Bamenda

2025-10-27T20:06:11Z

2601:C6:C481:350:16DD:4793:B322:18C9: Cameroon does not do dst

{{Short description|City in Northwest Region, Cameroon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Bamenda
| image_skyline = Bamenda from mountain road.jpg
| nicknames = Abakwa<ref name="ORourke"/><ref name="nickname"/>{{efn|name=Hausa}}
| image_flag =
| image_caption = Bamenda from the mountain road into town
| image_seal =
| pushpin_map = Cameroon
| mapsize = 150px
| map_caption = Map of Cameroon showing the location of Bamenda
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Cameroon]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Cameroon|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Northwest Region (Cameroon)|Northwest]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Departments of Cameroon|Department]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mezam]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Achobang Tambeng Paul]]
| area_magnitude =
| area_total =
| area_land =
| area_water =
| population_as_of = 2025
| population_urban = 636,000
| population_note = (Census)
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-53&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&srt=pnan |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111113713/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-53&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&srt=pnan |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2013 |title=World Gazetteer}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}
| population_total = 348766
| population_metro =
| area_metro =
| population_density =
| timezone = [[West Africa Time|WAT]]
| utc_offset = +1
| elevation_m = 1614
| coordinates = {{coord|05|57|41|N|10|09|06|E|region:CM|display=inline,title}}
| website = [http://www.bamenda3council.org/ Official website]
}}
'''Bamenda''', also known as '''Abakwa'''<ref name="ORourke">{{cite journal |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Harmony |title=Beyond the World of Commerce: Rethinking Hausa Diaspora History through Marriage, Distance, and Legal Testimony |journal=History in Africa |date=2016-04-25 |volume=43 |pages=141–167 |doi=10.1017/hia.2016.4 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/history-in-africa/article/beyond-the-world-of-commerce-rethinking-hausa-diaspora-history-through-marriage-distance-and-legal-testimony/475EA07BD512A73C086A0CE5BBAF2BA7 |access-date=2024-08-13|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="nickname">{{Cite web|url=https://footnickname.wordpress.com/2022/08/31/843-pwd-social-club-bamenda-abakwa-boys/|title=#843 – PWD Social Club Bamenda : Abakwa Boys|date=31 August 2022 |language=fr|publisher=Footnickname|access-date=13 August 2024|archive-date=16 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016205643/https://footnickname.wordpress.com/2022/08/31/843-pwd-social-club-bamenda-abakwa-boys/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|This is the name given by the Hausa community, which migrated to this city in the nineteenth century. Usage of this term includes the local football club, and examples include the BBC in Pidgin.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bamenda wakeup small-small afta Tuesday shooting|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-45418328 |access-date=2024-08-13 |agency=BBC |date=2018-09-05}}</ref>|name=Hausa}} and '''Mankon Town''',<ref name="Ngende1966">{{cite book |author=F. E. Ngende |title=Geography of West Cameroon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i3UKAQAAIAAJ |year=1966 |publisher=Basel Mission |page=45 |access-date=29 October 2016 |archive-date=31 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831015352/https://books.google.com/books?id=i3UKAQAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> is a city in northwestern [[Cameroon]] and capital of the [[Northwest Region (Cameroon)|Northwest Region]]. The city has a population of about six hundred thousand people<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bamenda, Cameroon Metro Area Population 1950-2024 |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/20361/bamenda/population |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=www.macrotrends.net}}</ref> and is located {{cvt|366|km|mi}} north-west of the Cameroonian capital, [[Yaoundé]]. Bamenda is known for its cool climate and scenic hilly location.

==History==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Zicht op een straat en de huizen van Bamenda TMnr 20014196.jpg|thumb|left|Bamenda, 1965]]

===Colonial era===
The origins of the city are related to the settlement of the [[Tikar people]] who culturally forged and maintained relations with the [[Kingdom of Bamum]] in the 1700s.<ref>Toyin Falola, Daniel Jean-Jacques, ''Africa: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2015, p. 142</ref> In 1884, the city was colonized by [[Germany]] until 1916 when it became a colony administered by [[Great Britain]] and [[France]].<ref>Emmanuel Mbah, ''Environment and Identity Politics in Colonial Africa: Fulani Migrations and Land Conflict'', Taylor & Francis, UK, 2016, p. 20</ref> In 1919, the administration of [[Northwest Region (Cameroon)|Northwest Region]] and thus the city of Bamenda became only British. In 1961, the region joined the [[Cameroon]].<ref>Emmanuel Mbah, ''Environment and Identity Politics in Colonial Africa: Fulani Migrations and Land Conflict'', Taylor & Francis, UK, 2016, p. 21</ref>

