Bassa (Cameroon)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Bassa (also spelled Basa or Basaa and sometimes known as Bassa-Bakongo) are a
Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...
ethnic group An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...
in
Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...
. They number approximately 800,000 individuals. The Bassa speak the Basaa language.


Ethnonym

Depending on the sources, we can encounter multiple variations of the ethnonym: Basaa, Bassa, Betjek, Bikyek. The term Bassa is the plural of ''nsa'' which can be translated as sharing or remuneration. Legend has it that an argument took place between the sons of a common Bassa ancestor called Mban. This dispute concerned the sharing of a game after returning from hunting to the village, it was a snake. At the end of this dispute, the protagonists were nicknamed Bassa, which translates as “the kidnappers”. However, the oldest term Bassa comes to us from Egypt under the term ''Umm Usuda''. Subsequently, Portuguese texts subsequent to this period use the terms Mascha, Easha, Biafra, Biafaré to designate the Bassa.


History

For centuries, the Bassa lived along the Atlantic coast of what is now Cameroon. They lived off subsistence farming and fishing. The Bassa were displaced by
Duala Duala or Douala can refer to: Relating to Cameroon * Duala people, an ethnic group in Cameroon * Duala language, part of the Bantu languages * Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, founded by the Duala people * Rudolf Duala Manga Bell (1873–1914), ...
and early European traders, suffering exploitation and
marginalization Social exclusion or social marginalisation is the social disadvantage and relegation to the fringe of society. It is a term that has been used widely in Europe and was first used in France in the late 20th century. In the EU context, the Euro ...
during the era of German
Kamerun Kamerun was an African colony of the German Empire from 1884 to 1916 in the region of today's Republic of Cameroon. Kamerun also included northern parts of Gabon and the Congo with western parts of the Central African Republic, southwestern ...
. Their fishing and farming efforts shrunk. During this German era, most Bassa were anti-colonialists, fighting against German expansion beyond the coast. However, they suffered a major defeat and were subjected to forced labor in the construction of the
Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. It was home to Central Africa's largest port, now being replaced by Kribi port. It has the country ...
Yaoundé Yaoundé (; , ) is the Capital city, capital city of Cameroon. It has a population of more than 2.8 million which makes it the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region (Cameroon), Centre Region o ...
"Mittel Kamerun" railway. Throughout the era of European colonial presence, the Bassa were able to take advantage of Christian
missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Miss ...
to attain a Western-style education, particularly from German
Protestants Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
and American
Presbyterians Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
. The Bassa played a lead role during
decolonization Decolonization is the undoing of colonialism, the latter being the process whereby Imperialism, imperial nations establish and dominate foreign territories, often overseas. The meanings and applications of the term are disputed. Some scholar ...
, and the Bassa-Bakongo region was a hotbed of radical anti-colonial nationalism, particularly the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC). However, the Bassa brand of anti-colonialism ultimately lost out during the creation of the postcolonial nation of
Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...
. Migration The Bassa designate their oldest history under the name of “legends and myths”: ''Mbog kôba ni kwân''.
Griots A griot (; ; Manding: or (in N'Ko: , or in French spelling); also spelt Djali; or / ; ) is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. Griots are masters of communicating stories and history orally, w ...
define three major periods in the history of the Bassa. The first major period is called Kwan (period from the beginning until the 19th century BC), the second period is Kôba (period of legends from the 19th century BC to the 15th century), and the last period is Len (period from the 15th century to the present day). From Egypt to the shores of
Lake Chad Lake Chad (, Kanuri language, Kanuri: ''Sádǝ'', ) is an endorheic freshwater lake located at the junction of four countries: Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, in western and central Africa respectively, with a catchment area in excess of . ...
Oral tradition places the origins of the Bassa people in
Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt () was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower E ...
or in Ancient
