Bafut (town)

Bafut
View over Bafut Commune
Bafut Location in Cameroon
Coordinates: 6°05′N 10°06′E / 6.083°N 10.100°E / 6.083; 10.100
Country	Cameroon
Province	Northwest Province
Department	Mezam
Government
• Type	Local Government (traditional democracy)
• Mayor	Ngwasoh Abel Langsi
Population (2001)
• Total	80,305
Website	www.bafut.council.org

Bafut is a town located in a modern commune in Cameroon, it is also a traditional fondom . It is located in the Mezam Department, which in turn is located in the Northwest Province.

Bafut is famous for having preserved its structure as a traditional kingdom (or "Fondom" ), under the leadership of the Fon of Bafut. Its traditional power structures operate in harmony with its modern local government council, which aims to turn Bafut into an Eco-city.

The Bafut tradition traces its dynastic origins to the Ndobo or Tikari areas. From the reign of Firloo, the first Fon of Bafut, it has operated as a fondom or kingdom, using traditional power structures. Upon their arrival from Tikari at least 400 years ago, the Bafut people built the current "old palace" of Mbebli, also known as Ntoh Firloo. It still contains the tombs of the first three Bafut kings Firloo, Nebasi Suh and Ambebi.

The Fon's palace, and thus the centre of Bafut's traditional power, was later moved to its current location, and by the time of the German annexation of the Cameroons in the late nineteenth century, Bafut had roughly assumed its present make-up.

The Bafut Wars resulted from German colonial intrusion into the Bafut fondom.

The German explorer, Dr Eugen Zintgraff, visited Bafut in 1889. He had earlier stopped in Bali Nyonga where he had received a warm welcome from Galega, the Fon of Bali Nyonga. However the Bafut Fon, Abumbi, received him with circumspection since Bafut was not on good terms with Bali Nyonga. Zintgraff is said to have committed two breaches of etiquette. He seized the drinking cup from the Fon's hand and drank from it and he insisted on calling Abumbi by his princely name 'Gualem'. This open display of disrespect was interpreted in Bafut as a deliberate attempt to belittle the Fon and it was assumed that Galega of Bali Nyonga was behind this.