NEW CONTEST!! ✈️ Where would you go if you were a nomad for a whole year? Banten the most enclaved but unique Village in modern History

Dear steemians,
In this steem exclusive story ** I want to take you to Banten Village**, a locality beyond your imagination in the Western Highlands of tropical grasslands of Cameroon in West Africa.
Knowing more about Banten village is my personal story. See my post link on google my personal map

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fVivhVBiY7zX4iJK7

You can see where I'm writing on via Wikipedia link below..
https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banten_(Cameroun)

The image with curtesy from facebook group Nso Family album signifies life in Banten without electricity.
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I would like to visit Banten and travel to it neighbouring localities to participate in a unigue village life by farming everyday and eating vegatables like huckle berries and cabbagge that I am could also part in the cultivating processes .
The village at night is another life experience ,Sleeping in a pure cold climatic tropical grassland in a bush village hut as a lover of tourism far from the noisy cities.

Another interesting thing I want go explore is community developement projects.
The villagers have from time immimorial taken civic responsibility for community developemeng at personal level.
This is why I would like to be part. They dig roads with manual labour, dig pipebone wanter with their own voluntary labour, do subsistence agriculture, use community labour to build churches and schools including other facilities. I want to be part of such an incredible community. Using these facilities and taking part in such community solidarity engagements.

Biophysical Milieu is also interesting and visiting this I will have a good touristic adventure

Banten is sharing boundary with the following people from the east with kih and ,south with kikaikom,West with Mbiim, and North with Dom and visiting this village, I will ride in horses while travelling, use bikes at times or trek . This is around Diiri a vast forest and grassland very fertile for subsistence agriculture surrounded grassland which was first of all a forest reserve with wild animals including lions, and is now transforming in to a small settlement. Banten is found at the boundary of Nso. During the German war in which they wanted to capture the Fon of Nso the people of Nso carried him and hid in this Diiri the Germans followed him to this place but his people ran gain with him to Taankuh at Ndzeen.

Images above are from Wikipadia through my google search.
Topography
The village shows a wide variety in its relief, with altitudes ranging from 1300m above sea level to about 2600m above sea level. Characteristic features include many hills with gentle to steep slopes. Most of the high altitude parts of the area lie on the highland mountain chain of the North West Regions of Cameroon.

Climate
See an image from Banten student Union Forum on facebook.

The village hoes great ecological variations and consequently climate variations. This greatly influenced settlement patterns and agricultural activities. The type of climate found here is the guinea climate made up of the rainy and dry season. The rainy season usually begins around March to mid October with the annual average rainfall of 1862mm. the dry season is usually from October to February. The nights and days are very cold with average temperatures hardly exceeding 19oc.The sky is usually cloudy, leading to poor visibility.
Vegetation
Situated in the Sudano-Savanna zone, the area has different types of vegetation, ranging from grasses with fringes or forest along the gentle slopes and narrow valleys.
Soil types
Two main soil types characterizing the area are: lateric loamy soil, found mostly in the low lying areas; clayey soils found around raffia palm areas.
The lateric loamy soils are used for making sundry bricks. Crops like Irish potato, cabbage, carrot and spices are grown on the rich valley soils. However, Eucalyptus trees are planted in some areas which have heavily leached soils.
Settlement
Te main factors that determine the choice of land for settlement are; relief, soil structure and availability of water resources. Generally, level land with hard soils is preferred. However, houses are constructed on steep slopes in some parts of the area due to shortage of more appropriate land and such houses are exposed to land slide and erosion.
BANTEN VILLAGE MAP

