Batoufam
|
Batoufam Tswefap |
|
|---|---|
| Commune and town | |
 Batoufam
|
|
| Coordinates: 5°16′N 10°28′E / 5.267°N 10.467°E | |
| Country |
 Cameroon
|
| Region | West Region |
| Department | Koung-Khi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 66 sq mi (172 km2) |
| Population (172) | |
| • Total | 12,000 |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
Batoufam (local language: Tswefap) is a town and commune in the department of Koung-Khi, Cameroon. It has an estimated population of 12,000. Batoufam is also a language and is part of the Bantu group of languages.
The founder of Batoufam was named Nankap. He was a hunter and a member of Bleble, a Tikar people that moved from the Adamawa Plateau to Bali. During the migration to Bali, Nankam deserted the Bleble, and served the Bangwa Chief. He was very similar to the Bangwa Chief because of his hunting skills and service attitude. For this, he was give the title of “Fodoum” (translation: "Chancelor"). After Kankam fell in love with Princess Melo, the Bangwa Chief decided to kill Kankam. But when Nankap learned of the plot, he fled to Bandrefam. Eventually, the Chief of Bandrefam gave Nankap a plot (Tou-fam; translation: "above Fam") to build his home. After he moved from Bandrefam, he made a home in Batoufam (translation: "village of Tou-fam").
Nankap’s grandson, Chief Lekouelieu, was the third leader of the dynasty. He bought and freed slaves. He also made alliances with neighbouring villages, and attracted new friends. After conquering another chief, Lelouelieu made the palace of the conquered chief into the Batoufam Chief's palace. The first eleven chiefs of the dynasty fought for Batoufam's autonomy and independence against Bandjoun, Bayangam, and Bangwa. The Chiefs Tchantchouang, Pokam, Metang, and Fotso expanded Batoufam territories. The tenth chief, Chief Pokam, introduced the pseudo bamboo, Raffia palm, Raphia farinifera, to Batoufam which energized the economy. Parts of the plant were used for home construction, furniture, and granaries. Other parts were extracted and made into a drink. Under Chief Pokan, farm instruments were introduced, as well as war armament, jewellery, drums and statues.
The twelfth chief, Chief Fotso, was known to be open-minded and eloquent. At the request by the Sultan of Bamoun who wanted people to occupy empty lands in his kingdom, Fotso established two sub-chieftaincies: Famla, headed by Foh-joueh, and Foumbot, headed by Fogue. When Fotso died in 1954, he had 60 wives and 123 children. In 1989, at the age of 22, Chief Nayang Toukam Innocent became the fourteenth Chief, succeeding his father, Chief Toukam Fotso Elie Roger. He is known for rallying Batoufam people in Cameroon and abroad. Nayang has travelled to France to manage the French association of Batoufam and has been instrumental in the creation of FABUSA, the Batoufam association in the United States. In November 2006, he negotiated for the return of Batoufam's Armouries of the Chieftaincy, symbols of the traditional power of the Chief.
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Wikipedia