Kingdom of Bamum
The founding king (called a "fon" or "mfon") was Nchare, a conqueror reputed to have crushed some 18 rulers.
It is believed that Chamba migrations from the Tikar Plain in the southern part of the western Adamawa Plateau resulted in the kingdom's foundation.
[1] King Mbuembue was the first ruler to expand the Bamun Kingdom, famously claiming that he would mark his borders "with blood and black iron".
[4][3]: 118 He was the founder of the emblem of the Bamun people, characteristic of their capabilities to fight in two fronts and win both at the same time.
"[citation needed] The Bamun kingdom voluntarily became part of German Kamerun in 1884 during the reign of Mfon Nsangou.
Immediately after, one of the king's wives, Njapdunke, took over the kingdom's government with her lover Gbetnkom Ndo`mbue.
His court led by Ngouoh became doubtful and thought the boy may eventually learn that they are the people who killed his father.
[5] He voluntarily put his kingdom under the protection of German colonial power and was responsible for modernizing certain elements of Mbum society.
[citation needed] In 1897, Njoya and his court converted to Islam, a decision that would affect Bamun culture long after Njoyua's death.
Germans were allowed to set up the Basel Mission at the capital of and construction was undertaken to build a temple.
The Germans introduced new housing construction techniques while settling among the kingdom's inhabitants as farmers, traders and educators.
He merged some of the tenets of Christianity and Islam with traditional beliefs to create a new religion more palatable to his subjects.
[citation needed] In 1914, the Allies invaded German Kamerun as part of the West African campaign.
Gorges described Njoya as being understandably "a trifle nervous" when they first met but accepted British rule once he was reassured that no harm would come to him or his people.
In 1918, Germany's colonial possessions including Kamerun were divided between Great Britain and France, and the kingdom of Bamoun thus fell under French rule.
[9] This royal cloth was called Ntieya, and Hausa craftsmen were kept at palace workshops to supply nobles and teach the art of dyeing.
