thumb|Lac Baleng, tourist area located in the western region where one little beyond the water which marries the face of the surrounding nature.

thumb|Woman "Mafo" at the funeral of a Bamileke chief - West Cameroon

The Bamiléké people are an ethnic group of Central Africa that inhabits the Western High Plateau colloquially known as the grassfields of Cameroon. According to Dr John Feyou de Hapy, Bamiléké means "people of faith".

Languages

The Bamileke languages are Grassfields languages that belong to the Southern Bantoid branch of the Niger-Congo language family.

History

thumb|Bamiléké Grassland|alt=

Most Bamiléké historical narratives detail an origin along the Nile River in what is now Sudan. A survey examining the methods and instruments of communication among the Bamilekes show a common origin with populations along the Nile.

Oral tradition collected by Alexis Maxime Feyou de Happy and his son, Joseph, suggested that the arrival of the Bamiléké in Western Cameroon occurred in multiple waves with two primary routes. The first route originated in the North between the Lake Tchad area and the Nile Valley. The second route originated in Nigeria around the Cross River area.

According to some Bamiléké oral traditions, they are descendants of a Mbum princess named Wouten (also called Betaka) who helped establish the Tikar fondom sometime in the 13th century after being expelled from Ngan Ha, the capital of Mbum following a succession dispute. The Mbum who migrated to their current location from Northern Cameroon are the ancestors of all Grassfields people and now reside in the Adamawa province of Cameroon.

In the 17th century, the Bamiléké migrated further south and west under the pressure of the Chamba and Fulani people. When Cameroon was colonized, the British granted status and a certain amount of control to traditional authorities, such as the Fon. This was due to a colonial policy known as indirect rule. On the other hand, the Germans and French looked at Fons with contempt and were often suspicious of them.

According to research compiled in The Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon, the "Bamiléké have a reputation of being excellent farmers and business-persons. While they have become a significant factor in the national economy, their success has also generated some jealousy and resentment, especially among the original inhabitants of areas where Bamiléké migration occurred."

Genetics

In one genetic study, Bamileke-related genetic variations were found throughout Central, Southern and East Africa. The researchers caution the assumption that the Bamileke are the source of the Bantu migration because the genetic variations in the region could have been very different 4000 years ago.

Bamiléké settlements are organized as chiefdoms. The chief, or fon or fong is considered as the spiritual, political, judicial and military leader. The chief is also considered the 'father' of the chiefdom. He thus has great respect from the population. The successor of the 'father' is chosen among his children. The successor's identity is typically kept secret until the fon's death.

Economic activities

Traditional homes are constructed by first erecting a raffia-pole frame into four square walls. Builders then stuff the resulting holes with grass and cover the whole building with mud. The thatched roof is typically shaped into a tall cone.

The Bamileke also believe that the Ancestor's spirit still remains within the actual skulls of the Ancestors as well, so they keep possession of them. The oldest male in the family keeps the skulls of both male and female ancestors in a dwelling that the family built and a diviner has blessed. In the event that a skull is not well preserved, a special ritual must be performed that consists of the pouring out of libation.

Royal tradition and the arts

Masquerades are an integral part of Bamileke culture and expression. Colorful, beaded masks are donned at special events such as funerals, important palace festivals and other royal ceremonies. The masks are performed by men and aim to support and enforce royal authority.

The power of a Bamileke king, called a Fon, is often represented by the elephant, buffalo, and leopard. Oral traditions proclaim that the Fon may transform into either an elephant or leopard whenever he chooses. An elephant mask, called a mbap mteng, has protruding circular ears, a human-like face, and decorative panels on the front and back that hang down to the knees and are covered overall in beautiful geometric beadwork, including triangular imagery. Isosceles triangles are prevalent, as they are the known symbol of the leopard. Beadwork, shells, bronze, and other precious embellishments on masks elevate the mask's status.

Beadwork

Beadwork is an essential element of Bamileke art and distinguishes it from other regions of Africa. It is an art form that is highly personal in that no two pieces are alike and are often used in dazzling colors that catch the eye. They may be an indication of status based on what kinds of beads are used. Beadwork utilized all over on wooden sculptures is a technique that is unique only to the Cameroon grasslands.

Before they were colonized, popular beads were obtained from Sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria and were made of shells, nuts, wood, seeds, ceramic, ivory, animal bone, and metal. Colonization and trade routes with other countries in Europe and the Middle East introduced brightly colored glass beads as well as pearls, coral and rare stones like emeralds. These came at a price, however. There were often agreements with these other countries to exchange these precious luxury commodities for slaves, gold, oil, ivory and some types of fine woods. Another study performed by Djoukwo and Wang found that pottery creation among the Bamiléké is used as a form of art therapy.

Succession and kinship patterns

thumb|Bamileke [[Drums in communication|tamtam|alt=|left]]

The Bamileke trace their ancestry, inheritance and succession through the male line, and children belong to the fondom of their father. After a man's death, all of his possessions typically go to a single, male heir. Polygamy (more specifically, polygyny) is practiced, and some important individuals may have literally hundreds of wives. Marriages typically involve a bride price to be paid to the bride's family.

