Although it is called a palace, it has 50 small houses built of bricks around a thatched shrine. The houses are where the king and his 100 wives lived.
The Bafut region in northwestern Cameroon is one of only two regions in the African country still ruled with a traditional chieftain and power structure. But the head of this tribe is still under the authority of the Cameroonian government. The Bafut people from the Lake Chad area came to live here about 400 years ago and built a palace for them, then moved to its present location and became a tourist attraction today.
When it comes to the palace, everyone thinks it will be a splendid, luxurious, multi-room, gold-plated decoration, but the palace of this tribal king consists of low, small and tiled houses. .
Bafut Palace is surrounded by a sacred forest in Northwest Cameroon. The work shows the cultural identity and is also the place where religious rites or traditional rituals take place. There are more than 50 houses built around Achum temple – the spiritual center of the Bafut people. Level 4 houses are used for the king (called Fon) and his wives and the Royal Family to live.
The houses here were rebuilt in the early 20th century after a catastrophic fire. By 2007, many roofs were leaking, partially collapsed, and had leaking roofs that threatened the structural integrity of the house. Therefore, a renovation project was carried out to preserve the structures.
The head of Bafut was King Abumbi II who had 100 wives and 500 children. He was the 11th king of Bafut and ascended the throne after his father’s death in 1968. As the traditional tribal ruler, he also inherited his father’s 72 wives. King Abumbi himself was married to 28 people. In Cameroon, it is common for a man to have multiple wives.
King Abumbi II said that wives were very important to him. He is responsible for preserving the traditional culture of the tribe and the land in which it lives. The queens of King Abumbi II were well-educated and could speak many languages.
The Achum Temple is the central building of the palace made of wood and bamboo and thatched on the roof. Currently, the temple still keeps valuable objects. This is considered a typical and impressive work of traditional religious architecture.
Today, the Bafut Palace is one of Cameroon’s most important heritage sites. Over the years, many tourists coming to Cameroon have bought tours to come here to visit this special palace.