Balikumbat is a village located in Balikumbat Sub Division, Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region, Cameroon. Balikumbat is the Sub Divisional Headquarter of Balikumbat Sub Division and located about 20.9 km from Ndop town.
The Balikumbat people became so renowned in Cameroon and the world at large inspired by their late “super natural” leader Fon Doh Gahgwanyin III (1977 – 2012)
History
The death of the powerful Bali Chamba leader Gawulubi (Translated as ruler of the waters) in 1830 after the battle of Kumyidla or Kolm at Bafu-Fundong led to a serious succession Crises orchestrated by the fact that he never designated any successor at death, which provoked a rivalry between his first son Samsuh and second son Galanga. The power struggle latter attracted the junior princes and a princess; this led to a total split of the roving empire of Gawulubi. Galabe who was his fourth Son, one of the strongest soldiers, bookkeeper or treasurer of his father was the first to leave with his large supporters to create his Balikumbat chiefdom. Second in quitting was his eldest brother Samsu with his own faction to establish Bali Ghansin with the fewest supporters. In the third place of leaving the collapsed empire alliance was Princess Nyonga the eldest child with a good number of followers due to her popularity to found Bali Nyonga chiefdom for her son Nyongpasi who later became Fon Nyonga. The last of breakaway was Galanga and his faction to create Bali-gham (Bali nearer Bagham) reasons why they are known as “Nepgayidbi” meaning those who stayed behind at the palace of Gawulubi. Balikumbat Fondom was founded by the fourth son of Gawulubi, a strong soldier with a lot of celebrity, father's finance manager who refused to succumb to any of his two elder brothers if enthroned.
From 1830 – 1920 royal succession was among cousins that is, if a Fon passed on, his cousin took over. Reasons why they were short lived. In 1920 following the death of Ga Nyamyin II, and with the intervention of British Administrative soldiers from up-station Bamenda, who had just taken over from the Germans after World War I, Galabe III was enthroned taking over directly from the immediate father. This marked the end of succession by cousins. The British, Balikumbat king makers and the entire population made a pact for direct hereditary.
All attempts to unseat the enthroned revolutionary young Fon by Doh Mundem (a cousin of the deceased) who had been practicing Fonship when his cousin was still in power made with stiff resistance from the population and more security for the new Fon so much so that he (Doh Mundem) died almost as an outcast. Useful to mention here that Galabe III enjoyed a lot of support from the mother's kings men Bamunka. Reasons for some Bamunka traditional and cultural practices in Balikumbat up till date.
Balikumbat “Nepkolubi” that is “people of the hilltop”, was the first group under “Ndaghan” leadership to leave Bafu – Fondong of late Gawulubi at about 1830. Galabe a powerful retainer called “Gibguela” served as treasurer for the entire roving empire or alliance which gave him a lot of influence and in subordination to any other prince. This led to the gathering of supporters into a kingdom of his own. The military lodge or “Manjongs” that he used to command as a valiant soldier and astute manager was converted to constitute a kingdom.
Balikumbat group was mixed up with the following clans, “Kagneba” (from which “lela” originates) “Djabneba, Nyumneba, Pedneba, Ghadineba and Tikadneba. As migration progressed remnants of the following after raids joined the group, Bagneba, Golaneba, Balaneba, Tineba and small contingents from Bagham.
The Balikumbat migration from Bafu-Fondong could be classified in three stages. (1) Bafu-Fondong to Santa neighborhood. Their brief stay for several months at Santa neighborhood made them to catch their breath and revive their spirits after the defeat at the battle of Kolm. The army was reorganized and greater ambitions were developed for an unknown destination.
The second stage of the migration took up with a series of raids and subjugation. The vigorous and effective group carried out raids on the following; Bambili in the reign of Awemo I, Bambui and arrived at Wapu below the table land occupied by Bamunkumbit which they were soon going to gain. The plateau attracted Galabe so much that, he saw it as his dream home and immediately developed strategies to conquer the occupant and settle there.
The third stage was the wresting of the plateau from the Bamunkumbit owners. This operation needed wit and intelligence as it did not involve any fighting. It looked mysterious but it was out of ingenuity.