SPOTLIGHT: Bamenda, our city as we know it!

Situated 366km North West of the administrative capital of Cameroon, Yaounde, and about 450km of Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala, Bamenda, estimate to harbour some 500,000 breathing souls, has come to mean more than one thing to many a keen observer.

            At one time simple known as the land where heroes come to die, today, Bamenda stands its own, tall among the emerging towns of our triangle nation. It gained the status of a city on the strength of a Presidential Decree of 17^th January 2008, which created the Bamenda City Council from the defunct Bamenda Urban Council, bringing in as well the three Municipal Councils of Bamenda I, Bamenda II and Bamenda III.

            Senior translator and writer, Canute C.N. Tangwa paints the picture of a city of two epochs in the following TRAVELOGUE.

Bamenda then and now:

Any day and time I am bound for Bamenda, the gateway to the North West Region, I remember the late Kotto Bass’s hit song dubbed, “Bamenda.” In the track, he reels off the names of past and present captains of industry and politics as well as custodians of tradition and culture (Fons) from the North West.

            As we slowly but surely descended the Station Hill, Peter Essoka’s question, “who is the Bamenda man,” and Julius Wamey’s terse response flickered through my mind. It did not die because Jomia Pefok’s wise crack that the Bamenda is a law abiding citizen but very sensitive to injustice kept me thinking. Indeed, with kaleidoscopic precision, images of Bamenda during my stay at CCAST Bambili kept surging and rested on bell Luc Rene’s crisp and riveting description of the mindset of the Bamenda man over the CRTC programme, Actualité Hebdo: a formidable go-getter with a penchant for detail.

            I looked down as usual to catch a glimpse of downtown Bamenda. It was dark except for pockets of lit-up areas! I held my breath. In the good days, any visitor took in, sized up and appreciated Abakwa from the Station Hill. “Quelle beauté”, a friend of mine exclaimed in 1989.

            The decay was knee-dip and shouting. We sped past Finance Junction and slowed down at Ngeng Junction, not because of traffic jam but of the deplorable state of the road. We swung towards SONAC Street hoping to catch the usual night revelers around former Zenon or so. Since there was no action around there, we moved on to the famous Commercial Avenue. There was not hustle, no snack bar, no cabaret life… nothing! Bamenda used to wake up one a Friday as from 9pm till dawn. Very few businesses could afford power generating sets so they had to adopt break-even measures like closing early.

            Formerly, we could have been spoilt for choice as to which night club, cabaret, snack or joint to go to, particularly along the Commercial Avenue. We met a semi-desert, dark and poorly lit Commercial Avenue and town. Someone proposed Dallas. We did not hesitate and had to maneuver to get there for the road was an eyesore. The ambiance was fairly good, the music below par for guys cruising in from Douala; the services were satisfactory and the call girls aplenty. We guzzled beer and listened to jarring renditions of tunes or hit songs of yesteryears.

            Then I spotted my younger brother, an excellent ball juggler-termed- developer, some distance away from the Government Delegate of the Bamenda City Council. He electrified the atmosphere. Booze flowed and there was mirth.

            At around 3am we decided to retire. But our intestines had already started complaining. We badly needed a bite. We began a frantic search. Every available restaurant was closed. Fortunately, there was this lady around former Black and White night Club at Nkwen who operated an open air cafeteria. We went down to business and retired to our various abodes with the hope seeing Abakwa by day.

            When we met the following day everyone commented on our night experience. Two of my friends who lodged at Ayaba had a bizarre story to tell. The lifts were seemingly not operational. At Le Bien, the proprietor had to make do with a generator but at a price for the visitor: lights-out after 11pm!

            Bamenda by day looked like a battered truck in need of urgent repairs. It had been buffeted by the New Deal, the wind of change, “scratch my back and I scratch your back” brand of politics, socio-economic neglect and opposition politics. Seemingly, Bamenda was paying the wage of being an opposition town. The intrepid Ntemfac Ofege stated clearly that when the 1999/2000 State budget was CFA 1,100 billion, the North West got less than 2% of the total revenue!.