RELIGION
Catholic Church was the first congregation that first arrived in Banten. It was the influence of some catholic Christians from Banten who use to worship every Sunday at kiyan and at cathedral at squares in kumbo town. These people were Pa Rapheal Tanka, Pa David Ngwa, Pa Albert Nswi who is one of the late Takwa Banten and Pa Jacob Ngah. They used to pray at the compound of Mr. David Ngwa.Later a church was made of sticks. After, a different church was made of sticks at Mbongir behind the present health center. The priest at that time was Rev Father Figo who used to come from Shisong from Mbawngir they crossed to Rom where they made this church again this time at Mbo-mission. After, this church was made of bamboo sticks and the last church made was now built with stones. The catechist was Mr.Marcus.There were no other churches at that time.
Around 1947 a catholic school was opened which later collapsed due to lack of pupils.This catholic school was opened again in 1960 and at a certain unknown year it was handed over to the government because people were being taxed a certain sum of money to pay so as to compensate for the number of pupils lacking as or to compensate for the number lacking. Mr. Sewong came in 1959 to open the adult school.HE did it with the hope that when the Catholic school of 1960 will be opened he will be the head teacher.Very unfortunate for him it was Mr. Christopher Aremy who was made head teacher. Mr. Sewong then remained catechist. Before opening this school the church delegation of Banten went for friendship celebration at Kuvluh and the catechist of Kuvluh at that time was Mr. Fidelis Ngah who came to Banten and replaced MR Sewong the catechist. Mr. Sewong then went to Kikaikom. The then Bishop was Bishop Julius Peter. The priests who assisted him were Rev Father Jacob and Rev Father Keflex. Since the school was now Government School the Christians were afraid of problems with the government. That is they found it difficult to worship near the government school. They then went to the present place down the valley at lower Rom where they built a different church; it is Rev Father Cosmos also called Rev Kongman who transferred the church. THE Bishop this time around was Bishop Verdzekov who was later on made Arch Bishop of Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province and is now retired. The person that took care of the expenses of the new church was father Cosmos. As he started to build the church father Cosmos was transferred to Njinikom where he died . Cosmos dead illness started when he climbed a stiff hill at Njinikom after celebrating mass .When the catechist Mr. Fidelis died it was Mr. Eusebius Wirba that took over and the present catechist is Mr. Fabian from Mahjah mission. The catholic nursery school was later on opened during the reign of Mr. Eusebius Wirba and is now Catholic nursery and primary school. This school is now 11 years old with some of its Pupils now in secondary schools.The catholic church has the various commission; the catholic Women Association CWA the catholic men Association CMA, Chung, Nsamba, Cadets, Catholic youth Association (CYA). The secret heart commission the Saint Jude Apostolate etc.
There are two other churchess operating under the Banten catholicm center and they are at Diiri and at Mbo-shah. The catechist of Diiri is Mr. Keran. The catholic school was opened but it collapsed due to one of the weakness of catholic schools without minding that the government school is operational and its head teacher is Mr.Joshua. The brain behind the Diiri mission was late Pa Gilbert Ngwang. The catechist that started the Mbo-shah catholic church was Pa Shey Andrex at Kinseng which was later transferred to its present place and the catechist this time is Mr. Gaius.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptist church first operated at the compound of Kiyon by Pastor Mangong. The idea to open this church came from Madame Victirine Bonjeh and Mr. Micheal Dzerem. The present pastor is Pastor Jonathan. The first woman to be baptized was Madame Wirba. The director of this church is Mama Victorine Bonjeh. This church has a small branch at Diiri opened by Mr. Charles Shalanyuy .Baptist church has grown from grace to grace spreading it gospel under one establishment with the Mbo-shah village. It is popularly known for if successful conversion of pagans to Baptist Christians and for in contribution to village peace and development.
ISLAM
The first Mallam who started Islam in Banten was Mallam Buba and Mallam Baccaribbut those who brought the Islamic religion, were the real Muslims from Yola. The first persons to be converted to this religion were Pa Joro Ngo Abdu who was called Wirba at that time and one young man from Minmfii compound who was baptized Saidu. The first Christian to be converted to Islam was Mama Theresia Yenla, Pa Saidou who is imam at this present time was converted also to Muslim.The pagan woman to be baptized was Mama Reikia Biy Yeeh. Pa Juror Abduwas made Fon for Moslems and he happened to be the first Joro to go to Mecca the whole of Nso. He was also the first Juror to be made in Banten - Sangiri. The present Joro is Juror Osman Wirba Jaff. The various groups in this mosque are the Young moslems, Salama, and the Sala-jumma-ah moslem society led by an Imam. This Salama is sharing the same house with the Islamic Nursery and Primary Schools which await for the completion of the construction of the schools.
How the Presbyterian Church came about
When this church stated people worshiped at Mr. Augustine Takwa’ s residence. The field pastor was pastor Swai . From there they went and build the church at Vijah that is vifem. The field pastor at that time was pastor Nswai and the leader was Mr. Augustine Takwa. Later on the Presbyterian faith bought built and transferred the church to the present place. This place was bought from late pa Oscar. The burial ground remains at the old church. The first person to be buried in this grave yard was Mama Lillian Biy. Also the first person to be baptized was late mama Julia Biy Naah.The then leader is Mr. Nerous Amosa. In every church competition, these faithful’s always win. Some of the groups in the congregation include the lamnso choir, Sunday school, Christian women Association[CWA], Christian Men Association [CMA] and the Christian Youth Fellowship [CYF]. 13th November has once been celebrated in this church and is one of the big days as far as th e Presbyterian church is concern. This church has given birth to another church which is at Diiri and the leader there is Mr. Augustine Takwa. There is no Presbyterian school yet in Banten.

