Bafut – village of masks and mystery

Queen Constance, the third wife of the Fon, shows her delight at receiving a Children’s Bible at the Fon’s palace. She promised to read the book to her children. Bafut, West Cameroon. Photo: UBS/ Geoffrey Stamp (CAM01C-8/10a)

Cameroon reports and photographs by freelance photojournalist Geoffrey Stamp

BAFUT, West Cameroon — At first glance, there is nothing special about the small village of Bafut, with is collection of iron-roofed huts. In fact, the day the Bible Society team travelled there, they almost drove straight past it, not realising they had arrived at their destination.

And yet this is the home of the Fon of Bafut – king of the largest of Cameroon’s three provinces – a legendary figure who appears in the books of the best-selling writer, Gerald Durrell. His large palace, which lies behind the village’s ceremonial grounds, houses his five wives, children, and extended family.

The Bible Society of Cameroon (BSC) sent a team here as part of an effort to assess the Scripture needs of an area of Cameroon largely unreached by the Word of God.

“We are interested in finding out the needs of the remoter towns and villages in the west of Cameroon,” explained Mr Roger Bombang, BSC Public Relations and Fundraising Officer. “Many of the people here still adhere closely to their traditional beliefs.”

Idols

This is certainly the case in Bafut, where idols and burial effigies form part of the everyday landscape. Fetishism is widely practised and a secret society of seven old men is believed to protect the village and act as a link with the fetish gods. During traditional ceremonies these men put on tribal masks, and wear costumes that denote the spiritual powers they are believed to possess – the power to curse, kill, heal and predict the future.

Part of their power comes from the secret forest, which lies behind the palace – a place where only they are permitted to go and collect the leaves, herbs and bark that they use in their spells and potions.

Welcomed

Queen Constance, the Fon’s third wife, warmly welcomed the Bible Society representatives and showed them around the village. She was delighted to receive a copy of the Children’s Bible, which she said she would read to her children every day. Scripture Portions were also presented to the Fon’s children.

Pleased with the visit and the warm welcome by the Fon’s wife, Mr Bombang reflected on ways in which the Bible Society could reach out to the inhabitants of Bafut and other villages like it.