Latest Update: April 15, 2021
This pancocojams post presents information about the Northwest region of Cameroon and showcases five video examples of the traditional Mbaglum (mbaghalum) dance in the north western area of Cameroon, Central Africa.
Selected comments from the discussion threads for some of these videos are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and aesthetic purposes.
In addition to the dance, I'm also interested in highlighting the traditional musical instruments that are being played and the clothing that the performers wear.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT MAKON
From http://www.macudaamerica.org/
...”The Mankon Fondom (kingdom) represents one of the oldest monarchies of the grass field people of the Northwest Region of Cameroon and is ruled by a Fon HRH Fo’o SAN Angwafo III. The sons and daughters of Mankon constitute a vibrant community of hardworking men and women who make up a large part of the Bamenda metropolitan population. Mankon is the largest group in the Ngemba tribe with a population of over 180,000 inhabitants.
History has it that they migrated from the Tikar region around the 14th century through hostile terrains before settling in present day Mankon. On the origin of the name, one of the skillful leaders (Fo Ndehmagha IV) was unaware that the crowd or wave of people following him had grown tremendously along the way and so when he turned and looked behind him and saw the huge following that formed a wave behind him, he proudly exclaimed ” Weh Mankuung eh” referring to its enormous tail and so the people became known as Mankon. Some have translated Mankon to mean big tail or big wave and the sub-groups, clans or families under Mankon are referred to as Nkon (small tail or wavelets). The big wave has continued expanding and merging with other cultures while retaining its DNA and allegiance to the original source."...
-snip-
I reformatted this quote to enhance its readability.
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INFORMATION ABOUT BAMENDA (CAMEROON)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamenda
"Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town,[2] is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the Northwest Region. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is located 366 kilometres (227 mi) north-west of the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé. Bamenda is known for its cool climate and scenic hilly location.
History
The origins of the city are related to the establishment of the Tikar people who joined the Kingdom of Bamum in the 1700s. [3] In 1884, the city was colonized by Germany until 1916 when it became a colony administered by Great Britain and France. [4] In 1919, the administration of Northwest Region and thus the city of Bamenda became only British. In 1961, the region joined the Cameroon. [5]
Today, many of the city's inhabitants are English-speaking, and Cameroonian Pidgin English is the main language spoken in the shops and on the streets of Bamenda.
[...]
Nicknames: Abakwa, which of date is made of three villages Mankon, Bamendankwe and Nkwen Bamenda presently contains the highest number of English speaking Cameroonians."...
-snip-
Added April 15, 2021 from that same Wikipedia article:
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Mbaghalum - John Minang
atehndin, Published on Mar 22, 2008
African music
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Wananyoh Mefebe, 2012
"This is the sound that resonates to the depths of your soul and takes you home if you are from the Northwest Province."
**
2. eyoumwonje, 2012
"i like very much folk dancing from north west cameroon especially from bamenda"
****
Video #2: MBAGHALUM BY NGWA- AH NKANG
Kingsley Nkimbeng, Published on Nov 16, 2011
HIT ZONE ENTERTAINMENT BAMENDA
-snip-
I removed the phone number from this summary.
****
Video #3: Mbaghalum - John Minang -macuda
Aray LUC, Published on Mar 20, 2012
enjoy mankon
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Wendy Ambo, 2017
"Any mankon person to translate what he says pls???"
**
REPLY
2. Terese Tess, 2018
"Wendy Ambo I'll translate the intro...so long.
Time has come to give the woman to her husband. Tell all Cameroonians....
Why do people enjoy drinking (palm wine), but don't like to go through the pain of tapping(fetching) it? They complain that there is dew on the road to the palm wine bush.
Has someone ever gone to a medicine man to find out why he /she is successful?
When you are sick, you know who loves and loves you you not....
The rest of it is so long and a mixture of pidgin English that I can't keep up, but I hope it gives you an idea. It's a bunch of wise sayings put together some what coherently."
****
Video #4: Dancing To The Mankon Legacy - Men Dance 2009
lorolose, Published on Dec 24, 2014
Exhibition of Men Dance Groups in Mankon-Bamenda, Cameroon [1 hour 08 minutes]
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Video #5: Mbaglum Ntene for I Nkwen Bamenda 24.06.2015
Manunga Studio 2, Published on Jul 3, 2015
On the occasion of the canonical erection of the St. John The Baptist Quasi-Parish at Foncha Street Nkwen to a full parish there were some traditional dances to grace the occasion, amongst them the Mbaglum Dance of Ntenefor I from Nkwen in Bamenda.