ROAD DEVELOPMENT
The village in colonial days was in accessible by vehicles. Those who brought the idea of digging the road were; the late catechist of catholic church in the person of Mr. Fidelis Ngah, Pa Christopher Aremy, late Pa Peter Chin the Majong leader. Nformi Banten was the landlord ,and he was very agree with the people who pegged the road across his jurisdiction.He questioned the above people for pegging the road and forced them to pay fines to him. When the road was dug, this Nformi happened to be the first person to be carried in a vehicle and taken to the hospital as he fell ill. May be the gods were angry with him .It was from this incident that people’s mentality to community works changed with regards to the importance of community works. The first vehicle to come to Banten was brought by Late Rev. Father Banikon under hard struggle.Uptill today the only potential for road construction is human labor in 1975 a bridge was constructed over the Mimfi river.In 2009 all the youths of Banten came out again in their number and dug the main corridors of the village. They seems to be tired but would never be tired because the road is the key to socio-economic development.
The Banten village community Development authority now known as the Banten Development Association ( BADA) was led by Pa Peter Chin. The bricklayers of projects at that time were Mr. Paul Ayennika , Fai kiih Takui and Bongfen Joseph. When Fai Kiyon took over from him and controlled this project for over 14 years. During his reign things moved smoothly. Pa Peter Chin took over from FAi Kiyon and he was followed by Mr. Joseph Bongfen in whose reign there were no major developments. BADA’s executive changed in 2013 after the resignation of it home president. Mr.Wirba Zachari took over as the home branch president in 2013 with Madame Njolai Efrida as the national president . There is another group known as SAMBADA which is led by Mr. Cosmos Shweri which started in 2009. The SAMBADA dogged a road from Banten to Kikaikom through Ngoyee and even worked with the youths on the main village corridors . Mba’- Bamenda and Mba’- Yaounde and Mba’-Douala contributed to this by building a bridge. These are the Banten sons and daughters meeting groups in Cameroonian towns. They have contributed a lot through yearly contributions to Banten development.

HEALTH
Medicine was first started by the Red Cross. The commandant of the Red Cross was Mr. Francis yong. Later late Ephraim yufui took over. Those who used to go for clinic in other places like Ngondzen Health Center, Mbiim, Shisong to begged the nurses there to come Banten. A meeting was held where it was decided that they should try to open a Health Care. A delidation was sent to PMI At Tobin to go and beg on the medical personels , offering health services there to kindly open the Banten health unit. For this reason 40.000 FRS was deposited at their bank which was to be used in providing drugs. Mr. Ephraim Yufui was then sent from Banten to be trained for this purpose by the people of Banten themselves at Shisong Hospital. After training this man refused to work in the said Health center. This led to the loss of the 40000 as it was not refunded. In 1972 a delegation was sent to Yaounde. The said delegation was led by Mr. Aloysius Bongwong . When this delegation came back they started clinic in which only weights of children were taken every month, because of the lack of medical facilities. When the doctor came from Shisong . Madam Renatta Nyuyki and Madame Pendo, a Fulani woman again accepted to go for the training. When they came back a committee was formed. Pendo assisted her as the mid wife. The president of the Health center was Fai Kiyon and was seconded by Mr. Tongla Njola . Another person Madame Nicoline was again sent for training by the community. This Health Care was under Sister Ruphina. Mr. Ghenkelaa was also trained. There is a little bit of development in this Health care 3th Saturday is observed every month in this health care. At the present time there are four workers there at the health center including the day watch. The health care is also facing a lot of problems starting from lack of energy to power it refrigerators and even to provide electricity for other purpurses in the village. Thus many medical problems still persist.

