Foumban

Foumban is a city and the seat of the Noun Division in Northwest Highlands, Cameroon.

Understand

Foumban was the center of the Bamoun Dynasty, a rival of the Bamileke Kingdom (the Noun River separated the two). It became very significant in that one of its rulers, Sultan Ibrahim Njoya, created a wholly new language called Shumom, along with a religious order called Bamun script. He was very academic, and inculcated Islamic ways of life in his kingdom that saw it rise as a center of arts and learning. Moreover, he worked with German colonialists and pushed to have a palace built that, along with Foumban's artwork, stands out as major draws for tourism today.

See

• 1 Palais des Sultans Bamoun (it is off N6 road a little once in Foumban), ☏ +237 690833710. This is a highly unique medieval chateau type of palace created through Sultan Ibrahim Njoya's cooperation with German colonialists circa 1917. In this structure, you can find the Sultan's Museum, which is further accentuated by a museum down the way called the Musée des Arts et des Traditions Bamoun. It may also be known as Musee De Foumban, and is really quite incredible in that it takes on the appearance of a double-headed snake with spider perched on top. Really quite a feast for the eyes. Between these two venues, many aspects of Bamoun culture and chiefdom are displayed, from masks to weaponry to thrones. (updated Jul 2020)

Buy

Supposedly just south of the palace is the Rue des Artisans, which is quite a draw for authentic artwork from baskets to sculpture to weaving and is considered to be one of the best places in Central Africa to buy wood carvings.

Eat

There are a lot of eateries to choose from in the vicinity of the main attractions. One such place is the Cafe Royal Plus.

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Pekassa De Karche (just a couple hundred steps from the palace). Maybe a little basic with hot water questionability, but hey you're just a skip away from the palace and museum. Has a restaurant and artwork/handicrafts in the foyer. (updated Jul 2020)