Bamoun / Bamun / Bamum / Bamoun / Bamoum, Kamerun

The Bamoun live in the South-Eastern region of the Cameroon grasslands, numbering around a 100,000. They migrated to where they now live from an area to the north over the last few centuries. The region where they live played an integral part in the trade routes of Cameroon, with the port of Douala in the south and the Fulani and Hausa traders to the north. Historically farmers like the other people of the area, growing maize, Yams and peanuts.Goats’ chickens and other small livestock were also kept to balance the daily sustenance. The men are responsible for the clearing of the fields, while planting and harvesting was the responsibility of the women as it is believed that they make the soil more fruitful. Their political structure has the Bamoun paying allegiance to the King or Fon, while each village has a leader, selected by his predecessor, who is usually the head of the dominant lineage within that community. Each Fon is assisted by an elder council, advising him on important decisions as well as the selection of the next Fon.The Fon has his seat as the head of his people for his lifetime, and will only ‘pass the torch’ when he is nearing death.

Spiritually, the Bamoun have an allegiance to their lineage ancestors.Memories of ancestors are honored, and the Bamoun believe the Ancestral spirit is embodied in the skull of the deceased ancestor.These skulls are of high importance, and are held in the possession of the eldest male of each lineage.When relocation is undertaken by a family, a small house is built to house the skulls in the new location; this house must first be purified by a diviner before the skulls can be placed inside.It is also believed that if the skull of an ancestor is not preserved, the spirit has nowhere to reside, and this could bring on trouble for the family. As compensation, when the skull is not preserved, a family member must undergo a ceremony in which libations would be offered and poured into the ground. Earth gathered from the location of the ceremony and libation would then kept to represent the skull of the deceased.

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