His Majesty Fô'A- Djomo Kamga Honoré presided over the just ended weeklong "Msem Tojom", Bandjoun's arts and cultural festival which took place at the festivities' place in the Bandjoun Royal Palace (place des fêtes de la chefferie Bandjoun).
At this year's launch on November 9th, King Djomo Kamga who began by welcoming all sons and daughters of Bandjoun from around Cameroon and the world to the 8th edition spoke about the importance of this event and how to properly promote culture and cultivating and keeping heritage. He place a big value on cultural colourisation.
Amongst the various activities presented through out the events we had cultural dances and sketches from the teens ages 5-15 who danced the Todjom dance. Todjom is the traditional name for all Bandjoun people.
They were then followed by the young men who dance the "Mwouop". The Mwouop is a parade in which young men half naked dance with their spears to remind everyone of their roles or future roles as protectors of their families and upholding the morality of their regiment.
There was also the "Mesouh" dance for the young ladies. The Mesouh dance is similar to the Mwouop as in this case, this shows the values of women as the nurturers of the future, procreation, maturity, working mothers in their various families.
Another important event which took place is the usual 20km cultural walk from the Baleng Kingdom to Bandjoun. This walk is very significant to the Bandjoun royal dynasty as it marks the long standing history and culture between both kingdoms.
According to history, the first king of Bandjoun came from the Baleng Kingdom and over the centuries following the death of a king in Bandjoun, the Baleng King is always made aware of who will be succeeding and thus takes part in the picking and enthrone of the future king. This is enthronement is also vise versa. As on the occasion of the death of a Baleng king, the Bandjoun King takes part in the picking and enthronement of the future king
This practice is a known one in the Bamileke royal culture. Before a king dies, he privately informs either the neighboring king with whom he maintains a great and cordial relationship on whom will be succeeding him amongst his multiple children. This practice is to avoid the heir from being killed out of jealousy. Like most African kingdom, polygamy is very common and a king could take many women as wives including inheriting his father's wives including his mother as his. He could bear children with his late father's wives excluding his mother.
About Bandjoun:
Bandjoun is a town, kingdom and capital of the Koung-Khi Department in the West Region of Cameroon. Bandjoun is also one of the largest traditional chiefdom (chefferie) in Bamiléké country. The chief HM Fo'o Djomo Kamga Honore dwells in Hialah, and has many wives. The languages spoken here are french and Ghomala
The story of the Royal dynasty is one I will be writing very soon as it is quite long and only a few people know more about the Baleng-Bandjoun history.
About the festival:
Msem Tojom is a cultural event which takes place every two years which celebrates the bright and colourful culture and heritage found in Bandjoun. Msem Tojom is derived from two Ghomala words Msem which means finesse, ingenuity, know-how and Tojom meaning the Bandjoun people, thereby making Msem Tojom meaning; ''finesse, ingenuity, know-how of the Bandjoun people''.
At this year's launch on November 9th, King Djomo Kamga who began by welcoming all sons and daughters of Bandjoun from around Cameroon and the world to the 8th edition spoke about the importance of this event and how to properly promote culture and cultivating and keeping heritage. He place a big value on cultural colourisation.
Amongst the various activities presented through out the events we had cultural dances and sketches from the teens ages 5-15 who danced the Todjom dance. Todjom is the traditional name for all Bandjoun people.
They were then followed by the young men who dance the "Mwouop". The Mwouop is a parade in which young men half naked dance with their spears to remind everyone of their roles or future roles as protectors of their families and upholding the morality of their regiment.
There was also the "Mesouh" dance for the young ladies. The Mesouh dance is similar to the Mwouop as in this case, this shows the values of women as the nurturers of the future, procreation, maturity, working mothers in their various families.
Another important event which took place is the usual 20km cultural walk from the Baleng Kingdom to Bandjoun. This walk is very significant to the Bandjoun royal dynasty as it marks the long standing history and culture between both kingdoms.
According to history, the first king of Bandjoun came from the Baleng Kingdom and over the centuries following the death of a king in Bandjoun, the Baleng King is always made aware of who will be succeeding and thus takes part in the picking and enthrone of the future king. This is enthronement is also vise versa. As on the occasion of the death of a Baleng king, the Bandjoun King takes part in the picking and enthronement of the future king
This practice is a known one in the Bamileke royal culture. Before a king dies, he privately informs either the neighboring king with whom he maintains a great and cordial relationship on whom will be succeeding him amongst his multiple children. This practice is to avoid the heir from being killed out of jealousy. Like most African kingdom, polygamy is very common and a king could take many women as wives including inheriting his father's wives including his mother as his. He could bear children with his late father's wives excluding his mother.
About Bandjoun:
Bandjoun is a town, kingdom and capital of the Koung-Khi Department in the West Region of Cameroon. Bandjoun is also one of the largest traditional chiefdom (chefferie) in Bamiléké country. The chief HM Fo'o Djomo Kamga Honore dwells in Hialah, and has many wives. The languages spoken here are french and Ghomala
The story of the Royal dynasty is one I will be writing very soon as it is quite long and only a few people know more about the Baleng-Bandjoun history.
About the festival:
Msem Tojom is a cultural event which takes place every two years which celebrates the bright and colourful culture and heritage found in Bandjoun. Msem Tojom is derived from two Ghomala words Msem which means finesse, ingenuity, know-how and Tojom meaning the Bandjoun people, thereby making Msem Tojom meaning; ''finesse, ingenuity, know-how of the Bandjoun people''.
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