            I decided to board a motorbike (bendskin), in order to beat the traffic jam at Nkwen, for the Bamenda mortuary. From Ndamukong Street, we rode through Mile 2 Nkwen, down towards the former Rota snack bar and veered towards Cow Street through Ngeng Junction, City Chemist Roundabout towards the market and took a short cut to the mortuary. From the mortuary, the “bendskin” made a detour via Ntamulung. Two Bridge and unto Nkwen. From thereon we sped to Bob Fula Junction in Ndamukong Street. I saw what the French term, “Bamenda Profound”: poor road infrastructure and underdevelopment.

Bamenda now

            Indeed, that was Bamenda then. Bamenda now looks like a serpent that has sloughed off its skin someone has given Bamenda the Midas’s touch! In Cameroon, it has gained currency: where the Head of State passes, development follows. Bamenda will receive the Head of State, President Paul Biya, for the 50^th anniversary of our valiant Armed Forces. Thus, pot holes have been filled, roads have received a facelift, the street light are on, hotels are being refurbished and built, cabarets, nightclubs and snacks have come to life, streets are swept clean, there is an expected construction of a thermal power plant, and business seems to be moving in the right direction with the imminent construction of the Bamenda-Enugu road. Apparently, the Bamenda man looks set to seize this opportunity: the resilience, hope, potential and possibility are seemingly back.

            Shandie Shing Av wontom captures the new Bamenda spirit when he states, interalia; “Bamenda … will be the terminal of the main road with the Nigerian giant, a tractor and bus assembly plant will soon be built in Mile 4 Nkwen for the West African market, a State University may be underway, Azire and Police Credit Unions are the largest Credit Unions in Central Africa, not to talk of the vast potential of its qualified people and its experience from all over the world who are rushing back to have a foot in Abakwa. And there is more!

            For this is the first Cameroonian city in which call box vendors make a profit selling telephone air time for 25CFA Frs. Per minute; where there is no need for low cost housing; and where part of the city gets water free of charge. It is a city with cheap food and cheap housing, where the cost for a taxi drop has stabilized at 100CFA Frs. For the past ten years. It is the city with the highest concentration of high standard secondary schools in Cameroon. Its Government Delegate is a Civil Engineer, and it’s Parliamentarian an Architect. So often I wonder what that city would be like if just a fraction of its children were to return from abroad to live there, with their experience, their means and their courage. Bamenda has over twenty 4,000 capacity Church houses in which campaigns and elections take place every year; it is the bedrock of myriad Credit Unions where democracy is the overriding factor.

THE NORTH WEST MEDIA: AN EXCITING PHONOMENON

Bamenda

The media is an indispensable tool in the development of every society. The importance of the media is best substantiated by the celebrated American Statesman, Thomas Jefferson, who once said that if he had to choose between a press and a government, he would not hesitate to choose the former.

            The significance of the press lies in its function as the mirror of society. There are only two things to do when standing face to face with the mirror-adjust or break the mirror.

            The press in the North West is more than just vibrant; it is electrifying in its reporting and truly reflects the very active (volatile) nature of the North Westerner Bamenda town alone has six FM Radio Stations. They are Afrique Nouvelle, Abakwa FM, Radio Hot cocoa, Foundation Radio, Christian Gospel Radio and CBC radio. There are six Community Radio Stations; Ngoketunjia FM, Oku Community Radio, Savannah Radio-Nkambe, Bui Community Radio, Donga-Mantung Community Radio and Batibo Community Road. There are also three TV Stations operating from Bamenda. Cameroon National Television (CNTV), Republican Television Network (RTN) and Horizon TV Stations operating from Bamenda. Cameroon National Television (CNTV), Republican Television Network (RTN) and Horizon TV. Private newspapers operating from Bamenda include Chronicle, The Watchdog Tribune, The Herald Tribune, Frontier Telegraph, The Vanguard, World Echoes, The Reporter, The Eye, Cameroon Post International, Life Time, The Pilot and of recent, Day Break and Independent Observer. Other publications in newsletter form are, however, enriched by regular newspapers with headquarters elsewhere. There are as well the dailies. Cameroon Tribune, and Le Jour, with headquarters in Yaounde; the bi-weeklies: The Post and Eden, with headquarters in Buea and Limbe respectively. The Guardian Post is another widely-read newspaper; it is a weekly with head office in Yaounde. Others are The Star, The Spokesman, City Times, Cameroon Now and Cameroon Express.

