Living in the Village

Community institutions include the Bawa Public School, the Nzon Market, and the Bawa Community House.

The Nzon Market is held once per week as the place for villagers to conduct trade and where they can buy staples like salt and oil. Fish and meat are also available here for those with the means to afford it.

Once per month village meetings are held at the Bawa Community House. Here, traditional dances are performed with music provided by drums and guitars with some percussion provided by glass bottles. These meetings are also home to the “Njangui” a kind of community bank where members collect sums of money in proportion with their contribution to the community.

Positions of leadership like the chief (Mfo’o) and power are held solely by men and passed to the eldest son upon the death of the father. The village is headed by a chief (Mfo’o) who is assisted by sub-chiefs (Nkem). This traditional administration is recognized and considered an extension of the official government of Cameroon.

One primary road passes through Bawa, connecting it with other villages. During the rainy season this road is only passable with vehicles operating in four-wheel drive.

At present, no one living in Bawa owns a vehicle of any kind, plus there is no telephone, electricity, running water or sanitation services. In some cases, they could walk for more than 15 Km for their administrative needs, to attend traditional ceremonies, visit family and relatives.  There is no telephone system functioning in Bawa but several villagers do use cell phones.