THE UNIQUE COLONIAL HISTORY
Dear stemians, the Origin and Migration Pattern :-
According to the Nkum Munincipal council....Banten village is made up almost entirely of "Nso people who are descendants of Ngonso, a princess of Rifem. In pursuit of her brothers Nchare and Nfoombam, Ngonso left Rifem and wandered with her followers to Ndzennso. The departure of Ngonso and her brothers from Rifemwas provoked by the enthronement of a half brother instead of Nchare after the death of Kimi, their father. After a short stay at ndzennso, Ngonso and her followers moved to Kovifem where she met a small group of people known as the visale; thirty in number, where the name came from. Through friendly negotiations, they all agreed to live together in hamony and Ngonso and her followers now had a homeland. Ngonso’s son eventually became the leader of the two groups now known as Nso. The new kingdom increased rapidly in population and strength as other tribes futher joined the Nso people. Prominent among these were the ancestors of the Ndzendzev, Tankum, Yuwar and Luun lineages, who opted for union with the Nso peoplefor protection. Following this unity, others migrated to settle in other lands within the Nso fandom and forming villages under the authority of the paramount Fon of Nso. It is therefore clear that most of the earlier migration of the Nso people took place in the present Nkum council area where ndzennso and kofivem are located, thus many families settled along the line"- Nkum Council Archives.

POST COLONIAL ORIGIN OF BANTEN
Banten was founded by the following people, Tasheh, Mbuulav, Loni, Nshwi, all of late. The present big man is Fai Ngoran otherwise called Takwa Banten.Tasheh came from Oku with FON Ndze Mbehtu which is also called Fon Of Kiih .The Fon had a Nwerong also called Kwihfon.Where they settled was forest, hills and valleyand the place was full of clouds.Because of this Kwihfon the Fon of Nsosaid Fon Ndze Mbehtu cannot have this Kwifon in his land while he also has it. This Fon Ndze Mbehtu then left to a placewhich was later called Dom.Taasheh did not go. Other families started coming to this place like the family of Minmfii also called Kii, the family of Mbiftinmbang. There were also the Mbiamis like the family of Kiyon .Their main occupation was hunting and the keeping of bee hives.Duringhunting the people used to dig holes as traps for these animals. Most of the people that were coming to this place were those that had inter-tribalwars and family problems.The place was far and itfavoredthem.Some of these people were wrong doers and they never wanted to see any juju of the Fon like the Kwifon that they used to beat any time they saw itThis created bad relationship with the Fonand the Fon said he will never step his foot on that place.This gave thename Ban-tehh which means hate and cover. The said name was later modified to Banten.
During this time there were no churches.These people worshipped idols.They also prayed to their ancestors.It should be noted that before Takza Banten came to this place. Some people had once lived in this, place. They were called Visaffi. Later on there came the German war in which the Banten people captured Mfu from, the xar and is the present Mfu. The person who brought this Mfu was a man from Biftinmbang family. The title given to thecaptainof Mfu is called Mfomi and the nfor,I at that time was called Nformi Mbuu.The person who brought the Mfuhwas theN titled Tavmfuh. The other Nformis that followed him were Nformi Kohsho, Nformi Lahfen, Nformi Williams the present one. Tavmfuh was caught by a baa that is leopard in the forest. Since that incidentthere has never been any Tavmfuh untilabout three years back that Tavmfu was crowned againand he is called Tavmfuh Tongla.Banten is an isolated village having a river called river Mimfii and it takes its rice from Banten. Most of the roads entering Banten pass across this river. River Minmfii is the source of river Bui in Bui division. Agriculture then started and the main crops growned weremillet,cocoyam and rearing of goats, sheep and cows by the Fulanis.
BASIC EDUCATION
Banten has got so many basic education institutions; a government primary school and a nursery , a catholic primary and nursery ,a Muslim primary and nursry not including those in Mbosha and Diyri. Government Nursery School Banten (GNS) was created in 2011. It first started as a community School since the people of Banten were in great need for it. Presently GNS has no classrooms from the government same like the GSS. The Inspector at the time of the opening of the said nursery school was Mr. William Jodzeka. The Head teacher was Madame Cham Kifem Florence.
BANTEN WATER PROJECT
The giant pipe bone water project was sponsored by an international NGO called HELVETAS .The global giving NGO completed the water project more than 11years ago. The project was estimated at 21 million francs. The villages also contributed money for the project. The brain behind the Banten Water Project was Tamfu and this was via community development whose president was Mr. Joseph Lavmfu. This project took place in two phases. During the first Phase, men contributed 5000 FRS while the women contributed 3000 FRS. In the second phase, men contributed 2000 FRS while the women contributed 1000frs.
POLITICS
Administrative history and politics of Banten can be dated as far back in 1970s in the Nso local council area under the Nkor Rural Council. At that time there was a councellor each representing Buh ;Mbiim and Banten. The history of Banten was first written down by late Professor Bernard in[the hidden facts of oku]when he became member of parliament . Party politics was first felt on Banten soils during the days of President Ahidjo.It was the one party system which was the KNDP led by late Pa Wakilu Jav. After the KNDP, he also led the CNU. Later he was transferred to Bamti to work in the court and at the same time President of the CNU branch. When his reign expired Pa Ngwang Kintum took over in court while he remained president of the branch and this was due to the division in court. The CNU was later changed to CPDM during the reign of Pa Wakilu. Pa Wakilu ruled for 3 terms. When he came down from power the big man of Mimfii took over as president of this party. When the big man came down from power, democracy was introduced and it was made up of two parties.That is CPDM and SDF parties.Since then it has been the SDF that has been ruling in Banten up to present for the past 23 years. The councilor is Shey Kiisi Amos under newly created Nkum council.

