Mokolo
Encyclopedia
Mokolo is the departmental capital and largest city of the Mayo-Tsanaga department, in the Far North Province
of Cameroon
. It is the fourth largest city in the Far North Province, after Maroua
, Yagoua
, and Kousséri
. It is located in the Mandara Mountains
that run along the Cameroonian-Nigerian border.
In 1916 Mokolo was subordinate to Madagali, a Nigerian town, and was ruled from there. Mokolo was centrally located along a well-traveled trade route. The Guiziga and Fulbé peoples living near Maroua traded salt and natron with the Mafa living further West, who provided red earth and herbs, used for dyeing cloth.
In roughly 1947 the Muslim Lamido (traditional chief) Idrissou came to power in Mokolo. Idrissou did not wish to manage the affaires of the animist Mafa populations. He appointed one of his subordinates, an Islamized Mafa named Mamoudou, to govern the animists. Mamoudou came to be accepted as the Lamido of the Mafa, and subordinate to Idrissou, who was recognized as Lamido to the Muslim Fulbé population. Eventually, the Mafa revolted against paying taxes to both the Lamibé (plural of Lamido). Seemingly under pressure of French colonialists living in the area, Idrissou was obliged to release Mamoudou from his subordinate position.
To this day two Lamibé remain in Mokolo, separately but cooperatively serving both the Fulbé and Mafa populations. For a small fee, the Lamibé resolve problems and disputes, namely concerning marriages and divorce, inheritances, and some petty theft. Many individuals lack proper legal documentation, such as a birth certificate or national identification cards, and thus do not have recourse to other legal institutions. The Lamido thus serves as a link between the populations and the government.
, 40% Muslim
, and 20% animist or traditional beliefs. A Catholic mission operates in Mokolo. The main mosque is located near the center of town, across from the Muslim Lamido’s palace. The Christian minority is primarily Lutheran or Evangelical.
- tropical dry
. A short rainy season lasts from mid-May to August. Harmattan
winds blow South from the Sahara during December and January. A dry, hot season lasts from March to May. Hot season temperatures reach roughly 43.3°C (110°F). As it is located in the Mandara Mountains at a slightly higher elevation than Maroua
, the temperature of Mokolo is usually five to ten degrees cooler than that of Maroua.
". The Fulbé people are traditionally cattle herders, and cattle raising remains a common and profitable activity. Cotton, of decreasing importance, is cultivated in limited amounts and purchased by SODOCOTON, a French-owned company.
mission operates schools for both the deaf and the blind. Mokolo also boasts a Youth Center and stadium. Both the Youth Center, and a Catholic establishment, l’Aumonerie, operate libraries.
The city is at the center of several tourist destinations, including Tourou and Rhumsiki
.
Far North Province
The Far North Region , also known as the Extreme North Region , is the northernmost constituent province of the Republic of Cameroon. It borders the North Region to the south, Chad to the east, and Nigeria to the west. The capital is Maroua.The province is one of Cameroon's most culturally diverse...
of 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 is the fourth largest city in the Far North Province, after Maroua
Maroua
Maroua is the capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon, on the Ferngo and Kaliao Rivers. The city had 201,371 inhabitants at the 2005 Census,and is a centre of cotton industry. The city also has an airport located near the town of Salak, an agricultural school and ethnographic museum. To the...
, Yagoua
Yagoua
Yagoua is a town and commune in the Far North Province of Cameroon. It is the capital of the department of Mayo-Danay....
, and Kousséri
Kousséri
Kousséri is a city in Far North Province, Cameroon, lying on the border with Chad, across the Chari River from N'Djamena. It is the capital of the Logone-et-Chari department. It is a market town, and its population has recently been swollen by refugees from Chad. It had a population of 89,123 at...
. It is located in the Mandara Mountains
Mandara Mountains
The Mandara Mountains are a volcanic range extending about 200km along the northern part of the Cameroon-Nigeria border, from the Benue River in the south to the north-west of Maroua in the north . The highest elevation is 1,494 m , the summit of Mount Oupay .The region is densely populated,...
that run along the Cameroonian-Nigerian border.
History and Culture
Fulbé (also known as Fulani) and Mafa peoples dominate the Mokolo area. Historically, the Mafa were the original inhabitants. When the Fulbé came through the area, many of the Mafa dispersed into the surrounding Mandara Mountains. The Mafa are also known as the Matakam, a name given by the Fulbé, meaning “well-dressed.” At the time of the Fulbé arrival, the Mafa did not wear clothing .In 1916 Mokolo was subordinate to Madagali, a Nigerian town, and was ruled from there. Mokolo was centrally located along a well-traveled trade route. The Guiziga and Fulbé peoples living near Maroua traded salt and natron with the Mafa living further West, who provided red earth and herbs, used for dyeing cloth.
