BANDJOUN CHIEFDOM

The Bandjoun chiefdom is one of the most visited in the region, founded in the second half of the 17th^century by a famous hunter who had come from a neighboring village where he had been unable to seize power. On arrival, you'll be struck first by the large hut, topped by an impressive straw roof and set below a large alleyway overlooked on either side by the houses of the king's wives, with their traditional pointed roofs, typical of Bamiléké architecture. After a fire in 2022, the large hut was renovated in keeping with the original architecture and traditional ornamentation. Step inside and admire its impressive high ceilings (and no doubt come across a few of the bats that have made it their home). The majestic building not only echoes tradition and history, but is also one of the finest testimonies to the culture of West Cameroon. This culture is still celebrated every year in a variety of ways, both in the palace and in the large people's hut. Behind the latter, the sacred forest, off-limits to the public, is to this day a place of ritual that never ceases to arouse the curiosity of visitors. Just a few steps away from the big hut is the museum, with almost 400 objects directly from Bamiléké ancestral traditions. The guide will take you on a journey back in time through the customs and codes associated with the museum's various exhibits, as well as the history of the Bandjoun dynasty.