            Many of these newspapers are like kolanuts. Nobody knows when a kola nut would fall from the tree. Just as in every popular profession, there are guards and charlatans. You see the latter at almost all public occasions brandishing recorders or conducting interviews which are never published. The North West Governor calls them Ayaba journalists, just like Hilton journalists in Yaounde. Even some of those who publish occasionally are also involved in the unenviable practice of harassing politicians and other newsmakers for money, popularly nicknamed “gombo.” The most derogatory term ever used on such journalists came from former Governor of the North West, Kumpa Issa. He once described them as coupeurs de routes (highway robbers). This was when some of them tried to obstruct a visiting Minister whom the Governor was accompanying to Bafut.

            Cameroonians, as a rule, do more listening to the radio and watching television. North Westerners are, however, among the most informed Cameroonians. There are yet another group of persons who excel in misinformation because they are not informed themselves. They are always at the newsstands, not to buy newspapers but to peruse through headlines and later pose as political schoolmasters in beer and palm wine houses.

            Even more dangerous to the communication landscape are publishers of newspapers without a fixed editorial policy. For instance, the person they carry to heaven on the wings of panegyric in one edition is the same one they damn as a rogue in the very next, and they do not think they owe the reader and explanation for that.

            The vibrancy in the North West media is further demonstrated by the activities of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ). Apart from the fact that the North West chapter of CAMASEJ holds monthly meetings and educates members on the tenets of the profession, it organizes scholarship awards for meritorious GCE candidates.

            Janet Garvey, out-gone US ambassador to Cameroon, left with a very positive impression of North West CAMASEJ, which she communed with more than once. The same was the impression of Maryline Green, a Canadian media expert. The vibrancy in the North West press reflects the vibrancy of democracy and human rights in the region.

Bamenda, the citadel of Modern Education

When the learned Professor Emeritus Bernard Fonlon was ridiculed by a contemporary because he did not have houses like his friends, he answered: “You build houses, but I build men”.

            The learned philosopher’s reply sums up the whole value of education. Every sensible human being knows that the best assets a parent can give their offspring is a sound education. Educating a child is putting up sky scrapers in his mind.

            If there is any species of Cameroonian, who upholds this lofty principle, it is the Bamenda man. The North West parent would rather eat food without oil, or move about in rags than allow their child to stay at home. This further explains why the Parent Teacher Association, PTA, puts up infrastructure in schools and even employs and pays auxiliary staff.

            But a greater proof of a Bamenda man’s attachment to education is the number of private higher institutions in Bamenda. There is the Bamenda University of Science and Technology, BUST, which is graduating students up to the Masters Degree. Some of these students come from neighboring Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. Then there is the National Polytechnic in Bambui, of one multi-talented Bobe Francis Young. National Polytechnique Bambui has graduated students in various useful disciplines including Journalism and Computer Science. Like BUST, it has numerous students from Equatorial Guinea. There is also FANAB, of Dr. Peter Fonche, a science researcher. Recently, the Catholic and Presbyterian Churches also heeded the call for quality education by creating two Universities. These are: The Catholic University, with campus in Nkwen; and the Christian University with campus in Bali. Bambili has the ENS, First and Second Cycles, as well as the Higher Teachers; Technical College. Despite the existence of these institutions of higher learning.

            At the level of academic performance, the North West is exemplary. The best results at the GCE, as well as in technical education, are usually produced by the North West. Students from other Regions, who do not perform well or think they could do better, travel to study in the North West because of the conducive academic environment. Discipline and moral education are values which have inspired parents in most parts of Cameroon to send their children to study in the North West. Schools like Sacred Heart College Mankon, St. Bebe’s College Ashing, Our Lady of Lourdes and P.S.S. Mankon are models. The quality of education in the North West is enhanced by the activities of the Cameroon Teacher’s Trade Union, CATTU. The most dynamic Teachers Trade Union in Cameroon, CATTU has its headquarters in Bamenda and is headed by the fearless, no-nonsense Simon Nkwenti.

