Defence and Security Exigencies amidst Conflict in Bafut North West Cameroon, 1888-2023

Abstract

Bafut is a heterogeneous polity and an incorporative kingdom. Its characteristic is that it was enlarged or expanded by conquest. The warriors in charge of the expansion and defence of the land constituted a group called manjong . For internal security, kwifor acted as the police force. Its vigilance and maintenance of law and order conditioned the people to be part of the machinery of internal security. Militia units like the ngwarenwi provided the Fon’s security. These structures ensured that Bafut people, property and territory were protected from aggressive neighbours. Today, the manjong has been transformed into a cultural and development association to “fight wars of peace and development” of the Bafut people, thus giving a shifting paradigm to the definition of war. With the rebirth of the Amba revolution in the English-speaking parts of Cameroon in 2016, Bafut youths joined the fight and constituted militia groups such as “Bafut Seven Kata” under the guise of liberation forces. They claimed to defend the land and protect people and their property from invading predators. The insecurity, violence, bloodshed and reign of terror inflicted on the Bafut community by these militias caused us in this paper to re-examine the concept of defence and security of local communities in the face of conflict and to analyse the role and impact of the manjong warriors vis-à-vis the Bafut Seven Kata militia in Bafut history. We exploited both primary and secondary sources and adopted a chronological approach to the historical discussion here. Working within the frame of conflict and peace development in local communities, we concluded that war and security are concepts directly linked to human existence. Issues emanating from them sustain conflict with immense impact on the lives of people. The situation in Bafut today is precarious and needs to be addressed squarely for peace and security to return to the community.