11. The Municipality
Created in 1977 by decree No. 77/203 of 19/06/77, the Batibo Municipality is principally made up of the Widikum tribe who are from the Tikari ethnic group. The indigenes of the Municipality are generally referred to as the “Moghamo” people. However, there is quite a significant Mborroro population scatter in the Urban Space and the village of Anong, Mbengok, Oshum and Ashong.
Religion
Before the arrival of Christianity and Islamism, religious practice in Batibo Municipality was closely linked with their tradition and culture. The Moghamo tradition and culture is overwhelmed by imported religious beliefs. Some aspects of the foreign religion conflict with the Moghamo tradition and culture, and its religious beliefs. For example, in the belief in “tegum” and “forteng”. Many persons in the Municipality who are adherents to these “modern religions” still have deep-rooted beliefs in some aspects of the Moghamo traditional worship and beliefs. For example, pouring of libations, especially at family levels.
The Moghamo traditional religion
It is mainly based on the worship of ancestors. Generally, there are many gods to whom sacrifices such as animals, wine, and other aspects are made. The gods have shrines which may be at the level of the family compound, the lineage compound, or controlled by the Fon in some locations in the village.
The Fon is considered as a chief priest, a link between the living and the ancestors. At the level of the lineage compound the position is held by the compound head, while at the level of the family it is held by the head of the family. At each of these levels, the symbol of power is the “horn” or “family cup” which could be from a goat, sheep or such animal in the forest. The “family cup” is passed down from one successor to the other.
Traditional religion in Moghamo is strongly rooted in ancestral worship. Central to the worship is the shrines where sacrifices are performed. Sacrifices are generally intended to appease the gods from vengeful or angry ancestors who might want or have inflicted curses on the people or individuals. The sacrifices may also be intended to solicit for blessings such as abundant harvest, rains, high fertility etc.
Where, the Fon is converted to Christianity or Islam, he is still expected to assume his responsibility within the Moghamo culture, otherwise, he might be disregarded or even disowned by the people. Most of the Fons of the villages of the Municipality have embraced Christianity with some of them belong to denominational movements such as the Christian Men Fellowship (CMF) and the Catholic Men Fellowship (CMF) of the Presbyterian church in Cameroon and the Catholic church respectively.
In the Moghamo community, the remnants of traditional religion are reminiscent in certain practices and beliefs such as:
- The visiting of the “tegum” to find out the cause of death of a relative. This is rooted in the belief that death does not occur from natural causes. It is belief someone is always responsible for the death of a relative.
- The belief that if certain rituals are not performed after the death of a relative, the family may be bewitched.
- The belief that angry ancestors could inflict sickness, ill-luck and even death on individual members of the family.
The influence of traditional religion and Christianity in the Moghamo community has resulted in situations where fervent Christians are torn between total belief in Christ and belief in certain anti-Christian traditional beliefs.
Islamism
Islamism is not very strong in the Municipality. It is practice by mostly the Mborroro communities in Anong, Ashong Mbengok and the Urban Space. There is a mosque in the Urban Space. It is hard to say whether there are original Moghamo people who have been converted to Muslims. However, with the presence of an Islamic school in Angie, it is possible that there could be some converts.
Christianity
The Catholic Church
The Catholic mission is the predominant Christian denomination in the Municipality. Apart from developing the spiritual growth of the people, the Catholic mission is contributing in the education and health sectors.
There are 03 Catholic nursery schools in Ashong, Batibo and Njinyen-Batibo; 04 Primary schools in Ashong, Enyoh, Batibo and Njinyen-Batibo. In the health sector, they run the St. John of God Hospital and an annex in Efah.
The Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian Church may be the second largest Christian denomination in the Municipality. In addition to contributing to the spiritual growth of the people, the Presbyterian mission run 01 nursery school, 02 primary schools and 01 Secondary School in the Municipality.
The Baptist are implanted mostly in Ashong where they operate a health centre.
Other Christian denominations have a growing presence in the Municipality. They contribute mostly to the spiritual growth of the population. These denominations are still to contribute to the development of other sectors such as education and health. The dominant Pentecostals include; Apostolic Church, Full Gospel Church and Jehovah Witnesses.
Agriculture
Agriculture and Livestock are the main economic activity of the Batibo people. It is practiced by over 90% of the population. The remaining 5% are involved in activities like administration, teaching, petty trading etc. The agricultural speculations of the Municipality include:
- Tuber: yellow yams, coco yams, colocasia-ibo, colocasia-local, sweet potatoes, sweet yams, sweet-hairy yams, traditional hairy yams, white yams, aerial yams, irish potatoes (mostly grown in Ashong, Guzang and Bessi)
- Grains: several varieties of maize, several varieties of beans, soja bean, cow peas
- Vegetables: plantains, banana, tomatoes, cabbage, celery, bacilli, huckey berry, okra, garden egg, pumpkins, egusi, ginger
- Cash crops: coffee (arabica and robusta), cocoa (Ngen-Ashing) oil palms (except in Ashong) raffia palms (Ashong as a different variety)
Commerce
Although every village of the municipality has a local market where local agricultural speculation may be bought and sold, there are however prominent markets. Guzang market is the biggest and oldest periodic markets in the municipality. It causes an influx of numerous traders, buyers and visitors into the municipality during the weekly market days. The second largest market is the Kugwe market where the main items bought and sold include palm oil, vegetables, especially plantains and banana. The palm oil is going to the major source of raw material for the soup factory in Mbunjei. Other prominent markets include the Ambo market, Tiben market and Mbunjei market, the Kwe market in Batibo. The Nyenjei market is under reconstruction with PIB funds. There also the vegetable market at Ekan- Batibo and Ofen-Tiben both constructed by the Council with support from PNDP and FEICOM respectively. The Bessom and Enyoh markets are famous for Plantains and garri respectively.
Palm wine tapping
The Batibo Council is renowned for its palm wine commonly called “Fichuk” which sells very high within and outside municipality and constitute a major economic activity and constitute a major source of income to the inhabitants, especially the male. The key villages for the production of palm wine include Kuruku, Efah, Angie, Ambo and Batibo (green valley). Food crops, especially the tubers are the major source of income for the women. The prominent tubers are Yellow yams (mostly in the Nyaneck village –Ambo, Efah, Kulabei, Angie, Enyoh, Ewai and Enwen) Irish potatoes (in Ashong, Guzang and Bessi).
Transportation business
The transport sector constitutes the third economical vibrant sector of the municipality. Motor vehicle transport takes place mostly between Batibo and Bamenda. The Batibo- Mamfe-Kumba – Buea-Limbe is fast growing. There are over 100 vehicles exploiting this transportation axis daily. The motor cycle, locally called “OKADA” provide local transportation within the municipality and employs a good number of youths.
Mineral extraction
Quarry and Sand mining are some of the self-employment opportunities in the area. Prominent quarries are found in Mbunjei, Guzang and Ekan. Sand exploitation is mostly in Oshum and Tiben, although there exist unexploited potentials in Efah (Koronyi), Angie (Tekenn), also along the river Momo i.e. Anong, Numben, Mbunjei.
Demography
The Municipality has a projected population of 74,364 inhabitants (population according to 2005 census was 63,254). This population may be divided into rural and urban population. The Urban population consists of the inhabitants of the Urban Space