TOURISM / TRAVEL AGENCIES

v     Amour Mezam inter-urban Transport Agency

v     Symbol of Unity Travel and Tourism Agency

v     Vatican Inter-Urban Transport Agency

v     Mondial Inter-Urban Transport Agency

v     Guarantee Inter-Urban Transport Agency

v     Jeanot Inter-Urban Transport Agency

v     Mazi Inter-Urban Transport Agency

v     Patience Inter-Urban Transport Agency

v     Mar-Tourism- Reservation / Guide

v     Eco-travel and Tourism Agency- Reservations

v     Laro-Tourism-Reservations

v     Zwinkels Tours Cameroon – Ticketing, Guide & Reservations

v     Holywood Travel – Ticketing, Reservations, Guide

v     NADED Tours – Ticketing, Reservations and Guides.

USEFUL HEALTH FACILITIES IN BAMENDA

v     Regional Hospital Bamenda

v     PMI Nkwen

v     Karen Pharmacy-Nkwen

v     Vilen Pharmacy – Nkwen

v     Crystal Pharmacy

v     Corporate Pharmacy

v     San Paolo Pharmacy

v     City Chemist Pharmacy

v     Professional Plaza Pharmacy, Commercial Avenue

v     Millennium Pharmacy, Savannah Street

v     Mezam Pharmacy

v     Noble Pharmacy

v     Amen Pharmacy

v     Sacred heart Pharmacy

v     Black Star Pharmacy

v     Park Pharmacy

v     Adeso Clinic

v     Saint Blaise Hospital

v     Saint Mary Hospital

v     St. Louis Clinic

v     World Hospital Up Station

v     Mbingo Baptist Hospital

v     St. Martin de Porres Catholic Hospital Njinikom

v     Banso Baptist Hospital.

v     Shisong Cardiac Center for Central Africa.

USEFUL ADDRESS

Regional Hospital Bamenda

Tel: 33 36 21 87

Gendarmerie Bamenda

Tel: 33 36 11 52

Public Security Bamenda

Tel: 33 36 12 09

Fire Fighters Brigade

Tel: 118/ 18

Regional Delegation National Security

Tel: 22 26 12 09

PRESENTATION OF THE NORTH WEST

LOCATION

The North West Region is found within the Western Highlands of Cameroon. It lies between latitudes 5^o40’ and 7^o North of the Equator and Longitudes 9^o45’ and 11^o10’ East of the Prime Meridian. It is bordered to the East by the Western Region, to the North West by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the South by the South West Region. The Region has a total land surface area of 17.300km² and its close location to Nigeria and the Western region is of strategic importance to the economic development of the area.

TOPOGRAPHY

Generally mountainous and undulating, the North West Region lies within the highlands of Cameroon. The region is not easily accessible because of the abrupt escapement of the landscape. Almost all the lands are located in altitudes above 900 meters. The highest point of the region is Mount Oku in Bui Division with an altitude of 3011 meters above sea level while the lowest part is in the Mbembe Plain (Donga Mantung) around river Donga Mantung with 211 meters above seal level.

CLIMATE

Generally, the region is characterized by a short dry season of about four months (November – February) and a wet season of about 8 months (March – October) with the months of August and February as the coldest and hottest respectively. This allows for two cropping seasons at elevations of about 1200m, and a single cropping season in the higher altitude because of the low ambient temperatures. The mean annual temperatures range from 14^oc to 28^oc. High temperature is common particularly in depressions between hills, such as the Ndop plain, the Mbaw Plain, the Menchum Valley and in the Lowland forest zones. The coldest area is found around Ndu in Donga Mantung and Tatum in Bui Division. The hottest being the Mbembe area is Ako Sub-Division.

