Origins
The Bakossi number about two hundred thousand. Related to the Bakundu, Bassossi, Mbo, Balong Bafaw, etc, they all claim the great hunter Ngoe (or Ngweh) and his beautiful wife Sumediang as their ancestor. According to Bakossi tradition they are descended from the coouple Ngoe and Sumediang. They had twelve children. At one time, a supernatural being warned the couple that a flood was coming and told them to make a box in which to escape. They built an ark, taking in their family and all kinds of animals, and survived the flood. The ark came to rest between the twin lakes of Mwanenguba, one of which is said to have a female character and the other male. The different clans claim descent from different children and grandchildren of this couple.
Ndabechum
A traditional bakossi hut
The Bakossi people occupy an area of more than 3,000 square kilometers on the slopes of the Bakossi Mountains, Mt. Kupe, Mt Mwanenguba and Mt Nlonako in the Republic of Cameroon. Traditionally farmers, hunters and fishermen, and with a population of 100,000 (2001 SIL), the Bakossi people grow coffee and cocoa as their main cash crops. Administratively, the people fall under the Kupe-Manenguba Division with headquarters in Bangem, and the Mungo Division in the Littoral Province. Kupe-Manenguba Division is the second largest producer of cocoa in the South West Province of the Republic, and is composed of three subdivisions: Bangem, Tombel and Nguti.