-snip-
The summary for another video of this dance that was published by Manunga Group reads "Mbaglum is a popular traditional dance from the Bamenda neighbourhood. here we watch a group from Nkwen performing their own Mbaglum."
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
-snip-
I reformatted this quote to enhance its readability.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BAMENDA (CAMEROON)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamenda
"Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town,[2] is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the Northwest Region. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is located 366 kilometres (227 mi) north-west of the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé. Bamenda is known for its cool climate and scenic hilly location.
History
The origins of the city are related to the establishment of the Tikar people who joined the Kingdom of Bamum in the 1700s. [3] In 1884, the city was colonized by Germany until 1916 when it became a colony administered by Great Britain and France. [4] In 1919, the administration of Northwest Region and thus the city of Bamenda became only British. In 1961, the region joined the Cameroon. [5]
Today, many of the city's inhabitants are English-speaking, and Cameroonian Pidgin English is the main language spoken in the shops and on the streets of Bamenda.
[...]
Nicknames: Abakwa, which of date is made of three villages Mankon, Bamendankwe and Nkwen Bamenda presently contains the highest number of English speaking Cameroonians."...
-snip-
Added April 15, 2021 from that same Wikipedia article:
Many of the city's inhabitants are English-speaking, and
Cameroonian Pidgin English is the main language spoken in the shops and on the
streets of Bamenda.
For over four years, there has been an insurgency due to
political tussles created by secessionist faction known as the Southern
Cameroons Liberation Council, a united front consisting of separatists aiming
for an independent Ambazonian state.[6]"...
-snip-
Click https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/1/violence-in-cameroon-anglophone-crisis-takes-high-civilian-toll
The caption after that title reads "Experts warn country on verge of backsliding to ‘fragile
state’ status, as conflict between Anglophone separatists and government forces
increasingly affecting civilians."
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Mbaghalum - John Minang
atehndin, Published on Mar 22, 2008
African music
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Wananyoh Mefebe, 2012
"This is the sound that resonates to the depths of your soul and takes you home if you are from the Northwest Province."
**
2. eyoumwonje, 2012
"i like very much folk dancing from north west cameroon especially from bamenda"
****
Video #2: MBAGHALUM BY NGWA- AH NKANG
Kingsley Nkimbeng, Published on Nov 16, 2011
HIT ZONE ENTERTAINMENT BAMENDA
-snip-
I removed the phone number from this summary.
****
Video #3: Mbaghalum - John Minang -macuda
Aray LUC, Published on Mar 20, 2012
enjoy mankon
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Wendy Ambo, 2017
"Any mankon person to translate what he says pls???"
**
REPLY
2. Terese Tess, 2018
"Wendy Ambo I'll translate the intro...so long.
Time has come to give the woman to her husband. Tell all Cameroonians....
Why do people enjoy drinking (palm wine), but don't like to go through the pain of tapping(fetching) it? They complain that there is dew on the road to the palm wine bush.
Has someone ever gone to a medicine man to find out why he /she is successful?
When you are sick, you know who loves and loves you you not....
The rest of it is so long and a mixture of pidgin English that I can't keep up, but I hope it gives you an idea. It's a bunch of wise sayings put together some what coherently."
****
Video #4: Dancing To The Mankon Legacy - Men Dance 2009
lorolose, Published on Dec 24, 2014
Exhibition of Men Dance Groups in Mankon-Bamenda, Cameroon [1 hour 08 minutes]
****
Video #5: Mbaglum Ntene for I Nkwen Bamenda 24.06.2015
Manunga Studio 2, Published on Jul 3, 2015
On the occasion of the canonical erection of the St. John The Baptist Quasi-Parish at Foncha Street Nkwen to a full parish there were some traditional dances to grace the occasion, amongst them the Mbaglum Dance of Ntenefor I from Nkwen in Bamenda.
-snip-
The summary for another video of this dance that was published by Manunga Group reads "Mbaglum is a popular traditional dance from the Bamenda neighbourhood. here we watch a group from Nkwen performing their own Mbaglum."
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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