Bandjoun
| Bandjoun | |
|---|---|
| Commune | |
View of Bandjoun
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 Bandjoun
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| Coordinates: 5°21′N 10°24′E / 5.350°N 10.400°E | |
| Country |
 Cameroon
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| Region | West Region |
| Department | Koung-Khi |
| Foundation | 1570 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Fotso Victor (Fo Niapjouong) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 106 sq mi (274 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,020 ft (1,530 m) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 6,872 |
| Time zone | Africa/Douala (UTC1) |
Bandjoun (La 'Djo in local language) is a town and commune in the Koung-Khi Department in the West Region in western Cameroon. Bandjoun is the capital of Koung-Khi and also of the largest traditional chiefdom (chefferie) in Bamiléké country. The chief dwells in Hialah, and has many wives.
Its inhabitants speak Ghomala' or Bandjoun which is one of the Bamiléké family of languages.
Bandjoun is located some 10 km south of Bafoussam and some 230 km north-east of Douala. Access to the commune is by the N4 road from Bafoussam which passes through the commune then goes south-east to Bayangam. The N5 road branches from the N4 in the commune and goes south-west to Batié. The Route Bangou also branches from the N4 in the commune and goes south through the town to Bangou.
The recent history of the Bandjoun people is relatively well known today. Recent history, however, covers only the last two centuries. Further research on the prehistory of the village Bandjoun is needed. Some existing chronologies cite the foundation of Bandjoun village in the 14th and 15th centuries under the Royal Magistracy of Notchwegom (1525 according to some sources but probably in 1570).
It is now established that King Foudoup was the first King of Baleng who reigned between 1545 and 1573. King Fodoup had difficulty in reconciling his first two sons Tchoungafo and Notchwegom about who would succeed him at his death. He openly expressed a preference for Tchoungafo to which Notchwegom took great umbrage and decided to leave the village of his father to found his own village below in the Noun Valley. Taking care to avoid irritating small chiefdoms that existed in the area, he moved to the edge of the last village where he could finally find free land. It was at the current location of Famleng.
After installing the first encampment at Bandjoun, Notchewegom quickly disappeared. His first wife, with whom he had already had a young son barely a teenager (11 years old according to some), sought the protection of his stepfather until her son, Du'gnechom, would be old enough to succeed his father. King Foudoup used this opportunity to reconcile posthumously with his son by fully supporting his wife and introducing her little son to the art of building royal power.
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Wikipedia