Kingdom of Bamum facts for kids
The Kingdom of Bamoun (also spelled Bamoum or Bamun) was an old kingdom in Central Africa. It existed from 1394 until around 1916. This kingdom was located in what is now northwest Cameroon. The Bamun, an ethnic group from the region, founded it. Their capital city was Fumban, which was a walled city.
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History of the Bamoun Kingdom
The Bamun people have a shared history with the Mbam-et-Inoubou and Grassfields groups. The Bamum Kingdom was a powerful state before colonial times. It grew strong in the 17th century. Its capital, Foumban, became very important in the 19th century.
The Bamum society had a clear order. The king, called the fon, was the most powerful person. Only the king could use certain special objects and symbols. These showed his power. Sometimes, he would let other important people use them too. This showed their high status and their connection to the king. The king's throne is a great example of art used to show power.
The Bamum throne was made of wood. It was covered with colorful glass beads and cowrie shells. Cowrie shells were used as money and for other payments. The throne's seat was round. It had carvings of two-headed snakes, which were a symbol of royal power.
Many beautiful beaded thrones from the Cameroon Grasslands ended up in European museums. These thrones, especially those of King Nsangou and his son King Njoya Ibrahim, are famous. They show designs of people and animals important to Bamoun culture. These thrones are now prized items in museums around the world.
Art and Trade Under King Njoya
During King Njoya’s rule (around 1886–1933), the king himself managed the art market. When Cameroon was under German control, King Njoya decided what art would be made. He also chose which artworks would be given to the German rulers. As more Europeans came to the Grasslands, the fame of Bamoun artists grew. This led to more trade in art. People also started bringing in art styles from other African tribes.
After Germany lost World War I, Cameroon became a French colony. The good relationship between King Njoya and the Germans ended. The French took over local government. They also increased taxes and took more resources. This caused many problems between King Njoya and the French. The art market was also affected.
A conflict started in the 1920s. Mosé Yéyap, a Bamoun noble, challenged the king's power over artists. He also tried to gain influence with the French in the art trade. Yéyap grew his art business with French collectors. He even opened his own museum to compete with the Royal Museum in Foumban. The French became unhappy with King Njoya. They saw him as a troublemaker. In 1924, they sent him away from his kingdom.
When King Njoya died in 1933, the French chose his son, Njimoluh Seidou, to be the new king. This was instead of letting the royal court choose the rightful successor. During World War II, France's control over its colonies lessened. King Seidou used this chance to take back control of his government. He wanted to help his people. He worked with a secret society called Nkom and other advisors. They focused on strengthening Bamoun customs and culture. During this time, the Tikar chieftaincy of Rifum ordered the creation of the Madou-Yenou thrones. A skilled craftsman named Njikam Isidore made them. He was the grandson of Nji Gbetom Salifou, a great sculptor from King Njoya’s time. Two thrones were made, as was the custom. The second was a backup. They were finished between 1945 and 1946.
After World War II, Cameroon became a United Nations Trust Territory. It joined the French Union. This meant it was slowly moving towards independence. King Seidou continued to promote Bamoun culture. The French increased taxes and resource extraction to help their own country recover from the war. This caused more tension. King Seidou encouraged handicrafts and different types of art. He also opened up the local art market to help with exports.
The Algerian War (1954-1962) made Cameroonians want independence even more. Conflicts between French authorities and local people grew. This led to a terrible civil war. King Seidou was a major leader in forming his nation. He also helped unite eastern and western Cameroon. He always stressed the importance of Bamoun culture. This helped prepare his people for the challenges of becoming a new nation.
Ancient Traditions and Kings
There is an interesting story about King Seidou’s thrones. Local stories say that King Seidou wanted his new throne to be like his ancestors' thrones. But he also wanted it to show and strengthen old Bamoun traditions. This tradition comes from King Ngouloure, who ruled from 1629 to 1672. He was the tenth king of the Bamoun dynasty.
King Ngouloure had two wives, Yenou and Madou. Before he died, he told Madou, his younger wife, that her son would be the next king. Madou was surprised. She said she was still young and could have more children. She thought it would be better for Yenou, his first wife, to have her son Koutou become king. She believed Koutou would be a better leader.
In the 18th century, the kingdom faced attacks from Fulani and Chamba warriors from the north. By the end of that century, Bamum had about 10,000 to 12,000 people. Bamum history lists 10 kings between the founder and Kuotu. The first nine kings after Nchare are not well-known for big achievements. The kingdom did not expand until the early 19th century. This was during the rule of the tenth king, Mbum Mbuembue.
King Mbuembue was the first ruler to make the Bamun Kingdom bigger. He is famous for fighting off a Fulani attack in the early 19th century. King Mbuembue built a trench to protect the capital city. He also created the symbol of the Bamun people: a two-headed snake called "Ngnwe peh tu." This symbol shows their ability to fight on two sides and win both battles.