ADMINISTRATION

The North West Region comprises 07 administrative units: Boyo, Bui, Donga Mantung, Menchum, Momo and Ngoketunjia. Each Division has Sub-Divisions. Presently, the region has 31 Sub Divisions and 32 council areas, out which there is one city council. Bamenda is the regional capital of the North West Region of Cameroon.

ETHNIC GROUPS

The population of the North West Region is a conglomeration of many ethnic groups comprising the native population and a significant proportion of immigrants from other regions and countries, particularly Nigeria. The native population comprises a variety of ethno-linguistic groups. The main ethnic groups or tribes are: Tikari, Widikum, and Fulanis. Major ethnic groups in the North West include the (Nsos, the Koms, the Mbums, the Mettas and the Balis). In the tribes, the social organization recognizes at its head a chief who is also called Fon. The Fons are enthroned as the living representatives of the ancestors. Their roles are significant in the communities.

RELIGION

Traditional religion with ancestral worship runs across all ethnic groups in the region, even as Christianity and Islam strives. The Catholics, Baptists and Presbyterians account for over 80% of the population, while the Muslims are less than 20%. A small percentage practice uniquely the traditional religion. From these mentioned groups, only Christianity discourages polygamy. Data from the 1987 census states that 74% of the population accounted for monogamous marriages, while 20% accounted for polygamy. Many of these religious bodies or structures have been a driving force in the development of the area, especially in the domain of health and education.

POPULATION

Since 1987, the region has been witnessing a rapid increase in its population, which today stands at about 1.8 million even as unofficial sources put it at about 4 million inhabitants. Population density is about 99 inhabitants per km² compared to the national average of 22.6. The regional urban growth rate is at 7.95% compared to the national average of 5.6%, whereas the rural growth rate is at 1.16% equal to the national rate. When the population is considered by sex, the predominance of the female over the male population is evident. The working population splits into 47.4% men as compared to 40.4% of women. This is due to the fact that men move to the city to find jobs while women remain in the rural area to work on the farms. The overall population of the region is still a young one with over 62% of residents still under 20 years of age. This produces a population pyramid that is still broad at the base. The proportion of persons of above 60 years is very small (4.2%). Consequently the dependency rate (proportion economically) is high in the region (116 inactive persons to 100 active persons), particularly in rural areas.

TELECOMMUNICATION

The public switched telephone network operators in Cameroon is Camtel, Cameroon Telecommunication with the exception of Boyo, all Divisions in the region are served with fixed phones. Of the total number of telephone lines in the region, Bamenda has more than 75%. By the year 2000, new mobile companies, MTN and ORANCE rushed in and installed mobile network in the region. Almost all divisions are served by these mobile operators. Internet access is available though largely limited to the city centre of Bamenda. Numerous radio’s and TV channels animate the region.

HEALTH

Primary health care facilities exist in some villages in the region. Hospital facilities provided by government and other denominations as well as private individuals abound in the urban centers. Distances to rural health centers are far off and the facilities and staff are not enough in quality and quantity. The mortality rate continuous to increase and is aggravated by the prevalence of HIV/ AIDS and other related pandemics.

CULTURE

There exist no structure in the region for the promotion and mobilization of arts and cultural heritage. The cinema industry is faced with unfair competition from video clubs.

SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

The other social infrastructures such as social affairs, women’s affairs, youth affairs, sport museums and public libraries generally are undeveloped.

FINANCIAL SECTOR

In the entire region, five well established banks and four insurance companies can be identified. There is one big corporative of Credit Unions (CAMCCUL) with head quarters in Bamenda. CAMCCUL seems to be the only structure that regularly finances the agro-rural sector as conventional banks and insurance companies play a relatively negligible role in poverty alleviation in the area.

OVERALL PHILOSOPHY OF THE NORTH WESTERNER

North Westerners generally believe in national unity and state institutions. They fought for reunification and have remained stead fast in their beliefs and convictions. They tolerate various shades of political opinion and get too hostile only to those who try to impose a particular form of thinking on them. They have a lot of respect for elders, but only if those elders live up to expectations. Those who portray North Westerners as terrorists, trouble makers or “enemies dans la maison” are political bigots who want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Those who know the North West, but do not love it, hate all what is beautiful, noble and upright.