The Mankon kingdom represents one of the oldest monarchies of the grassfield people of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. It is a geo-historic community at the centre of Bamenda, the capital city of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. The Kingdom or Fondom was initially formed from an amalgamation of several clans or families that migrated to the current location through several waves. It is ruled by a Fo (as known in Mankon), Fon or King.
The current Fo that is being enthroned after the disappearance of Fo Angwafo III, the 20th Fon of Mankon, is Fo Fru Asah Angwafo IV, the 21st Fon of Mankon.
From Sahnyom to Ala'nkyi
The original Mankon people trace their origins to a place referred to as Sahnyom (Rising Sun), which is located in the Northeast of Africa. As discussed in Nukwi Nu Fo Ndefru III (1984), the wave of people migrated through the Mbam valley, traveling westwards, towards the Nkambe plateau, and finally moved eastwards reaching the current location at Ala'nkyi, “the waterlogged land”.
These waves of migrations, from Sahnyom to Ala'nkyi, were under the leadership of powerful and skilful leaders, Fos or Fons. The Fo at the time of arriving Ala'ankyi was Fo Ndemagha VI also known as Mbangnizhi, a courageous fighter and a good leader.
Six clan heads and Fo Ndemagha VI found Ala'nkyi to be very suitable and settled there as the Mankon people. It is said that at Ala'nkyi, a princess called Bihmagha, feared that the Mankon people were being led back to their starting point, towards the North, and into danger, so she decided with the blessings of Fo Ndemagha VI to take some people southward, and those people led to the creation of present-day Pinyin.
Consolidation of Leadership
At Ala'ankyi, all the original clan heads (Tatseys) agreed to handover leadership to the sole custody of a single clan so as to eliminate the frequent friction that had accompanied power transition from clan to clan. The clan, now known as the ntaw (royal) clan, chosen at the time was led by Tsemagha I. The move was accompanied by all the clans handing over by hand their main kwifo (authority) symbol to the ntaw clan.
As a result of the lack of security in the early years of settlement at Ala'nkyi, the original seven clans — Bonbui Tsemagha, Bonbui Anyeringum, Bonbui Nduisirui, Alakuma, Mandzem, Maso, Mandey — and the chiefdoms of Mbatu, Ndzong, Mundums I & II, Chomba, Nsongwa, Akum, and Alatening grouped themselves into a more consolidated unit capable of withstanding any outside threats and invasions. This is the genesis of the Ngemba confederation.
A Mighty Alliance
This confederation was well protected and had a population of over 15,000 inhabitants — speaking one language — Mankon, and capable of tracing their origin from a common ancestor. Because of the military supremacy of the confederation, the Mbu group of families — Baforchu, Mbei, Bah and Ndzah Ngyienbu, and Fomudum now in Bali — admired and joined the confederation.
The quasi-independent chiefdoms within the confederation enjoyed several amenities and advantages — maintained their chiefs, enjoyed the protection and peace within the confederation, managed their affairs within the framework of the Mankon constitution, recognized the paramount position of the Fon of Mankon, could intermarry with Mankon people, trade freely, organize hunting expeditions of their own provided that royal animals killed, tusks and skins were to be given to the Fon of Mankon.
From Ala'nkyi to Ntaw
From Ala'nkyi, the palace was moved to Fumnju (now occupied by the Bamenda airport) and later to Fozan or Ntaw — the present site because it offered better protection. The current Palace site was rich in animals, food and very fertile especially along the Mezam and Mili valleys.
The confederation had a market centre around the present palace which developed into a nodal spot with a well-maintained network of narrow paths extending into neighbouring and distant chiefdoms which had trade and friendly links with Mankon.
The confederation dissolved in January 1891 under Fo Angwafo II, following an attack brought against Mankon by Eugen Zintgraff, the German explorer and trader. Fo Angwafo III, the 20th Fon of Mankon has launched a museum within the palace at Ntaw that exhibits the many treasures of the kingdom and its history.
