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Ville/Village : FURU-AWA

(Département Menchum - Région NORD-OUEST)

Posté : dimanche 24 mars 2019 à 20:11 | Modifié : lundi 09 mars 2020 à 21:45 | Vues 1K+

Description of the Council area

Furu-Awa council area is found in the northern part of Menchum division in the North-West Region of the Republic of Cameroon. Furu Awa council area has a population of about 19.000 inhabitants spread over a surface area of 1.500km2. This sub division was created in 1995 by the Ministerial decree No 95/082 of 24/04/95, bearing on the creation of the Furu-Awa Council. This council area is made up of 17 villages with its head quarter in Furu-Awa village. The main language spoken in Furu Awa council area is the jukum language. Other minor languages include the Akum and the fufulbe spoken by the Mbororos. Among the learned population, the English language is often used especially when communicating with strangers or visitors. The population of the Furu-Awa municipality is a conglomerate of ethnic groups. These include, the Awas which is the main ethnic groups and others such as the Kuted, Lubu, Buzem, Fulani, Wum, Titi and Akum. The population also constitutes migrants from neighboring Nigeria.

Historical profile

Before the creation of this Council, Furu Awa was formerly under the Wum Area Council. The human and physical milieus of the various villages that make up the council area are quite diverse. Some of the areas and villages that make up the municipality are quite enclave and inaccessible, thus, there is difficulty in effective administration because of poor accessibility. Since inception, the council has been ruled by three democratically elected Mayors from two legalized political parties. The first party to rule the council was the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and the pioneer Mayor was Mayor Atoh Ivo Mucha. The SDF later gave way to the CPDM party which till date is the party in power. This council presently has twenty five councilors (of which 24 are men and one is a woman) amongst whom one was elected the Mayor and two others as 1st and 2nd Deputies. It has a total of twelve staff. The council is made up of a civil status and a finance department. The council functions with three committees which are finance committee, works committee and social affairs commit. Although the villages fall under a Municipality, they claim their origin from different areas. A majority of them claimed they came from Nigeria due to the influence of tribal wars and succession problems. Each village is headed by a chief, but in villages where there are Fulanis, an Ardo takes care of the Fulani and he works hand in glove with the chief for the development and wellbeing of the entire village.

Main potentials and resources of the Council

Climate

There are two distinct seasons in the Furu-Awa Municipality which include the rainy and the dry seasons. The rainy season begins toward the end of March and covers a period of eight months up to mid November. The total annual rainfall for the council ranges between 2513mm and 2831mm. During mid August, there is abundant rainfall and too much cold. The dry season runs from mid November to mid March. The hottest periods and droughts are witnessed towards the end of February. Furu Awa is characterized by the equatorial type of climate. The favorable climate favors the cultivation of diverse food and cash crops such as groundnuts, maize, and cocoa. The mean daily temperature of 28oC favors the cultivation of most food and cash crops.

Soil types

The soil type ranges from loam, clayish, silt and sandy soils. The soil is dominated by volcanic soils at the foot of the mountains, ferruginous and silt soils and inorganic soils. This thus favors and permits the growing of a variety of agricultural products. There is a high level of erosion of the top soils especially those found on hill tops. Mud flows and landslides usually occur after heavy down pours. The banks of these rivers are loaded with alluvial soils that are good for off- season farming but there is little or no irrigation practiced here.

Relief (Topography)

The relief of the council area is rugged and undulating. It is characterized by mountain chains and hills covered by montane forest, shrubs and grassland. There are rocky cliffs in the municipality. The mountains and hills include Mt Buzong, Mt kpashim, Mt. Munzour Mt Bidzizi, Mt. Kwessu, Mt. Utiuck, Mt. Badgi and a host of others. Mt Buzong and Mt. Munzour are volcanic mountains.

Settlements occur on lowland with flat ground that is good for the construction of houses and transportation of farm products to storage places. Many villagers prefer to carry out agricultural activities on the plains rather than the steep slopes.

Hydrology

Found in the North-West plateau, the Furu-Awa municipality is full of running springs, streams and waterfall. Though in abundance, the council has not yet made good use of it. Only Furu-Awa villages have benefited from this resource for the provision of drinkable water. Some of the villages remain without pure drinkable water especially during the dry season when the springs get dry. The flow of the rivers in Furu-Awa gives the village a good look. Some of the streams in the municipality includes, Mangara, Waekop, Kembo, Long-tanah Zang-kpan, Gamina, Nangwa, Katsina ala, Zang akpan, Zang-Sama, Gama Tosso, Tambou Mbere-yira and Echim to name a few. In some of the large rivers, there is the presence of crocodiles, different species of fish, turtle and other water animals.

Vegetation

The municipality covers an extensive forest area. The council falls within the Sudano-Savanna zone which has the characteristic of grassy vegetation. Around Nkang extending to the Doumbo cattle ranch, large herds of cattle are being reared by the Mbororos. There is also transhumance in some of the villages such as Lubu, Nser and Kpep during the dry season. The large forest provides wood for fuel and timber. They also serve as habitat for a variety of animal species. They serve in the provision of non timber forest products such as Njangsa and bush mangoes. The council forest area possesses a lot of potentials that can be exploited for the benefit of the municipality. It has a lot of medicinal plants that are used for the treatment of various diseases. Around settlements and in some spotted parts of the council, there is man made vegetation. There is the growth of plants such as cocoa, plantains, palms, mangoes and oranges which help make the council area to look evergreen especially during the rainy season.

Fauna

Where there is a forest, there is the likelihood for wildlife to be present. Made up of forest and grassy vegetation, the Furu-Awa forest and savanna land have the potential of harboring wildlife of diverse species. The forest serves as habitats for some endangered species in the country. It inhabits species such as, hare, porcupines, deer, cane rats, monkeys, antelope and chimpanzees. The different games act as touristic attractions though not exploited.

Protected areas

There are no legally protected areas in the Furu Awa Municipality. Traditionally protected areas are mostly sacred woodlots or shrines. These areas serve as sanctuaries or abodes of important personalities who are deceased. It contains medicinal plants and other plants species. They are found near palaces and in some parts around streams and rivers. Traditional rites are usually performed in these areas to appease the gods for good health, harvest and protection. Assessing the possibilities for declaring and creating legal protected areas, reserves, or community forests is very necessary.

Mineral resources

The knowledge of minerals in the municipality is quite limited apart from minerals such as red laterite, stones, sand and aluminum. There is no research report on mineral resources, although the concerned divisional delegate made mention of these. This is a potential area for research.

Langues locales parlées à FURU-AWA

Les informations sont en attente de mise à jour.

Ville/village précédente :

BENAKUMA

Ville/village suivante :

WUM

Autres localités des environs :

Bu

Lake Wum

Etia-Essimbi

Yaboa

Benade

Hosere Mati

Benagudi

Makumo

Magu

Jube

Mukuru

Benahundu

Zoa

Lake Nyos

Bwegam

Benadjidi

Bondong

Modelle

Lake Njupi

To

Matazu

Matazu-Matadjong

Isu

Tschuto

Chepoa

Lake Benakuma

Mayo Djinga

Lake Nyi

ZHOA

Dschuta-Berge

Naessu

Mbum

Kuk

Betolong

Ijabo

Cha