The umbrella association of all wirfon called Nso Development Association abbreviated as NSODA went operational in 27/11/1993 when her constitution was drafted. Branches were created in the major towns of Cameroon, hence the creation of NSODA Bamenda Branch. The activities of NSODA Bamenda Branch became very functional for a couple of years from creation and went moribund with a serious drop in the adherence to the central NSODA.
Conscious of the need to preserve our rich culture, heritage and socio – cultural development, some major Nso groupings at the time (Mfuh Bamenda, Chong, Bongsuiru, Kikaaiy, Kong-jwim, Kintseng, etc) concerted and convened a meeting of Nso community in the chong house at Ghana Street in August 2007.
This meeting had one focus to get a leadership of the Nso community in Bamenda to fill the gap of the defunct NSODA Bamenda Branch. The election was conducted but the challenges were so enormous because the executive inherited nothing and had no roadmap. The first project they embarked on was a survey
THE 2007/2008 SURVEY PROJECT ON NSODA BAMENDA BRANCH
An in-depth questionnaire was developed, multiplied and administered to over ninety (90) major Nso groupings, Njangi houses and village development Associations (VDAs) based in Bamenda and its environs. Data collected had credible information on the name aspirations, wishes, population growth, occupational stratification and general suggestions that can ensure adherence to Nso culture and development of the Nso world. From the analysis of the information collected from the survey, the following actions were implemented progressively within the first four blind years of the road map.
(a) The name of the Association was changed from NSODA Bamenda Branch to
NSO’BA’TI Bamenda
(b) By – laws of Nso’bati Bamenda were drawn, debated and adopted as the first ever
working document in the consultative Assembly meeting (CAM) of the 18th August 2008.
Nso’bati Bamenda remains a major branch of the umbrella Nso Development Association (NSODA) which has other branches in other towns within and without Cameroon. These by – laws are tailored from NSODA constitution and internal regulations of 27/11/1993 subject to amendments accordingly.
(c) A rudimentary census of the Nso population in Bamenda and its environs was carved out. It gave an idea on the population density map, occupational stratification of the adults and a horizontal/vertical population growth.
(d) Following the census results and in an attempt to ease the administration of the ever increasing Nso community in Bamenda (far larger than any other Nso community out of Bui division) the Wirfon in Bamenda were carved into administrative quarters called Ntehsi (sing = Nteh = Quarter). Each ‘’Nteh’’ is administered by a Taa-nteh and Yeenteh in a ten – man executive (like that of the central exco) that may have local adaptations.
They work in collaboration with their host Fondoms and indigenous quarter heads. The Nteh boundaries are not physically bound but we encourage effective adherence to the most accessible Nteh.
By 2012, in the second mandate, seventeen (17) Ntehsi were functional. In 2022, there are twenty – one created Ntehsi but some have gone to slumber if not dead due to the crisis in the region or otherwise.
CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETINGS (CAM)
These are monthly brainstorming meetings of the executive members of all the Ntehsi on every last Thursday afternoon of each month, hosted by each Nteh in rotation. The host Nteh comes in their numbers. Information is transmitted from these deliberations to the Ntehsi and vice versa, project funds are also raised and Ntehsi reports are shared in a win – win learning exchange on culture and
development. Central executive meetings hold forthnightly to analyse previous CAMs and prepare for the next.
KIBAH
Before the birth of Nso’bati Bamenda, there existed major Nso groups in Bamenda like the Mfuh Bah wun Gham Bamenda, Chong, Bongsuiru etc. and several powerful Village Development Associations (VDAs). In building its structures, Nso’bati Bamenda realized the need to have a direct liaison to the Nso Fondoms. They created the positions of Focal Points (FPs) of the palaces void of intricacies in order to ease communication with the palaces hence
ease her administration. These include Ntoh Nso, Mbiame, Nkar, Nseh, Kilun, Ndzeen nad Ndzerem.
These positions, VDAs and pre – existing groups that cut across the Ntehsi arrangements were duely recognized. Meetings are being organized in the Chong house in order to harness their energies for the common good of belonging and acting as a Wirfon. There were monthly meetings.
ACQUISITION OF NSO’BATI LAND
This was a landmark project in the roadmap that was realized in the second three year
mandate of this executive composed of:
(1) President = Tatah Edwin Bemsena
(2) Vice President = Maa Tume Antoinette
(3) Secretary General = Taashey Wirsy Alfred
(4) Assistant Secretary General = Mbulai Henry Lukong
(5) Financial Secretary = Takwa Eugene
(6) Treasurer = Jaff George (RIP)
(7) Organizing Secretary (M)= Ndzi Valentine Kilo and
(8) Organizing Secretary (F)= Kume Diana
(9) Culture Secretary : Men = Shey Nsotaka Bernard
(10) Culture Secretary: women = Yaah Julie Nyuyshu
A large piece of land measuring over 3200m2 was acquired at Alahlie neighborhood in Nkwen Fondom of Bamenda III subdivision.
Like Ngon – Nso is to Nso, the vice President Maa Tumi Antoinette is at the basis of the enormous frantic efforts that the entire executive put in place to acquire such a size of a plot in modern Bamenda. The following photos can attest to the background negotiations.[see photo album]The executive of Nsobati has assured legal ownership of the piece of land with a land title number ———————————————– of —————————————————
On her road map, a befitting Ngaay Nso (multipurpose cultural center project) would be enacted on this land. It’s appauling to note that the Nso-man (wirfon) had hither to not had a land nor hall in Bamenda for its community, out of the Mfuh house at Ghana street for the men, Chong house at Ghana street and the Bongsuiru house at Cowstreet for over 400 women each.
An ambitious plan for this future multipurpose Ngaay Nso, Bamenda (Nso Multipurpose cultural center) has been drawn for posterity.
The land as acquired on the ……………………………………………………. Was a bushy but well demarcated farm land earlier acquired by the Bongsuiru Women Group for a cooperative. Nso’bati Bamenda respects them for the cordial negotiations that culminated in the handing of the land over to Nso’bati Bamenda
