Bana, Cameroon

Bana
Sub-Prefecture

Nickname(s): Petit Paris
Bana Location in Cameroon
Coordinates: 5°09′N 10°16′E / 5.150°N 10.267°E / 5.150; 10.267
Country	Cameroon
Province	West Province
Department	Haut-Nkam
Founded	1379
Created	1963
Government
• Mayor	Kadji Defosso Joseph
Area
• Total	51 sq mi (131 km²)
Elevation^[1]	4,652 ft (1,418 m)
Population (2012)
• Total	5,727^[2]
Time zone	Africa/Douala (UTC1)

Bana is a sub-prefecture and commune in the West Province of Cameroon, some 8 km east of Bafang and 2 km south-west of Babouantou.

Geography

Bana is accessed by road P15 which comes from Barmena in the east which passes through the heart of the commune and continues west to join the N5 road in the north-east of Bafang.

The word Bana means "birth place" (Ba = place, Na = born). The inhabitants are called Née however they often call themselves bana in French. Née signifies insistence, harassment, pursuit which may reflect the qualities of the founder of the town.

The language spoken in the commune is Fe'fe' which the locals simply call Bana.

The commune is located at a high altitude of 1,418 metres and consequently has a cool climate.

Geology

The land is of volcanic origin with basaltic bedrock (25%), granite (45%), and gneiss (18%). The soil is fertile. The wooded landscape is the result of a long interaction between the people and the land.

Hydrography

The rivers which cross the territory of the commune are:

Schi madeu (near the chefferie^[3])
Schi Tie´ko
Schi Luma
Schi hua doh
Schi Sabe between Bana and Batcha
Maga´Schi
Pa´schi (translated: "Red River")
Schi gale
Schi apa ntoo
Schi ko Tcheu´

Districts

Map of Bana Districts

The commune four districts:

Bana
Badoumkassa
Bakassa
Batcha

Batcha

Batcha is a village located on one of the old Bafang-Bangangté roads in the east of Bana. Local people and some Mbororo (Fulani) nomadic herders live here attracted large pastures on the steep slopes of the mountain range that runs from Bana to Batcha and beyond.

The community feature a large natural area sheltered by hills and mountains and especially by Mount Banatcha near Bana (according to sources) which rises to 2097 m.

Batcha in bamiléké means "land" or "visit".

Badoumkassa

Bandoumkassa is a village at an altitude of about 1500 metres. The temperature here can easily be 11° C at certain times of the year. The people live mainly from agriculture and small business. Here there are both opulent villas and brick huts. This district has been led for the past thirty years by His Majesty Victor Kamaha II who was a senior officer in the Cameroon police.

Bakassa

Bakassa is a village in the south of Bana. This is one of the largest villages by both population and area in the Bana arrondissement. This mountain village lies between other riverbank villages: Bana, Banfeko, Badoumkassa, Bassap, Bapoutcheu Ngaleu etc. It can be reached by road via all these villages.

Agriculture is the main activity including food crops and coffee. This village has a particularly cool climate because of the altitude. This is one of the oldest chiefdoms in the district headed by His Majesty F. Ngako for many years since. He is the doyen of age and longevity of his reign for the arrondissement of Bana and the department of Haut-Nkam.

Traditional Bronze reliefs at the entrance to the Bakassa chefferie

History

Bana was once a customary kingdom founded in 1379 by Fon Tchokogwe(Nza), a first-degree chefferie^[3] (chiefdom) led by Fon Sikam Happi V. His successor in 2003 was Konchipe Happi IV.

The first chefferies in this part of bamiléké country were founded in the 17th century on the heights of the Ndumla plateau. The founders of these chefferies followed in the path of Neolithic people who also settled the area as evidenced by the results of the archaeological mission by F. Paris in 1974 with the discovery of stone tools on the same heights.

The chefferie is in the No. Ndum district: Ndum means "over" or "above" while Ndak means "Low", The lowlands are traditionally reserved for the elite.

From 1916 to 1920 Bana was the capital of the Western Division under French administration.

Economy

The main economic activities are agricultural with the production of coffee and other vegetables.

Bana Picture Gallery

A View of the Village
A Street in the Village
The Market Square in Bana. The market is held every day.
Hotel in Bana
Statue of a traditional chief at the Chefferie
Entry to the Chefferie
Lion guarding the entrance to the Chefferie
A Hut at the Chefferie
Visit by the US ambassador (wearing traditional indigo clothes) to the Chiefs of Bana (left) and Bandja (right)
The Chief of Bana presents a gift to the US Ambassador.
Manioc plants in Bana
Drying Manioc in Bana
Banana tree in Bana