The Bassalands of Cameroon and their many chiefdoms

For in Bassaland, every stream crossed, any path walked across or swath of forest crossed, has her chief with a different tribal appellation. There are no superior chiefs in Bassaland to whom the other petty chiefs pay allegiance to. But in the Grass lands and also in the greater northern provinces of Cameroon, their society is well organised. They also have chiefs and different tribal appellation after every stream crossed, or baobab tress crossed, but they have a superior chief, who rules over or dominates lesser important chiefdoms, Fondoms or Lamidates. Furthermore, the Grass lands and Greater Northern provinces of Cameroon have strict traditional rules and rites. Those are some values that are absent in Bassaland and most of the forest and coastal regions of Cameroon. While the Grass lands and Greater Northern provinces have traditional heads called Lamidos or Fons, in Bassaland, their traditional heads are called Mbombocks. In order to claim the title of an Mbombock, the aspirant must be a direct descendant of a former Mbombock, who was able to trace his ancestry to the first Jews who migrated down south and settled in an area with a mythical rock known in the Bassa language as Ngog-lituba or the White Rock. For the Bassas in their diverse nationalities believe that they are Jews or the lost tribe of Israel.

Bassas: the ethnic Jews of Cameroon

But nowadays, it very difficult to prove that and main reason is because, the Bassa don’t have written proves and all what is claimed have been transmitted via oral history. However, the other parts of the Bassa nationality who also claim and could justify their claim to Jewish ancestry are the Bassa-Badem, for they at least have native names such as Noah, Laban, Salomon or Daniel, without being Christians. How the Badems and the Bassa-Badem did to start having names related to Jews without being Christians has remain a mystery and might be an indication that, they are truly Jews, who may have lost links with Judaism, perhaps because of the early death of their ancestors and leaders. Besides that, it is very difficult to work in Bassaland. One reason often given that makes working in Bassaland difficult is their lack of hierarchical order, in their society. The Bassaland is the exact opposite of the Grass lands or the Greater Northern provinces of Cameroon, which is well organised with chiefs who are well respected. In spite their disorganised set up, the Bassas are an independent minded people who hate orders to be given them. Hence, it is difficult for modern authority to install law or any form of order in the region.