It is argued that the Bamileke inheritance customs contributed to their success in the modern world:

"Succession and inheritance rules are determined by the principle of patrilineal descent. According to custom, the eldest son is the probable heir, but a father may choose any one of his sons to succeed him. An heir takes his dead father's name and inherits any titles held by the latter, including the right to membership in any societies to which he belonged. And, until the mid-1960s, when the law governing polygamy was changed, the heir also inherited his father's wives--a considerable economic responsibility. The rights in land held by the deceased were conferred upon the heir subject to the approval of the chief, and, in the event of financial inheritance, the heir was not obliged to share this with other family members. The ramifications of this are significant. First, dispossessed family members were not automatically entitled to live off the wealth of the heir. Siblings who did not share in the inheritance were, therefore, strongly encouraged to make it on their own through individual initiative and by assuming responsibility for earning their livelihood. Second, this practice of individual responsibility in contrast to a system of strong family obligations prevented a drain on individual financial resources. Rather than spend all of the inheritance maintaining unproductive family members, the heir could, in the contemporary period, utilize his resources in more financially productive ways such as for savings and investment. [...] Finally, the system of inheritance, along with the large-scale migration resulting from population density and land pressures, is one of the internal incentives that accounts for Bamileke success in the nontraditional world".

Donald L. Horowitz also attributes the economic success of the Bamileke to their inheritance customs, arguing that it encouraged younger sons to seek their own living abroad. He wrote in Ethnic groups in conflict: "Primogeniture among the Bamileke and matrilineal inheritance among the Minangkabau of Indonesia have contributed powerfully to the propensity of males from both groups to migrate out of their home region in search of opportunity".

Notable individuals

Here is a list of notable Bamileke or people of Bamileke descent:

  • Julius Akosah, Cameroonian soccer player
  • Benoît Angbwa
  • Adrian Awasom, American football player
  • Erykah Badu, American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress
  • Kadji Defosso, industrialist
  • Mathias Djoumessi, president of the UPC political party
  • Victor Fotso, industrialist
  • Maurice Kamto, former president of the UN International Law Commission, international lawyer, professor
  • Patrice Nganang, writer and professor of Africana
  • Francis Ngannou, Mixed martial artist, UFC Heavyweight Champion
  • Ernest Ouandié, independence fighter
  • Pascal Siakam, professional basketball player
  • Ndamukong Suh, American football player
  • Patrick Suffo, Former international football player
  • Wilglory Tanjong, entrepreneur and author
  • Sam Fan Thomas, Makossa musician
  • Frank Tsadjout
  • Chris Tucker, actor and comedian
  • Jessica Williams, American actress and comedienne
  • SZA, American singer songwriter, of Bamileke descent through her mother
  • Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">

File:Bamileke Notables Seat.jpg|Stool used by notables of the Fon's (kings) of the Bamileke court

File:Bamileke clothing.jpg|Elaborate Mask Ensemble of the Kuosi Society

File:Ancient Bamileke architecture.jpg|Traditional Bamileke architecture, depicting impressive wooden structures. Remnants of Bamileke civilisation

File:07_-_(Die_sheng)_le_symbole_supreme_et_representatif_de_la_chefferie_et_du_peuple_Bandjoun.JPG|Traditional Bamileke architecture, the Bandjoun Great House

File:Zingana hotel.jpg|A modern building replicating portions of Bamileke architecture. Zingana Hotel, Bafoussam

File:Bamileke dressing.jpg|Young men wearing traditional Bamileke attire during a marriage ceremony

</gallery>Bamileke Dance Groups<gallery>

File:DeuilBamileke108.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke50.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke33.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke100.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke95.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke46.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke11.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke114.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke15.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke14.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke60.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke97.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke99.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke106.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke51.jpg

File:DeuilBamileke27.jpg

File:Clan d'âge.jpg|"Clan Age" dance

File:DanseBamileke7.jpg

File:DanseBamileke11.jpg

File:DanseBamileke5.jpg

File:DanseBamileke1.jpg

File:NKOUGANG.jpg

File:NKEUNIA danse BAMILEKE au Cameroun.jpg

File:GroupeDanse8.jpg

</gallery>

References

Further reading

  • Fanso, V.G. (1989) Cameroon History for Secondary Schools and Colleges, Vol. 1: From Prehistoric Times to the Nineteenth Century. Hong Kong: Macmillan Education Ltd, 1989.
  • Knöpfli, Hans (1997&mdash;2002) Crafts and Technologies: Some Traditional Craftsmen and Women of the Western Grassfields of Cameroon. 4 vols. Basel, Switzerland: Basel Mission.
  • Neba, Aaron, Ph.D. (1999) Modern Geography of the Republic of Cameroon, 3rd ed. Bamenda: Neba Publishers, 1999.
  • Ngoh, Victor Julius (1996) History of Cameroon Since 1800. Limbé: Presbook, 1996.
  • Toukam, Dieudonné (2016; first ed. 2010), Histoire et anthropologie du peuple bamiléké, Paris: l’Harmattan, 2010, 338p.
  • Toukam, Dieudonné (2008), Parlons bamiléké. Langue et culture de Bafoussam, Paris: L'Harmattan, 255p.
  • Aleco Yemba.net - Online Dictionaries and Learning Tools for the Yemba Language
  • Works by Bamileke artists at the University of Michigan Museum of Art
  • Bamileke art at the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art
  • Works by Bamileke artists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Works by Bamileke artists at the Brooklyn Museum