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39 Chapter Three A History of Bambili/Babanki-Tungoh and the Genesis of the Boundary Conflict Introduction This chapter examines the arrival of the two communities -the Bambili and Babanki-Tungoh, in the region. It will look at, amongst other things, their geopolitical setting, their occupations (activities) and their origin/migratory histories. It is obvious that the two neighbours never arrived at their respective areas as enemies. Their relationship was initially cordial. The chapter further focuses on the period when the Bambili and Babanki-Tungoh were living in cordiality. The chapter ends with the manifestations of the boundary conflict and a conclusion. A) Origin and the Migratory Histories of Bambili and Babanki-Tungoh Bambili and Babanki Tungoh belong to the Tikar group and speak a language which belongs to the semi-Bantu group1 . As already mentioned, the Tikar originated from the northern sector of Cameroon-Ndobo, in waves. According to an account given by the Fon of Bambili in 1926, the Bambili people were related to the Bafut at Ndobo, and left with Baba at the same time but instead of following the usual mountain track, the Bambili broke away from the Bafut and went directly to their present site along the Noun plain passing between Babungo and Bambalang in the Ndop plain. According to the Bambili oral traditions it is maintained that the Mbili people never settled in Bafut before proceeding to their present site. The Mbili assert that they migrated from Ndobo to the Ndop plain and from there they moved to their present site2 When they migrated from the Ndop plain, they went to Awing and settled at Mumfieh. Their settlement at Mumfieh was caused by the fact that it was the area around Lake Bambili which did not only have fresh water but also provided fish and contributed to the fertility of the area. When the first migrants arrived at Mumfieh, they named their community, Mbili, meaning “to sleep”, because ...

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