Nubia Nubia (, Nobiin language, Nobiin: , ) is a region along the Nile river encompassing the area between the confluence of the Blue Nile, Blue and White Nile, White Niles (in Khartoum in central Sudan), and the Cataracts of the Nile, first cataract ...
, on the border of
Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
and
Sudan Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Eritrea and Ethiopi ...
, near the
Nile The Nile (also known as the Nile River or River Nile) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. It has historically been considered the List of river sy ...
. After several invasions (Pharaonic, Ethiopian and Arab) of Nubia, and natural disasters such as floods, the Bassa moved as far as possible from the Nile by crossing the
Sahara Desert The Sahara (, ) is a desert spanning across North Africa. With an area of , it is the largest hot desert in the world and the list of deserts by area, third-largest desert overall, smaller only than the deserts of Antarctica and the northern Ar ...
to descend towards the southwest. They then gradually established themselves in Kanem Bornu where they occupied the Logone Valley on the high plateaus of Adamawa. Then, they follow the Logone River to take refuge in ''Guelingdeng'' before hiding in the
Mandara Mountains The Mandara Mountains are a volcanic range extending about 190 km (about 120 mi) along the northern part of the Cameroon–Nigeria border, from the Benue River in the south () to the north-west of Maroua in the north (). The highest ...
between present-day Cameroon,
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
, and
Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...
, which recall the landscapes of Nubia. But the
Arab conquests The early Muslim conquests or early Islamic conquests (), also known as the Arab conquests, were initiated in the 7th century by Muhammad, the founder of Islam. He established the first Islamic state in Medina, Arabia that expanded rapidly u ...
dislodged them and stripped them of their treasures. During this migration, they interact with other ethnic groups, leading to Bassa people today being found in
Benin Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its po ...
,
Gambia The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, The Gambia is the List of African countries by area, smallest country in continental Africa; it is surrounded by Senegal on all sides except for ...
,
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
,
Liberia Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast–Lib ...
, the
Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
,
Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...
, and
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. From Lake Chad to ''Ngog Lituba'' The western highlands discharge their waters towards the Nile, Congo, and Niger basins. The Bassa people will follow these routes. Leaving central Cameroon, the Bassa descend towards the southwest into forest areas less accessible to conquering peoples. Faithful to their logic of staying near the waterways, they follow a tributary of the Sanaga, the Liwa, and find themselves on the right bank at a place they called ''Ngog Lituba''. From ''Ngog Lituba'' to the banks of the
Wouri River The Wouri (also Vouri or Vuri) is a river in Cameroon. The Wouri forms at the confluence of the rivers Nkam River, Nkam and Makombé River, Makombé, northeast of the city of Yabassi. It then flows about southeast to the Wouri estuary at Douala ...
The Bassa identify themselves in their entirety as being the descendants of those who inhabited ''Ngog Lituba'', this being one of their founding myths: ''Bon ba ngok lituba'' (“the children of the pierced rock”). On the eve of the 15th century, ''Ngog Lituba'' became too small for the Bassa people and the need for more space grew urgent. The breakdown of the families named below is the subject of several versions. For some, this is the consequence of disagreements between these families, which would have led some to exile, and, for others, it is the logical continuation of their long walk to the banks of the Wouri. Some settled in the lower Sanaga valley, these are the ''Yabakalag'', the ''Balimba'', the ''Yassoukoum'', and the ''Pongo''. Other families crossed the Sanaga in several places, this was the case of the ''Bikôk'', the ''Ndôg Njee'', the Eséka, the ''Dôk Béa'' of
Makak Makak is a town in central Cameroon, in Central province. Transport It is served by a station on the national railway system. Education * Evangelical College of Libamba (1945) See also * Communes of Cameroon * Railway stations in Cameroon ...
, the ''Ngase'' of
Edéa Edéa is a city and commune in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Situated on the Sanaga River, it lies on the Douala–Yaoundé–Ngaoundéré railway line. Its population was estimated at 122,300 in 2001. History From 20 to 26 Octobe ...
, the ''Yabi'', and the ''Bakoko''; others went deeper into the forests of