The Fulani invaders tried to conquer many villages in the kingdom. This is when nine brave warriors came together. They formed an alliance and fought against the Fulani. They used special powers and defeated them. After their victory, they went into the kingdom's inner areas and formed their own village. Statues were made to honor these nine warriors. They defended their village from the Fulani. These statues have been kept for centuries. People believe they have special, mystical powers.
The Bamum kingdom was founded by Nchare. He was the older brother of the Tikar royal family. King Nchare was a conqueror. He is said to have defeated about 18 rulers. King Nchare founded the capital city, Foumban, which was then called Mfomben. This first group of Tikar conquerors learned the language and customs of the people they conquered. From then on, they were known as Mbum. It is thought that the kingdom was founded because Chamba people moved from the Tikar Plain. Even though they have similarities, the Tikar and Bamum are two different groups.
How the Kingdom Was Organized
The Bamum kingdom had secret societies. One society, the ngiri, was for princes. Another, the mitngu, was for all people, no matter their social status. The king, or mfon, chose many of his helpers from twins and the sons of princesses.
The king of Bamum was called the mfon. This was a title also used by Tikar rulers. The mfon had many wives. This led to a large number of royal family members. Because of this, the palace nobility grew very quickly.
Culture and Art
Not much is known about the kingdom's culture and way of life in its early days. At first, the official language of the Bamum kingdom was Tikar. But this did not last long. They soon adopted the language of the Mben people they had conquered. The economy was mostly based on farming. Some people also had servants. The Bamum kingdom traded with nearby groups. They bought salt, iron, beads, cotton goods, and copper items.
The Bamun people developed a rich artistic culture in their capital, Foumban, in the early 20th century. During King Njoya’s rule, there were six dye pits for coloring cloth. The Mbum imported indigo-dyed cloth from the Hausa. This special royal cloth was called Ntieya. Hausa craftsmen worked in the palace workshops. They made cloth for nobles and taught the art of dyeing.
German and French Influence
German Arrival
The Bamun kingdom willingly became part of German Kamerun in 1884. This happened during the rule of King Nsangou. During his reign, Bamum fought a war with the Nso. King Nsangou was killed in this conflict. After his death, one of the king's wives, Njapdunke, took over the government with her partner Gbetnkom Ndo`mbue.
After King Mbuembue died, there was no male heir to the throne. Njapdunke ruled for a while but did not represent the king well. She was removed. It was believed that one of the king's sons, Mbetnkom, was in a village called Massagham for treatment. He was brought back and became King Mbetnkom.
Mbetnkom was a short man. He was a harsh ruler. He would have the legs of people taller than him cut off. This practice led to his own death during a hunting training session. After he died, his young son, Mbienkuo, became king. He was too young to rule. He often asked who his father was among the guards behind him. His court, led by Ngouoh, became worried. They thought the boy might find out they had killed his father. King Mbienkuo was taken away and killed. The throne was empty for some time. Ngouoh, the court leader, eventually became king. However, he was not a descendant of King Mbuembue. He was a servant from the Bamileke people. His subjects did not welcome King Ngouoh. He decided to move the palace to his own location. King Ngouoh was later driven away after a fierce fight between him and Mbuembue's followers. Nsangou, a grandson of Mbuembue, then became king.
King Njoya the Great
Eventually, King Njoya, the son of the slain king, came to power. He was one of Bamum's most important rulers. He ruled from about 1883 to 1931. He chose to place his kingdom under the protection of German colonial power. He also helped modernize parts of Bamum society.
In 1897, King Njoya and his court converted to Islam. This decision had a lasting impact on Bamum culture. He invented the Bamum script so his people could write down their history. In 1910, Njoya built a school where the script was taught. Germans were allowed to set up the Basel Mission in the capital. A temple was built. The missionaries taught in German and the local language. The Germans also brought new building methods. They settled among the people as farmers, traders, and teachers. King Njoya remained loyal to the Germans. They respected his rights as king and asked for his advice on colonial matters.
Another important change during German protection was the introduction of new foods. These included sweet potatoes and macabo. These foods helped the kingdom become richer. The Bamum people could trade outside their usual borders. This extra income greatly improved their lives. King Njoya was influenced by the missionaries. They spoke out against idols, human sacrifice, and having many wives. In response, Njoya reduced royal excesses. Nobles were allowed to marry servants. However, the king did not convert to Christianity. He combined ideas from Christianity, Islam, and traditional beliefs. He created a new religion that was more acceptable to his people.
In 1906, Germany sent an army against the Nso. King Njoya's warriors helped them. After the victory, they got back the head of Njoya's father. This was very important for showing the king's right to rule. From then on, the bond between Bamum and Germany was strong.
World War I and French Rule
In 1914, the Allies invaded German Kamerun as part of World War I. Fumban was captured by the British in December 1915. Colonel Gorges, a British officer, wrote about the people and their capital in his book. He said King Njoya was a bit nervous when they first met. But he accepted British rule once he was sure he and his people would be safe. In 1918, Germany's colonies, including Kamerun, were divided between Great Britain and France. The Kingdom of Bamoun then came under French rule. In 1923, Njoya was removed from power. His special script was banned by the French.