In roughly 1947 the Muslim Lamido (traditional chief) Idrissou came to power in Mokolo. Idrissou did not wish to manage the affaires of the animist Mafa populations. He appointed one of his subordinates, an Islamized Mafa named Mamoudou, to govern the animists. Mamoudou came to be accepted as the Lamido of the Mafa, and subordinate to Idrissou, who was recognized as Lamido to the Muslim Fulbé population. Eventually, the Mafa revolted against paying taxes to both the Lamibé (plural of Lamido). Seemingly under pressure of French colonialists living in the area, Idrissou was obliged to release Mamoudou from his subordinate position.
To this day two Lamibé remain in Mokolo, separately but cooperatively serving both the Fulbé and Mafa populations. For a small fee, the Lamibé resolve problems and disputes, namely concerning marriages and divorce, inheritances, and some petty theft. Many individuals lack proper legal documentation, such as a birth certificate or national identification cards, and thus do not have recourse to other legal institutions. The Lamido thus serves as a link between the populations and the government.
Population
The greater Mokolo area has a population of over 300,000 people. The center of Mokolo is estimated to have a population of 30,000. The Mayo-Tsanaga department is one of the most densely populated departments of Cameroon.Languages
Fulfuldé, as the lingua franca of the Extreme North province, is the predominant language spoken throughout the Mokolo area, and is prevalent in the center of Mokolo. Fulfuldé was brought to the region by the Fulbé peoples. Mafa is widely spoken among the Mafa populations throughout Mokolo. To the southwest of Mokolo, in the direction of the town Rumsiki, Kapsiki is the dominant language. French is used by the government and is the language of instruction in government-run schools.Religion
The population of Mokolo is estimated as roughly 40% ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, 40% Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and 20% animist or traditional beliefs. A Catholic mission operates in Mokolo. The main mosque is located near the center of town, across from the Muslim Lamido’s palace. The Christian minority is primarily Lutheran or Evangelical.
Climate
The climate of Mokolo is typical of the SahelSahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
- tropical dry
Tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories "Aw" and '"As."...
. A short rainy season lasts from mid-May to August. Harmattan
Harmattan
The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows south from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March...
winds blow South from the Sahara during December and January. A dry, hot season lasts from March to May. Hot season temperatures reach roughly 43.3°C (110°F). As it is located in the Mandara Mountains at a slightly higher elevation than Maroua
Maroua
Maroua is the capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon, on the Ferngo and Kaliao Rivers. The city had 201,371 inhabitants at the 2005 Census,and is a centre of cotton industry. The city also has an airport located near the town of Salak, an agricultural school and ethnographic museum. To the...
, the temperature of Mokolo is usually five to ten degrees cooler than that of Maroua.
Economy and Services
Mokolo has one internet café and two state-recognized financial institutions, the Mutuel Communautaire de Croissance, and a branch of Crédit du Sahel. Mokolo is served by all major Cameroonian cellular telephone services. The weekly market is on Wednesday, where one can find large markets for clothing and small ruminant animals.Agriculture
Primary crops grown in and around Mokolo include millet, soy, and peanuts. The majority of soy found in Cameroon comes from the region surrounding Mokolo. The city is known as "the breadbasket of the Mandara MountainsMandara Mountains
The Mandara Mountains are a volcanic range extending about 200km along the northern part of the Cameroon-Nigeria border, from the Benue River in the south to the north-west of Maroua in the north . The highest elevation is 1,494 m , the summit of Mount Oupay .The region is densely populated,...
". The Fulbé people are traditionally cattle herders, and cattle raising remains a common and profitable activity. Cotton, of decreasing importance, is cultivated in limited amounts and purchased by SODOCOTON, a French-owned company.
Government
As Mokolo is the departmental capital, many government ministries maintain delegates there. The current serving Mayor, Damien Zokom, is a member of the RDPC party.Education
Three public high schools are located in Mokolo, including a bilingual high school and a technical school. A private Protestant high school also operates. Mokolo is host to a teachers’ training college. The CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
mission operates schools for both the deaf and the blind. Mokolo also boasts a Youth Center and stadium. Both the Youth Center, and a Catholic establishment, l’Aumonerie, operate libraries.
Transportation
Mokolo is located on a paved road, 79 km to the west of Maroua, the provincial capital. Two bus services, Tsanaga Voyages and Mokolo Express, make regular trips between Maroua and Mokolo. A number of informal bush taxis also offer transport between the two cities. The average travel time is just over an hour, and costs 800 - 1,000 F CFA ($1.61-$2.01).The city is at the center of several tourist destinations, including Tourou and Rhumsiki
Rhumsiki
Rhumsiki, also spelt Rumsiki and Roumsiki, is a village in the Far North Province of Cameroon. Rhumsiki is located in the Mandara Mountains 55 km from Mokolo and 3 km from the border with Nigeria. The village is similar to many others in northern Cameroon...
.