People
Lebialem County
The name ‘Bangwa’ conveniently describes all the inhabitants of this cluster of nine chiefdoms although they do not, in any sense, constitute a tribe or a single political unit. The word derives from the stem Nwe (or Nwa in the northern dialects) which refers to both the country and the language. ‘Bangwa’ therefore correctly refers to the people who speak Nwe and inhabit the narrow strip of country in West Cameroon which forms the foothills of the section of the East Cameroun plateau inhabited by the Bamileke. The term Nwe is, moreover, used more specifically to describe the highland areas of the four chiefdoms, Fontem, Fotabong, Fonjumeter and Foto Dungatet.
The Wabane people constitutes one main clan which is the Mundani clan - the population which can either be referred to as Lower Mundani and Upper Mundani (of the mid and highlands). These people are said to have originated from Widikum from the North West Region. The main dialect is known as the Mundani. All live in harmony as one person. Other tribes found within the municipality are the Bangwas, the Bamilekis, the Bayangs, the Meta and the Bassossi.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Lebialem is a county of Ambazonia’s Midland State. The county covers an area of 617 km² and as of 2001 had a total population of 144,560. The capital of the department lies at Menji.
Lebialem is the smallest of Ambazonias 14 counties and the second least populated. It however has the 4th highest population density in the country, after Bakassi, Mezam and Fako. The County has three administrative Sub Divisions (Alou, Fontem and Wabane). Lebialem is located on the mountainous north eastern part of South West Region. It is bordered to the East by Menua Division of the West Region, South and South West by the Manyu and Kupe-Muanenguba Divisions of the South West Region and North by Momo County in the North West Region. Lebialem is the least populated county of the Midland State.
RESOURCES
Great tourist sites (Anyoh-Ndeoh waterfalls, caves and the Tropical evergreen forest of the lower zone. Also endangered species such as Chimpanzees and the Western lowland gorilla, to wild cats like African Civet, Genets, Foxes, Stone hayracks, Antelopes. Deers, Caneras, Grass cutters and variety of Avifauna like Banaman turakles,Parrots. Even though there is no protected area (Reserve or Park) in the municipality the inhabitants of the Fondoms protect patches of forest of varying size – 0.5 to 1.5Ha especially around the palaces (chief or Fons Palace). These mini reserves are traditionally referred to as “Lefem” or sacred forest. These “Lefems” contain forest trees with closed canopies and shrubs or one large tree around which the villagers traditionally adore or offer sacrifices. Deposits of diamond, Muscovites and quartz can be found in the hills of Wabane
ECONOMY
The principal economic activity in the municipality is agriculture which occupies at least 95% and therefore economic progress largely depends on the exploitation of agricultural potentials. Other economic investment activities are very low, probably due to the enclave nature of the area. This can be confirmed by the limited number of service providers in different sectors. This agricultural sector is dominated by the production of food crops and cash crops. In its overall profile and contribution to the national economic, Lebialem is most like Ndian county. At 134,000 Tonnes annually, food crop production is 4th highest in the nation and food crop productivity (Tonnes/capita) is second highest.. Locally grown agricultural products such as cocoa, palm oil, cassava, cocoyams, Irish potatoes, Leeks Carrots, etc. Livestock (Cattle small ruminants, poultry, pigs, fish) NTFP (Bitter cola, Njansang, Bush mango, eru, bush onion) etc