===Ambazonian aspirations===
Many of the city's inhabitants are [[English language|English-speaking]], and [[Cameroonian Pidgin English]] is the main language spoken in the shops and on the streets of Bamenda. The [[Southern Cameroons Liberation Council]] is a united front consisting of multiple groups of separatists aiming for an independent [[Ambazonia]]n state, which would include Bamenda.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190407071210/https://natimesnews.com/usa-national-times-the-quest-for-the-restoration-of-the-southern-cameroons-statehood-took-another-decisive-twist-on-friday-march-29-to-sunday-march-31-2018-when-leaders-of-the-various-movement-fi/ Anglophone Struggle Takes Another Kink, Separatists, Federalists Bury Hatchet, Create Southern Cameroons Liberation Council]}}, The National Times, 1 Apr 2019. Accessed 1 Apr 2019.</ref> Protests started in 2016 in the city in reaction to the appointment of French-speaking judges in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rights groups call for probe into protesters' deaths in Cameroon|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/15/world/cameroon-protesters-deaths/index.html|website=CNN|date=4 August 2024}}</ref> Starting in 2017 as a continuation of the protests, the ongoing [[Anglophone crisis]] has heavily impacted the city, both through the actions of separatists and responses from the government. In September 2020, Cameroon launched [[Operation Bamenda Clean]] to expel separatist militias from the city.<ref name="jdcsep252020">[https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-bar-council-wants-actions-of-soldiers-in-bamenda-clean-operation-probed/ Cameroon/Bamenda clean operation: Bar Council wants soldiers’ ‘abuses’ probed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006195831/https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/cameroon-bar-council-wants-actions-of-soldiers-in-bamenda-clean-operation-probed/ |date=6 October 2020 }}, Journal du Cameroun, Sep 25, 2020. Accessed Sep 26, 2020.</ref> The operation has resulted in civilian deaths.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cameroon: Soldiers on Rampage in North-West Region |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/03/cameroon-soldiers-rampage-north-west-region |work=Human Rights Watch |date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

==Metropolitan area==
The city is made up of 3 villages; Bamendakwe, Mankon and Nkwen classified as Bamenda I II and III sub-divisions respectively for administrative reasons. However, it is surrounded by other suburban areas and villages like Bambui, Akum, Bafut, Bali, Chombah and Mbatu. These suburban areas and villages are fast-growing and sometimes considered part of Bamenda.

==Economy==
The main industries are the processing of agricultural produce such as coffee, elementary food processing, handicraft, cottage industry, education (schools), tourism/hospitality, construction works and transport.<ref>Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Bamenda Bamenda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101082910/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bamenda |date=1 November 2020 }}, britannica.com, USA, accessed on 7 July 2019</ref> The local museum and shops display a wide variety of local baskets, beads, woodcarvings and [[bronze]] statues.
<gallery>
File:Food market 5.jpg|alt=A young man at an outdoor market stall sells a kind of flour made from cassava called garri|[[Garri]] (cassava flour) seller
File:Food market 2.jpg|alt=A woman at an outdoor market with buckets of potatoes for sale.|Potato seller
File:Food market 1.jpg|Yam seller
File:Food market 3.jpg|Peanut seller
</gallery>

[[File:Commercial Avenue, Bamenda, Cameroon.jpg|thumb|Commercial Avenue, Bamenda, Cameroun]]
In Bamenda, there are cultural sites such as the [[Mankon]] Fon's Palace with its newly constructed museum,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumcam.org/en/mankon/index.php |title=Mankon Museum |publisher=Centro Orientamento Educativo |access-date=2011-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235410/http://www.museumcam.org/en/mankon/index.php |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Bali Fon's palace with its ancient architectural structures. The mountainous terrain around the city affords scenic views such as that from the mountain Sabga over the [[Ndop, Cameroon|Ndop]] plain. Ndop plain stretches from under the Sabga mountain or hill Bamali, Bali Kumbat, Bamessing, Bamikumbit and many more sounding villages. One cannot oversee the Ngoketunjia mountain that dominates the Ndop central. Ngoketunjia means, a rock without heads.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GADM |url=https://gadm.org/maps/CMR/nord-ouest/ngoketunjia.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=gadm.org}}</ref>