Yabassi Yabassi is a town and commune in western Cameroon, and capital of the Nkam department. Its population in 2001 was estimated at 12,000. The main dialect spoken is the Yabassi. However, there are also other dialects originating in the Nkam which a ...
and Haut Nkam. Those who settled on both banks of the
Nkam River The Nkam River rises in the Western High Plateau in the West Region of Cameroon, and joins the Makombé River to become the Wouri River. It is known to tourists for the spectacular Chutes d'Ekom, an waterfall about from Bafang. To the sout ...
were the ''Ewodi'', the ''Bodiman'', and part of the ''Bakoko''. Other clans migrated further to reach the posts of Mbanga and
Nkongsamba Nkongsamba is a city in western Cameroon. It is in the Moungo department, which is in the Littoral. As of the 2005 Census, the city had a population of 104,050. It is a centre for the farming of palm oil, bananas and coffee, and is between two ...
, these were the ''Abo'' and the ''Mbo''. Among the families who remained in ''Ngog Lituba'' include the ''Bambimbi'' and the ''Basso Ba Likol''. The migrations will end with the barrier of the
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
and the arrival of Europeans. Installed in this coastal area, the Bassa will continue their usual activities of farmers, fishermen and hunters, maintaining intense commercial activity with the Malimba, Duala and Bakoko. Contact with Europeans 472 - 1960'' The Portuguese influence between 1472 and 1578 did not directly concern the Bassa people, who nevertheless owed them the introduction of certain American fruits coming from
Sao Tome SAO or Sao may refer to: Places * Sao civilisation, in Middle Africa from 6th century BC to 16th century AD * Sao, a town in Boussé Department, Burkina Faso * Serb Autonomous Regions (''Srpska autonomna oblast'', SAO), during the breakup of ...
and Fernando Po, notably the
avocado The avocado, alligator pear or avocado pear (''Persea americana'') is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to Americas, the Americas and was first domesticated in Mesoamerica more than 5,000 years ago. It was priz ...
, the
papaya The papaya (, ), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant species ''Carica papaya'', one of the 21 accepted species in the genus '' Carica'' of the family Caricaceae, and also the name of its fruit. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within ...
,
cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...
, and
sugar cane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fib ...
. These plant species will much later bring wealth to the Bassa in general and to Cameroon as a whole. The
Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...
and the
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
were content to trade along the west coast of Africa without having a deep influence on the Bassa people. The first known resistance began with the arrival of the
Germans Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...
in 1884. Major Hans Dominik describes them as a people of resistance, who lost several of their men during the Battle of Kan, in current Sanaga Maritime, during the period from 1885 to 1907. Its most important chiefs during the Germanic era were notably: ''Mahop ma Mbom, Ikong Yap, Kumaya, Ngwem, Balema, Bimaï, Toko Ngango, Mbome Pep, Hiak Nkonga, Bitjoka bi Tum, Matip ma Ndombol, Mayi ma Mbem, Nkot Mayo, Matip ma Matip, Eone Eone, Undu Ngwem, Ntep Nak, Mangele ma Yogo, Mbey Mang Gwade, Njiki Njok, Baleng ba Mpode, Yomb Kamnjok, Bajang ba Honba, Mangele ma Balegel, Mbinak Binon, Nduga Bitak,'' and ''Yamb Kamen''. However, the Germans, after having pacified their relationship with the natives, undertook numerous projects mainly relating to the cultivation of cocoa, creating several centers in the villages of Makak, Eséka, Longone, Nkan, Omeng, and Nyambat. The Germans also built a railway line which stopped at Njok. The
French period In Northern European historiography, the term French period (, , ) refers to the period between 1794 and 1815 during which most of Northern Europe was controlled by Republican or Napoleonic France.Eduard Rothert''Rheinland-Westfalen im Wechsel d ...
began in 1919 under the policy of indigénat (forced labor), which had begun under the Germans. The French opened an administrative post in Bassa territory at Ngambe in the locality of Bambibi in 1927. During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, many Bassa enlisted with the French to fight the German armies. Back home, and due to ideas received in Europe during the Second World War, the Bassa united with other natives to form
independence movements Below are the articles listing active separatist movements by continent: * List of active separatist movements in Africa *List of active separatist movements in Asia *List of active separatist movements in Europe * List of active separatist m ...
. The best known of the Bassa separatists is called Ruben Um Nyobe. Cameroon obtained its independence on January 1, 1960.


