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Tribe Snapshots Bamum |
| Location: |
Southeastern part of Cameroon Grasslands |
| Population: |
100,000 |
| Language: |
Bamum (Macro-Bantu) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Bandeng, Bafoussam, Tikar, Wute |
| Types
of Art: |
Recognizing the importance of the skull, representations
of the head are found in nearly all decorated
utilitarian items. Masks used in initiation and
for education purposes are common. Statuary often
represents the Fon, and many types of beaded objects
are related to his investiture. |
| History: |
The Cameroon Grasslands can be divided into
three smaller subgroups, one of which is the Bamum.
Within the Bamum complex there are numerous smaller
ethnic groups, which are loosely affiliated with
one another and share many historical and political
similarities while retaining separate identities.
All members of this group originally came from
an area to the north and migrated in various complex
patterns throughout the last several centuries.
Fulani traders moving steadily southwards into
Cameroon forced the Bamum into their current location
during the 17th century. The Bamum are also one
of the first peoples in Africa to develop a writing
system under the auspices of King Njoya at the
end of the 19th century. Njoya was able to maintain
his status as a ruler under German indirect colonial
rule but was forced into exile when the French
took over in 1916. The kingship has since been
restored. |
| Economy: |
The region played an important part in trade
routes connecting with the seaport of Douala in
the south and with Fulani and Hausa traders in
the north. All of the people in this area are
historically farmers who grow maize, yams, and
peanuts as staple crops. They also raise some
livestock, including chickens and goats, which
play an important role in daily sustenance. Women,
who are believed to make the soil more fruitful,
are responsible for the tasks of planting and
harvesting the crops. Men are responsible for
clearing the fields for planting and practice
some nominal hunting. Specific economic enterprises
are dictated by the particular microenvironments
of individual ethnic groups. |
| Political
Systems: |
All of the peoples who make up the Cameroon
Grasslands culture area pay allegiance to the
king (Fon). Each village is governed by a leader
who is selected by his predecessor and who is
usually the head of the dominant lineage within
that community. Each Fon is served by a council
of elders who advise him on all important decisions
and who also play an important role in the selection
of the next Fon. The Fon serves for a lifetime,
abdicating the throne or stool only when nearing
death. Complex age-grade societies also help to
structure the community. Among the Bamum, the
role of the Fon is heightened above what is standard
for the Grasslands region. |
| Religion: |
The peoples of the Grasslands reserve the highest
allegiance for their lineage ancestors. Ancestral
spirits are embodied in the skulls of the deceased
ancestors. The skulls are in the possession of
the eldest living male in each lineage, and all
members of an extended family recognize the skulls
as common heritage. When a family decides to relocate,
a dwelling, which must be first purified by a
diviner, is built to house the skulls in the new
location. Although not all of the ancestral skulls
are in the possession of a family, the memories
of all ancestors are honored. The spirits of ancestors
whose skulls are not preserved have nowhere to
reside and may as a result cause trouble for the
family. To compensate when a man's skull is not
preserved, a family member must undergo a ceremony
in which libations are poured into the ground.
Earth gathered from the site of that offering
then represents the skull of the deceased. Respect
is also paid to female skulls, although details
about such practices are largely unrecorded. |
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