The Foumban Museum

The Bamoun or Bamum people trace their origin from Tikar in Cameroon. Thus it no surprise that the language of the Bamum kingdom was related to the Tikars in the western highlands of Cameroon. Their headquarters is in Foumban.

The seventeenth King of the Bamum dynasty, Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya developed a writing system based on the Akauku alphabet. He also built a palace that is now a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Bamun developed an extensive artistic culture at their capital of Foumban at the beginning of the 20th century. During Njoya's reign six dye pits containing various colours were maintained. The Mbum also imported indigo-dyed raffia-sewn cloth from the Hausa as royal cloth. This royal cloth was called Ntieya, and Hausa craftsmen were kept at palace workshops to supply nobles and teach the art of dyeing.

The Bamum are prolific producers and exporters of art. Chances are, if you have bought African art in one of the major trading centres on the continent, you have bought or touched a piece that was made in Foumban.

The late King Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya launched the site of the Foumban Museum in 2013. Built in the shape of the Foumban totem, i.e. a two-headed python, the museum was launched in April 2024. It is believed to house over 12,500 pieces.