Contemporary culture and politics

Despite their marginalization in the postcolonial state, there remains a belief in a "''Nka kunde''" or national liberation that has yet to occur. A. Language and Communication: The Bassa people are primarily speakers of the Bassa language, which belongs to the Bantu language family. Their language serves as a vehicle for preserving their cultural heritage, oral traditions, and storytelling. Elders play a crucial role in passing down the wisdom and history of the Bassa people through oral narratives. B. Traditional Beliefs and Religion: The Bassa people have a strong connection to their ancestral spirits and believe in a spiritual world that coexists with the physical realm.
Ancestor worship The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...
,
animism Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in ...
, and traditional rituals are integral to their religious practices. The Bassa people also revere nature and maintain a close relationship with the environment, which is reflected in their agricultural and hunting customs. C. Art and Craftsmanship: Artistry is deeply ingrained in Bassa culture. Skilled artisans create intricate wooden carvings, masks, and sculptures that are not only aesthetically stunning but also hold significant cultural and spiritual meaning. These art forms are used in various ceremonies, including initiation rites and funerals. D. Music and Dance: Music and dance play a vital role in Bassa society, serving as expressions of joy, grief, and celebration. The Bassa people use various traditional instruments, such as
drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
,
xylophones The xylophone (; ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets. Each bar is an idiophone tuned to a pitch of a musical scale, whether pentatonic or heptatonic in the case of many African an ...
, and
flutes The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...
, to accompany their dances, which are characterized by rhythmic movements and colorful costumes. There are two broad categories of music: Urban (''Assiko'', ''N'gola'' and ''Ma-Kune'') and rural styles.


Language

Like most languages when confronted with other cultures, the Bassa language has incorporated certain borrow words and evolved over time. We distinguish four periods of its evolution, Bassa spoken before 1472, Bassa spoken between 1472 and 1919, Bassa spoken between 1919 and 1945, and Bassa spoken today. The Basaá (or Bassa) language belongs to the group of Bantu languages. It is spoken by around 800,000 people around the towns of Édéa, Éséka and
Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. It was home to Central Africa's largest port, now being replaced by Kribi port. It has the country ...
. It has phonetic and grammatical characteristics common to many Bantu languages, such as noun classes, the implosive “''b''” and a tone system: high tone, low tone, low-high tone, high-low tone, medium tone. The language is transcribed using an adapted Latin alphabet, including consonants, vowels and accents specific to Bantu languages.


Culinary specialties

Various products imported since 1472 are part of the daily consumption of the Bassa including rum and salt. Some well-known Cameroonian dishes originate from Bassa country, including Bongo'o sauce and Mintoumba. Mintoumba is a cassava bread made from kneaded cassava and mixed with
palm oil Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of oil palms. The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel. Palm oil accounted for about 36% of global oils produced from o ...
, salt, spices and chili pepper, all rolled and tied in a
banana leaf The banana leaf is the leaf of the banana plant, which may produce up to 40 leaves in a growing cycle. The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. They are used for cooking, wrappin ...
.


