undisturbed primary forest. It is reputedly one of Africa’s oldest and richest rainforests in terms of floral and faunal diversity. It is the most accessible rainforest national park in Cameroon...
at Mundemba
Mundemba
Mundemba is a town in Southwest Province, of Cameroon and the capital of the Ndian Division. The headquarters of Korup National Park are located in Mundemba...
, and Mount Koupe to the east. The premier geographical attraction in Kumba is Barombi Mbo, a large crater lake located two kilometers northwest of Kumba's city center.
Government
Local politics have been divided between a government-appointed mayor (called the Government Delegate) and a local chief, Mukete. There has been something of a power struggle between the two in recent years, which has occasionally spilled over into local violence.People
Most people speak some FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, some English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
or Pidgin
Pidgin
A pidgin , or pidgin language, is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the...
, and at least one of a variety of indigenous languages including Bafaw or Bakossi.
The indigenes of Kumba are the Bafaw, an ethnic group who speak the Bafaw language, a language similar to Duala
Duala language
Duala is the language spoken by the Duala people of Cameroon. The language belonges to the Bantu language family, and a subgroup of it called the Duala languages...
, Mboh and Bakossi, and certainly Bantoid
Bantoid languages
In the classification of African languages, Bantoid is a branch of the Benue–Congo subfamily of the Niger–Congo phylum. The term 'Bantoid' was first used by Krause in 1895 for languages that showed resemblances in vocabulary to Bantu...
. Due to its cosmopolitan nature, the Bafaw now form just a percentage of the general population of the city, and have in most part lost many aspects of their culture, except for their language which is spoken mostly by the elderly and some of the younger generation.
Kumba is the birthplace of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
international
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
great Serge Betsen
Serge Betsen
Serge Betsen Tchoua is a French rugby union player who plays as a flanker for London Wasps at club level and formerly for internationally...
.
One of the most well-known families in Kumba is the Mandi family with Honorable Augustin Nkumbah Mandi as the family head. Honorable Mandi was the city's appointed parliamentarian for 8 years under the later part of president Ahidjo's regime and the earlier part of president Biya's regime. Honorable Mandi contributed in the development of the city during and after serving as a member of parliament, becoming a building contractor; building schools and hospitals for the city. In 1994 he became the branch president of the political party N.U.D.P for the Meme division and went on to be elected as the president of the Kumba health care society in 1996.