Weh Mankuung Eh
In tracing the migratory path of the Mankon people leading to the current Mankon kingdom, we left out the point where they got their name, Mankon. One thing we know for sure is that they got the name before passing through the Bamukumbit land because the Bamukumbit people bear Makong as a soubriquet.
Apparently, as confirmed by Prince Joseph Fru Asah Ndefru Ndomu, the first of the skilful Mankon leaders, Fo Ndemagha I, was unaware that the crowd or wave of people following him had grown tremendously. When he turned and looked behind him and saw the huge following that had formed a wave behind him, he proudly exclaimed something like “Weh Mankuung eh” and so the people became known as Mankon.
Some have interpreted Mankon to mean big tail or big wave and the sub-groups, clans, lineages and families under Mankon are referred to as Nkon (small tail or wavelets). We prefer the wave interpretation since the big or mighty wave can fluidly adjust to carrying different things at its crest and trough in its migratory trajectory and growth. The transitions and growth in Mankon are known as Nukwi.
The Recorded Fons of Mankon
BuFo bu Mankung
| No | Name | Years Reign | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ndemagha I | N/A | Founder of Mankon |
| 2 | Ndemagha II | N/A | Ruled around the Donga Mantung area |
| 3 | Ndemagha III | N/A | aka Minwitingoro, ruled in Bamukumbit area |
| 4 | Takomatsi I | N/A | Ruled around Babadjou area |
| 5 | Ndemagha IV | N/A | Ruled around Dschang area |
| 6 | Takomatsi II | N/A | Led the people in Fontem area, died of flu |
| 7 | Ndemagha V | N/A | Led the people out of Fontem |
| 8 | Tangwani | N/A | Led the people to Tadkon (Widikum) |
| 9 | Ndemagha VI | N/A | aka Mbangnizhi, Founder of Ala’ankyi |
| 10 | Tsemagha I | N/A | Resting at Ala’ankyi |
| 11 | Ndemagha VII | N/A | Resting at Ala’ankyi |
| 12 | Tsemagha II | N/A | Resting at Ala’ankyi |
| 13 | Ndefru I | N/A | Resting at Ala’ankyi |
| 14 | Ndemagha VIII | N/A | Resting at Ala’ankyi |
| 15 | Ndefru II | N/A | Last ruler at Ala’nkyi, last Fo rested at Ala’ankyi |
| 16 | Angwafo I | N/A–1799 | Led the people to Fumnju (current airport site) |
| 17 | Fomukong | 1799–1866 | Led the people to Fozan (current Palace) |
| 18 | Angwafo II | 1866–1912 | Skillful warrior, fought war against E. Zintgraff |
| 19 | Ndefru III | 1920–1959 | Reigned under British colony, developer |
| 20 | Angwafo III | 1959–2022 | Agronomist, Politician, and developer |
| 21 | Angwafo IV | 2022– | Educationist and Economist |
The Seven Founding Clans of Mankon
Buta bu ndvuh
Bonbui Tsemagha
Clan Head: Fo Tseymagha & successors
Lineages & Family Heads
Bonbui Anyeringum
Clan Head: Mamboh Fuzo en
Lineages & Family Heads
Bonbui Nduisirui
Clan Head: Ndza Tuzhie iri
Lineages & Family Heads
Alakuma
Clan Head: Wangang Alakuma
Lineages & Family Heads
Mandzem
Clan Head: Awasom Mandzem
Lineages & Family Heads
Maso
Clan Head: Suhkon ala
Lineages & Family Heads
Mandey
Clan Head: Afua Budzong
Lineages & Family Heads
Structural Composition of Mankon Population
The population of the Mankon Fondom has grown from three sources:
Clans which originally brought in Mankon people from Sahnyom.
Lineages or families whose clan heads are outside Mankon:
i) Banyanga
Has Zama Tseybuku as the family head. The clan head is the Kobenyang and Tuanyang families in Momo Division.
ii) Alamandom
Has Mukomutsum as its family head. The clan head is in Mundum, Bafut sub division.
iii) Mambuh
Has John Ngwa as its family head. The clan head is in Mambu, Bafut sub division.
Individual settlers, workers and businesspeople from elsewhere in Cameroon or foreign countries.