==Transport==
Bamenda is linked by road to [[Yaoundé]] and [[Douala]], as well as an airport, [[Bamenda Airport]], located in Bafut subdivision.
<gallery>
File:More loading vehicles.jpg|Loading vehicles
File:A treet in Bamenda Cameroon.jpg|Urban transport
</gallery>

==Geography==
[[File:Chute de menchum.jpg|left|thumb|201x201px|Menchum Fall located in Menchum Division, North West Region]]
[[File:Same Joe's bushes, Bamenda.jpg|thumb|right|Same Joe's bushes, Bamenda]]
North of the city is the Bamenda Ring Road, a {{cvt|367|km|mi}} circular route through [[Cameroon Highlands]].<ref>Mark Dike DeLancey, Mark W. Delancey, Rebecca Neh Mbuh, ''Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2019, p. 57</ref> Along this road is [[Mount Oku]] {{cvt|3000|m|ft}}, the Kimbi River Game Reserve, the [[Menchum River]] [[waterfalls]], a huge Fon's palace at [[Bafut (town)|Bafut]], and a pyramidal thatched shrine at [[Akum]] (also known as Bagangu).

==Climate==
Bamenda has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Aw''), very close to being classified as a [[tropical monsoon climate]] (''Am''), with a long summer wet season and considerably less rainfall in the winter.<ref name="Climate-Data.org">[https://en.climate-data.org/africa/cameroon/northwest/bamenda-2905/ Climate Bamenda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225223621/https://en.climate-data.org/africa/cameroon/northwest/bamenda-2905/ |date=25 February 2019 }}, Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 25 February 2019.</ref>
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location=Bamenda
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|temperature colour=
|Jan high C=25.9
|Feb high C=26.8
|Mar high C=26.3
|Apr high C=25.6
|May high C=24.8
|Jun high C=23.9
|Jul high C=22.1
|Aug high C=22.1
|Sep high C=23.9
|Oct high C=23.4
|Nov high C=24.2
|Dec high C=25.5
|year high C=24.5
|Jan low C=13.2
|Feb low C=14.5
|Mar low C=16.4
|Apr low C=16.7
|May low C=16.7
|Jun low C=16.0
|Jul low C=15.4
|Aug low C=15.5
|Sep low C=15.5
|Oct low C=15.8
|Nov low C=14.7
|Dec low C=13.1
|year low C=15.3
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm=11.6
|Feb rain mm=29.4
|Mar rain mm=118.9
|Apr rain mm=178.1
|May rain mm=175.3
|Jun rain mm=266.7
|Jul rain mm=410.0
|Aug rain mm=411.9
|Sep rain mm=389.7
|Oct rain mm=227.8
|Nov rain mm=31.6
|Dec rain mm=9.1
|year rain mm=
|unit rain days=0.1 mm
|Jan rain days=2
|Feb rain days=3
|Mar rain days=12
|Apr rain days=19
|May rain days=21
|Jun rain days=24
|Jul rain days=27
|Aug rain days=27
|Sep rain days=27
|Oct rain days=23
|Nov rain days=6
|Dec rain days=1
|year rain days=
|source 1=[[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO >{{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1516 |title=World Weather Information Service — Bamenda |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |access-date=19 October 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117193239/http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1516 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=October 2015}}

According to the [[World Health Organization]], Bamenda is the most polluted city in Africa in terms of [[PM2.5]] particulate matter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jayshree |first1=Nandi |title=Delhi no more the most polluted city in the world, says WHO report |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Delhi-no-more-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world-says-WHO-report/articleshow/52232427.cms |access-date=12 May 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=12 May 2016 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507081135/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Delhi-no-more-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world-says-WHO-report/articleshow/52232427.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Education==
{{see also|International University, Bamenda}}
[[File:Bambili, university of Bamenda.jpg|thumb|Bambili, University of Bamenda]]
The city of Bamenda has many primary and secondary schools which offers both general technical and vocational training. It has a state-owned university, the [[University of Bamenda]], which trains students in all three cycles of education that is, Bachelor's, Master's & Doctorate (BMD) in different fields. Several University Institutes and professional institutions of learning also exist in the city of Bamenda. These institutions are mostly privately owned or owned by religious denominations.

The Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST) is a brain child of The Industrial and Educational Development Company Ltd (INDECO). It was incorporated on 12 October 1995.

INDECO and the university (BUST) were founded by the Late Rt. Hon. [[John Ngu Foncha]], with the encouragement of the Cameroon Government. The university went operational in January 1998. At the request of government, BUST participated and contributed extensively to the drafting of the Law on Private Higher Education in Cameroon.

