Baligham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Baligham, also called the Nepgayidbi ("people of the palace") are an ethnic group in Cameroon. The Ndaghams left Bafu-Fondong (about 4 km from Dschang, western region of Cameroon), in the mid-18th century due to several factors including Fulani raids or Jihads,[citation needed] and famine caused by desertification.
In their long and eventful migration, the Baligamba kingdom had become too large and after the loss of their leader Gawolbe, quarrels over leadership occurred which led to the breakup of the kingdom into small factions. One by one, faction after faction left, each going their own way until the legitimate successor, Galanga, was left only with a handful of followers. These he named Nepgayidbi.[citation needed]
According to a Bamenda provincial census in 1997, there were 7,344 Balingham persons in Santa district, Cameroon. They were 8.8 % of the district's population. 46 % were males and 54 % were females.[1]
The History
During the German colonial administration in Cameroon (1884–1914), the Baligham area, like many regions in the Grassfields, was incorporated into the system of indirect rule.[2] Traditional leaders such as the Fon of Baligham were recognized by the colonial authorities and used to facilitate administrative control, tax collection, and the enforcement of local order. German efforts to consolidate authority often involved cooperation with these indigenous institutions, though this also led to tensions with neighboring groups and resistance to colonial interference.
The Baligham polity was situated in a strategic zone of the western highlands, and its leadership played a role in local power dynamics that influenced German decisions about regional administration. These dynamics contributed to shifting inter-village alliances and disputes, some of which were exacerbated by colonial boundary demarcations and economic pressures imposed by the German regime.