THE VILLAGE TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
The village traditional council was given by the Fon of Nso and the meeting place is the compound of Takwa Banten.The president was Takawa Banten who is the big man of Tzennzev big compound and my own big compound.The present president is Fai Kiyon The executive of this traditional council is made up of Fais, Shufais, Juror, Nformi , Tavnfuh and other village title holders like the, messengers appointed by the Fon of Nso. For one to bring a case to this traditional council the person comes along with white stuff and a fowl. Whenever the Fon of Nso has an occasion, the village council always give goats and fowls collected during cases. Most of the problems handled here are farmer grazer conflict, inter native problems.
WHAT BANTEN NEED SERIUSLY IN EDUCATION IS A GOOD Government SCHOOL SECONDARY SCHOOL.

The first secondary school to be constructed in Banten was a private one; Charity Comprehensive College Banten an annex to Comban Memorial College kumbo.It was still burning in the hearts of the people to put pressure on the government to give them a secondary school. The people of Banten later started a community secondary which was characterized by poor management .Some years ago, Pa Njolai Engelbert called for a popular campaign which pressurized the government to take over the poorly managed secondary school.With the government principal, with few years of existence Government Secondary School Banten then realized some progress .It contain a number of students from form one to five and have successfully graduated a lot of students from the ordinary level certificate examination. It demands even a high school but faces a lot of infrastructural problems. The government have not constructed even a class since it started the operation .It is only thanks to PTA funds that Mr. Senjoh Florian ,the principal is able to maintain to maintain the glory of a glittering young government school. The school needs five modern class rooms and three offices, a modern science laboratory and some didactic materials, and a library .

THE PRESENT STATE OF DEVELOPMENT PROBLEM ANALYSIS

Global Problem Formulation and Potentials as Per Sector
SECTOR
PROBLEM
POTENTIAL
Transport
No national Road
Community labor
Health
Low level international campaigns
Traditional practitioners
Health centre
Energy
No electricity and others
Water Fall
Higher Education
None
Advance level Holders
Youths $ Women Affaires
None
Presence of idle $ unemployed youths
Scientific Research $ innovation
None
None
Employment $ Vocational Training
None
None
Post $ Telecommunication
Partial Network Coverage
Existence of Orange, MTN $ CAMTEL
Foreign Tourists
None
Ecotourism Potentials
Foreign companies
None
Prospects of natural resources
International culture
Little or None
Willing population
International NGOs
None
Needy population
United Nation Agents -FAO and WHO
None
Unemployed youths
International Human Right Agents
None
Unemployed youths
INTERNET
None

Library
None

Airports
None
Enough Space
Forest and wildlife
Poor protection
A Small Natural Reserve
GLOBAL WORMING
High Threat Effect
Enough Space for planning

Prioritization of sector
RANK
SECTOR
SUGGESTION
A
Global Warming
Sensitization
Create reserves
B
Energy
Supply HEP from kumbo
Solar energy supply
C
Post $ telecommunication
Installation of Network Poles
D
Transport
Dig kumbo- Noni Road
E
Health
Extension of International Health Campaign Strategy
F
NGOs
Employ Agents for the village
G
International culture
Building of a cultural center
H
Library
Building of a village library
I
Youths and women Affairs
Create Forum for Active Role

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NEW CONTEST!!....... ✈️ Where would you go if you were a nomad for a whole year? // NUEVO CONCURSO!! ✈️A dónde irías si fueras nómada por un año entero?
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