BUST is a 4-year Arts, Science and Technology University. Degrees offered include B.A., BEd, BSc, HND.,SRN., AN., Lab. Tech., and Assist. Lab. Tech. Formalities for Post Graduate Studies have been put in place, to go operational by the academic year 2010/2011.

Its main national affiliate is the University of [[Buea|Buéa]], though other partnership arrangements are under way with the University of [[Dschang]]. The Bamenda University of Science and Technology is affiliated to the [[University of Osnabrück]] (Germany) and the University of Wales at [[Bangor, Gwynedd|Bangor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bamendauniversity.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1 |title=Homepage of Bameda University|access-date=6 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714164227/http://www.bamendauniversity.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cameroonweb.com/CameroonHomePage/education/ |title=Education in Cameroon |publisher=CameroonWeb |access-date=11 September 2018 |quote=Originally The University of Buea was the only British/American style university, but with the University of Bamenda opening its doors in 2011 Cameroon now has two English Universities. |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805172012/https://www.cameroonweb.com/CameroonHomePage/education/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It trains college teachers, medical doctors etc. and graduates in Accountancy, management, marketing, and a number of other fields of study.

Another institution of higher learning is National Polytechnic Bamenda, formerly National Polytechnic Bambui.

==Places of worship==
Among the [[places of worship]], they are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamenda]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Evangelical Church of Cameroon]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]), [[Presbyterian Church in Cameroon]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]), [[Cameroon Baptist Convention]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), Full Gospel Mission Cameroon ([[Assemblies of God]]), and [[Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘'Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 484-486</ref> There are also [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.

==Sports==
Over the years, Bamenda has had two [[Association football|football]] teams that played in the First Division Championship. In the 1970s, it was [[PWD Bamenda]] and later in the 1980s, it was Camark Bamenda. With the fall in the influence and budgeting of public works department and National Produce Marketing Board (NPMB), both teams fell from the limelight. Presently Camark Bamenda is out of existence, while PWD Bamenda are back in the top division after a slump to the third tier for almost 20 years. They won their first [[Elite One]] title in the [[2019–20 Elite One|2019-20 season]]. The other club from Bamenda in the professional league at the moment is [[Yong Sports Academy]]. They won the [[Cameroonian Cup]] in 2013.

==Politics==
Bamenda is the founding place and seat of the largest opposition political party in Cameroon, the [[Social Democratic Front (Cameroon)|Social Democratic Front]] (SDF), and the home of its leader, [[John Fru Ndi]]. There is a large military presence throughout the city. On 26 May 1990, a group of Bamenda elites launched the party in Ntarikon Bamenda, despite a heavy police presence. However, the launching did not end without casualty as six civilians were killed.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}}

Bamenda is also the birthplace of The [[Southern Cameroons National Council]] (SCNC), a group that has been asking for the restoration of the former [[Southern Cameroons]], a territory that covers the English-speaking provinces of North West and South West. The SCNC was born in Bamenda in 1994, after the All Anglophone Conference (AAC2) issued the Bamenda Declaration in which it had asked the government of President [[Paul Biya]] to respond to all anglophone grievances stated in the Buea Declaration of 1993, or face the wrath of the people of the Southern Cameroons. The Cameroon government failed to respond to the Bamenda Declaration and since then, the SCNC has categorically maintained that it now considers the restoration of the independence of the Southern Cameroons to be final and irrevocable.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bareta.news/bamenda-forgotten-city/ |title=BAMENDA: A FORGOTTEN CITY AND THE PEOPLE CRY FOR GOOD ROADS |website=www.bareta.news |date=26 July 2016 |language=en-US |access-date=2017-11-29 |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009100245/https://www.bareta.news/bamenda-forgotten-city/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Notable people ==

* The artist [[Libianca]] refers to herself as being "from Bamenda" in her song titled [[People (Libianca song)|People]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Libianca – People |url=https://genius.com/Libianca-people-lyrics |access-date=2024-03-21}}</ref>

* [[Andy Allo]], singer-songwriter and Actress was born in Bamenda
* [[Afowiri Fondzenyuy]], philanthropist, social entrepreneur, [[charity fundraiser]], and [[Long-distance running|long-distance]] marathon enthusiast was born in Bamenda

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Bamenda}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Capitals of Regions of Cameroon}}

[[Category:Bamenda| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Cameroon]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in Cameroon]]
[[Category:Ambazonia]]
[[Category:Southern Cameroons]]

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