Notable individuals

*
Ruben Um Nyobe Reuben or Reuven (name), Reuven is a Hebrew Bible, Biblical male first name from Hebrew language, Hebrew רְאוּבֵן (Re'uven), meaning "behold, a son". In the Bible, Reuben (son of Jacob), Reuben was the Reuben (son of Jacob), firstborn s ...
, politician, leader of the UPC, the Cameroonian nationalist movement, before independence. *
Bassek Ba Kobhio Bassek Ba Kobhio (born 1957) is a Cameroonian filmmaker, writer and founder of the Ecrans Noirs film festival in Yaounde, Cameroon. He is also the Director of the Higher Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Professionals of Central Africa (ISCAC) ...
: writer and filmmaker. *
Nathalie Yamb Nathalie Yamb is a Cameroonian-Swiss activist and businesswoman. She is well-known for opposing the actions of France in Africa, which she and others describe as colonial. She was born in Switzerland and grew up in Cameroon, then went to univer ...
: journalist‚ communicator‚ anti-colonialist‚ anti-imperialist and pan-Africanist activist. * Bruno Ntep: Taekwondo practitioner (European Champion). *
Roger Milla Albert Roger Miller (born 20 May 1952), known as Roger Milla, is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage. He played in three Wo ...
: (born 1952), football player. * Joseph Antoine Bell: (born 1954), football player. *
Emmanuel Kundé Emmanuel Jérôme Kundé (15 July 1956 – 16 May 2025) was a Cameroonian professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football), defender. He spent the majority of his professional career playing for C ...
: (born 1956), football player. *
François Omam-Biyik François Omam-Biyik (born 21 May 1966) is a Cameroonian football manager and former player who works as assistant manager of Cameroon. A forward, he was one of the most important players of the Cameroon national team in the nineties, playing ...
: (born 1966), football player. *
Rigobert Song Rigobert Song Bahanag (born 1 July 1976) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who is the manager of the Central African Republic national team. Known for his defensive skills, Song usually played as a centre-back, but could also oper ...
: (born 1976), football player. * Jean Alain Boumsong: (born 1979), football player. *
Samuel Eto'o Samuel Eto'o Fils (; born 10 March 1981) is a Cameroonian Association football, football administrator and former Football player, player who is the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation. He is often regarded as one of the ...
: (born 1981), football player. * Jean II Makoun: (born 1983), football player. * Joël Matip: (born 1991), football player. *
Samuel Umtiti Samuel Yves Um Titi (; born 14 November 1993), known as Samuel Umtiti, is a French professional Association football, footballer who plays as a centre back for Ligue 1 club Lille OSC, Lille. Umtiti began his professional career with Olympique L ...
: (born 1993), football player. * Kylian Mbappé : (born 1998), French football player. *
Carlos Baleba Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba (born 3 January 2004) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder for club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Cameroon national team. Early life Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba was ...
(born 2004), football player. * Emile Ntamack: rugby player. *
Nicolas Batum Nicolas Madelin Victor Andre Batum ( ; born 14 December 1988)
is a French professional basketb ...
: National Basketball Association (NBA) player. *
Joel Embiid Joel Hans Embiid ( ; born 16 March 1994) is a Cameroonian and American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks men's ...
: National Basketball Association (NBA) player, Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2023 regular season. *
Blick Bassy Blick Bassy is a Bassa singer-songwriter from Cameroon. Bassy writes his songs in his native language, Bassa. His song "Kiki", from ''Akö'', featured as the theme song for the worldwide launch of the iPhone 6 in 2015. Early life Bassy was born ...
, (born 1974), singer-songwriter. *
Werewere Liking Werewere Liking (born 1950, in Cameroon) is a writer, playwright and performer based in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. She established the Ki-Yi Mbock theatre troupe in 1980 and founded the Ki-Yi village in 1985 for the artistic education of young peo ...
(born 1950), writer, playwright and performer. *
Achille Mbembe Joseph-Achille Mbembe (; born 1957), is a Cameroon, Cameroonian historian and political theorist who is a research professor in history and politics at the Wits Institute for Social and Economy Research at the University of the Witwatersrand. He ...
(born 1957), philosopher, political theorist and public intellectual.


References

* * Jean-Marcel Eugène Wognon, Harmattan Burkina, 2010, 200 p. (ISBN 978-2-266-03528-6
lire en ligne
rchive
{{Authority control Bantu peoples Ethnic groups in Cameroon