The town of Bafut inwards Northwest Republic of Cameroon is ane of solely 2 regions inwards Republic of Cameroon withal ruled past times a primary with traditional ability structures. These people originally came from the Northern regions of Lake Republic of Chad , as well as assumed command over the share some 400 years ago. Upon their arrival , the Bafut people built a palace for their manly mortal monarch , the Fon of Bafut , which withal contains the tombs of the start iii Bafut kings. The Fon’s palace was after moved to its electrical flow place where it continues to attract tourist from all over the world.
Surrounded past times a sacred wood inwards the center of the town , the Bafut Palace chemical compound consists of some 50 houses clustered simply about the site’s spiritual essence , the Achum Shrine. The houses are used equally majestic courtroom as well as equally residence for the Fon’s numerous wives whose count approaches closed to ane hundred.
The courtyard betwixt the 2 Queens’ quarters amongst the Fon’s residence as well as Achum Shrine inwards the background. Photo credit: wmf.org
Not all of the Fon’s wives were his from the start. H5N1 large give away of them were inherited from his begetter , to whom they were originally married. According to local tradition , when a Fon dies , his successor inherits all his wives too equally his children. So the Fon essentially remarries his step-mothers as well as all his half-brothers as well as half-sisters operate his sons as well as daughters. The electrical flow Fon of Bafut , the eleventh ane inwards row , inherited 72 wives from his begetter too equally 500 children.
The master copy palace was made from bamboo as well as reed , but after the Germans raided the town inwards the belatedly 19th century as well as raged the complex to the soil , it was rebuilt amongst fired bricks. Only Achum Shrine survived as well as is withal built of wood as well as bamboo as well as covered amongst thatch. It houses a valued devotional object , typically referred to equally a fetish , as well as is an impressive illustration of traditional religious architecture. The Achum Shrine is off-limits to all except the Fon as well as his closed advisors. In forepart of the palace chemical compound are several stones mark the burial sites of nobles who died spell serving the Fon , as well as the Takombang House which holds the Fon's ceremonial drum.
The palace is currently on a Watch listing of the 100 close endangered sites of 2006 past times the World Monuments Fund.
Photo credit: rbairdpccam/Flickr
Photo credit: rbairdpccam/Flickr
The Achum Shrine. Photo credit: wmf.org
One of the Queens’ quarters. Photo credit: wmf.org
King Fon Abumbi II , amongst 2 of his wives. Photo credit: Alamy
Sources: Wikipedia / World Monuments Fund / Lonely Planet / CNN