Immaculate and calm, like the mosque that marks its entrance, Foumban, capital of the Bamoun kingdom, exudes calm and wisdom. As if its long life, since its foundation in the 15th century by Ncharé Yen, has brought it a serenity that only a few soccer matches can disturb. Or is it rather the ever-present domination of the Sultan that smoothes life in the city? As guarantor of the ancestors' tradition, the Sultan reigns over the whole of Noun country, while Bamiléké country is divided into numerous autonomous chiefdoms.In the six hundred years since the lineage was established, his authority has never been denied or challenged, least of all by the people. Organized entirely around the palace of the Sultans, which the celebrated King Njoya Ibrahim had built from 1917 onwards, Foumban lives only through the Bamoun dynasty. None of the town's many cabs fail to tell of their royal descent, their princely rank, or even to claim their share of the inheritance.The city is dotted with the vestiges of its past grandeur. In addition to the Sultans' Palace, the statue of Ibrahim Njoya, the Royal Palace Museum, the Great Mosque and the Museum of Arts and Traditions bear witness to Bamoun history. The market and craft center are content to perpetuate a culture celebrated every two years during the Ngouon festival. Celebrated every two years, the Ngouon is a cultural and traditional festival not to be missed among the Bamoun. Everyone, from Cameroon and beyond, flocks to this event to celebrate their heritage. Indeed, the word Nguon means paying tribute to the owner of the land one cultivates. The Nguon is therefore a conference of the sovereign people of Ku-mutngu (spears of justice carried by members of the secret society), a manifestation of active democracy through the judgment of the king before all by his notables. It's a grandiose celebration that impresses visitors and onlookers with the flamboyance of its costumes and attractions, the resonance of its percussion instruments and songs, and the virtuosity of the dances that accompany them. The rest of the year, Foumban is a simple African town, where life is good. The town center, organized around the market, is perpetually bustling. Here, you'll discover street culture and the wild trade that reigns there. As you move away, the streets become calmer, and you keep going up and down the hills. Some neighborhoods are truly beautiful, and nature is everywhere. Just like the children who watch the "white man", sometimes intrigued, sometimes frightened... And, as the sun floods the city's hills, its brown dirt roads turn red. And Foumban becomes magical.A town apart in Cameroon, where the past all too often seems to have disappeared behind the thousands of precarious dwellings. Here, the history of the black continent has not been forgotten; it is present in monuments such as the Sultans' Palace, and is above all the pride of the inhabitants. It's one of those places where time slips away, without anyone wanting to hold it back.

What to visit Foumban?

Weather at the moment

Loading...
Organize your trip with our partners Foumban
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Foumban travel inspiration

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Pictures and images Foumban

Portrait du Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, Roi des Bamoun. Sébastien CAILLEUX
Les griots, musiciens de la cour du roi Bamoun. Sébastien CAILLEUX
Send a reply