page_title: Bandjoun
section_title: The Structure of the traditional government
hierarchical_section_title: Bandjoun / The Fô'A-Djo / The Structure of the traditional government
context_page_description: Bandjoun is a town and commune in the Koung-Khi Department in the West Region of Cameroon. Bandjoun is also the capital of the Koung-Khi department, and one of the largest traditional chiefdom in Bamiléké country. The chief dwells in Hialah, and has many wives.
  Its inhabitants speak Ghomala' or Bandjoun which is one of the Bamiléké family of languages.
context_section_description: The Fô'A-Djo is surrounded by some personalities who ensure a magical-religious and mystical Royal magistracy as well as other administrative and political support functions. There is in the primary function the "Kwi-Pou" and in secondary functions the Circle of Nine Notables. In administrative functions are the Circle of Seven Commissioners of Duchies and in political functions are the Royal Government and the Grand Dukes of the Kingdom.
  1) The Kwi-Pou is the second person after the King. He is made Viceroy shortly after the appointment of the King. The corresponding ritual is the same as that used to initiate the King. His role is to assist the King. He is appointed from among the king's brothers who do not have the same mother. The Kwi-Pou's mother is one of the wives of the late King and co-wife of the "Ma Mefo" or mother of the King. So he creates an equilibrium between the sovereign and his half-brother. The destinies of these two people, however, are related because if the King should disappear, his Kwi-Pou loses his functions. So it is difficult for the Viceroy to plot against the King. The Kwi-Pou assists the King and forms a robust duo with him against the "Mkam-Bvuh". His influence is counterbalanced, however, as seen below by that of another son of the late King called the "Wafo" who has the distinction of being the full brother of the king - i.e. another son of the "Ma Mefo".
  2) The Circle of Nine Notables is made up of personalities who have magical-religious powers and who have served the Magistracy for centuries. These notables are called "Mkam Bvuh'" which literally means "9 Notables". Designated from father to son according to the mystical traditions attached to the theocratic foundations of the Kingdom they work in the most absolute secrecy and should not in principle reveal their identity to anyone. At their death their colleagues hold the funeral rituals in a sacred covered atmosphere performed by the King himself. Their succession is then structured around one of their sons according to highly sacred rules. The Nine Notables sit in Council under the chairmanship of the King. They inform and assist him in all important legislative decisions. The room where a Council of Mkam Vuh convenes is called "Lah'kam" and is a kind of Council of State composed of thirty members of whom the Nine Notables are most prominent with voting. The Chief Doyen of the Nine Notables is the "Tekomghê". Almost all laws passed by the Chief are initiated by the Mkam. The council limits and tempers the authority of the Chief thus avoiding the abuse of power and a potential slide into dictatorship.
  3) The Circle of Seven Commissioners of Duchies are administrative people who may or may not have aristocratic ancestry. They are among the servants of the King called "Mtchoh'-Fo". Once appointed as Commissioner of a Duchy a person is called the "Mkem-Djie". Their mission is to ensure the administrative supervision of the Seven Duchies called the "Djie" (Juo Mhuo, Djie-Se, Djie-Leng, Djie-Theguem, Djie-Kouoh, Djie-SEH, and Djie-Bem). These duchies were established by King Notouom who structured the Kingdom in the early 17th century. They collect information on the Duchy through a network of royal police agents called "Kouh'-Guè". Together with the village administration agents, they are responsible for maintaining peace, order, and internal security. District Chiefs who are at the head of a district of the village each act within their sphere of competence.
  4) The Royal Government is formed by the servants of the King or "Mtchoh-Fo". They are divided between the Internal Service sponsored by the "Tadiye" and the administration of "Fam" sponsored by a special assistant called "Ngwalah".
  5) The Dukes of the Kingdom are a group of aristocratic dignitaries having regard for the affairs of the Kingdom affairs and who guarantee external security for the Chief analogous to the power of the "Mkam Bvuh'" and the "Kwi-Pou". The most important personality of this aristocratic group is the "Wafo" or "NgWafo". This is the third person of the Kingd
caption: A Bamileke Compound in Bandjoun
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