West Travel Guide
Entrance of the royal palace, Foumban. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
West (Ouest) is the Bamileke Grassfields: a densely settled highland of powerful chiefdoms, celebrated crafts, and the neighbouring Bamoun kingdom of Foumban.
Foumban is the cultural heart of the region: the Royal Palace built in 1917 by King Ibrahim Njoya, inventor of the Bamum script, and the Museum of the Bamoun Kings, opened in April 2024 with some 12,500 pieces. The Nguon festival, the kingdom's royal ritual, is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Destinations in West
- Nguon festivalThe Bamoun kingdom's royal festival, roughly every two years in late November/early December. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (2023).
Royal Palace of FoumbanPalace built in 1917 by King Ibrahim Njoya, inventor of the Bamum script.
Museum of the Bamoun KingsMuseum of the Bamum dynasty (1394 to present), opened April 2024 with about 12,500 pieces.- Foumban artisan centreThe famous craft centre: woodcarving, beadwork and brasswork.
- Bafoussam marketsThe busy markets of the Bamileke heartland capital.
Cities & towns
Regional food
- koki (black-eyed-pea pudding)
- kondre (plantain and goat stew)
Getting there
Bafoussam and Foumban are reached by good roads from Douala and Bamenda.