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>> Cameroon Travel Guide >> Bamenda

Bamenda

Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the North West Province. The city has an estimated 446,000 inhabitants and is located 366 km (227 mi) north-west of the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé. Bamenda is known for its cool climate and scenic hilly location. As a provincial centre the city, also an administrative commune has numerous markets, banks, and offices. The main industries are the processing of agricultural produce such as coffee.

Bamenda History
In origin the city is an amalgamation of three villages - Mankon, Mendakwe and Nkwen. The first was named for the Mankon people, and alliance of five ethnic groups which founded a chieftaincy (a fon) known as the Mankon Fon.

Bamenda's principal ethnic group is the Tikar. In the past, the Tikar faced invasions from peoples in the surrounding hills, and between 1700 and 1800, they joined a confederation established by the Mbum for defense purposes.

Bamenda was subjected to German colonialism in the late 19th century, and evidence of Germany's former occupation of Bamenda can still be seen today in structures such as the Fort at the Bamenda station. After the defeat of the Germans in World War I (1914-1918) the League of Nations shared German colonial territories among victorious nations. Western Cameroon was administered jointly with Nigeria under the protectorate of the British until 1961 when following a plebiscite it attained independence by joining then the already independent République du Cameroun.

What to see and visit in Bamenda:
There is a Baptist mission in the town. Not far from Bamenda here is a 367 km long ring road. It goes among the most beautiful mountains of Cameroon. Near Bamenda there is a Mount Oku (3000 m above the sea level) Reserve, The Kimb River Reserve, The Mentchun Waterfalls, the Tribesman Palace and a pyramid-shape temple, also Mankon and Bali palaces.