Bonduma, also known as Wonduma by the indigenous Bakweri[1] people, is one of the quarters of Buea, the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon.[2] Although there is no clear distinction between the regions, over the years Bonduma has evolved into two sections: Upper Bonduma and Lower Bonduma.[3] Upper Bonduma, known in local parlance as agong, is considered a fast growing locality in the Buea Municipality.
Bonduma
Wonduma | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Cameroon |
| Province | Southwest Region |
| Division | Fako |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 6,000 |
| • Ethnicities | Bakweri |
History edit
Although a vast majority of the Buea Municipality was originally occupied by the indigenous Bakweri tribe,[1] the area of Upper Bonduma was originally inhabited by a number of people from the other ethnic groups of Cameroon. Most of these people hailed from the Lebialem Division of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. Accustomed to subsistence farming, the original settlers of the locality practiced agriculture as their primary activity. These settlers were drawn to the rich volcanic soils of what is now the Buea Municipality and its beneficial location at the foot of Mount Cameroon.[1]
Geography edit
Population edit
In 2013, Bonduma had an estimated population of about 6,000 people. The Cameroonian Civil War, beginning in 2017, and its associated socio-political crises and The socio-political crisis and population displacement caused by the Cameroonian Civil War, which began in 2017 and continues into the present, has led to an influx of people from other crisis-stricken regions of Cameroon into Bonduma.[4]
Climate edit
Buea has a subtropical highland climate, with high humidity because of its location at the foot of Mount Cameroon. Neighborhoods at higher elevations enjoy cooler temperatures, while neighborhoods at lower elevations experience hotter temperatures. Bonduma has a more moderate elevation, generating average temperatures between these two extremes. Extended periods of rainfall, characterized by incessant drizzle, are common during the rainy season and can last for several weeks. During the dry season, Bonduma can suffer from intense water shortages. The latter is becoming increasingly common because of dry conditions in Buea recently.[5]
Culture edit
Languages edit
The local language in Bonduma is Mòkpè (also Mokpwe),[6] the language of the majority Bakweri population in Buea. French and English are official languages in Buea, but the town is primarily anglophone. Many of the inhabitants of Buea use Cameroonian Pidgin English.[7]
Location edit
The main street of Bonduma is Dr. Biaka Street, named after the late Dr. Lawrence Francis Tonye Biaka, whose residence is near Buea's primary road. Biaka founded the Biaka University Institute of Buea in 1998, then known as the St. Francis School of Nursery and Midwifery.[8]
Education edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Ville/Village : BUEA (Région : SUD-OUEST / Département : Fako) - Cameroun -- Promouvoir Compétences". promouvoircompetences.com. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ "Buea : Keeping The City Alive". www.cameroon-tribune.cm. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ "Bamenda shooting: Weti we know about de attack weh e kill police, wound odas". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- ^ Egbejule, Eromo. "Death, displacement, trauma: Human cost of the Anglophone crisis". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ "Buea, A Town Changing From Cold To Hot – Cameroon Postline". Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ "Mòkpè (Bakweri) Language Basic Literacy 1 Cameroon Native Language". ohipopo.org. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
- ^ Kouega, Jean-Paul (2007-07-01). "The Language Situation in Cameroon". Current Issues in Language Planning. 8 (1): 3–93. doi:10.2167/cilp110.0. ISSN 1466-4208.
- ^ "Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) | Inovedu". Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) | Inovedu. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ Team, Wasamundi. "Community Education Centre, Buea - Reviews, Photos, Description, Directions and Recommendations". Wasamundi. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
- ^ "NABESK COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE (NCC) BUEA | Inovedu". NABESK COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE (NCC) BUEA | Inovedu. Retrieved 2022-02-28.