Archaeological artifacts point to the unquestionable evidence that humans have inhabited Republic of Cameroon, West Africa for at least fifty thousand years, and there is also, convincing evidence of the existence of important kingdoms, clans and nation states in more recent times. Of these, Manyu Division (formerly Ossidinge Division) in the Southwest Province of Cameroon in the hitherto Southern Cameroons is analogous to “Cameroon in miniature,” from a geographic, cultural and linguistic perspective.
Manyuland streams from the grassland (Savannah vegetation) and rolling hills in Obudu in Akwaya sub-division; stretches to the dense (Equatorial climate) Korup Forest Reserve in Eyumojock sub-division; climbs to the Mbio mountain in Upper Banyang sub-division; and descends into the great valley of the Manyu River and Ossidinge depression in Mamfe Central and Eyumojock sub-divisions respectively. Yearly average temperature meaders between 80-90 F. Temperatures can exceed 120 F during the Dry Season (February - April), and only fall during then Rainy Season, sometimes to 60 F.
Manyuland is the proverbial “Tower of Babel” linguistically. This is made manifest by the undeniable fact that, of the 279 living indigenous languages spoken in Cameroon, sixteen have the Manyu insignia boldly engraved on them. In other words, 6% of Cameroon languages are born in Manyuland.
Even after the infamous partition, and spread over 9,565 square kilometers; Manyuland still has the enviable distinction of the largest division west of the Mungo land-wise. Manyuland is bounded to the north by Menchum and Momo Divisions of the North West Province, and Lebialem Division; to the South by Kupe-Manenguba, Meme and Ndian Divisions. It shares the eastern corridor with both Littoral and Western Provinces; while Cross River State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria anchors the western frontier.
Count Eugen von Zintgraff was the first recorded European to set foot on Manyuland in July 1888 when he trvalled northwards from the station he had opened at Lake Barombi in Kumba to carry out reconnaisance for a further station which he was to site and open at Bali, in the highland country beyond the north-eastern borders of Banyang country. It was not until 1901-1902 that the first German civil administrative headquarters were established at (Agbokim) Ossidinge close to the Cross River (Manyu) in Eastern Ejagham country. In 1902, Count Puckler-Limburg became first Civil Administrator, assuming responsibility for a district corresponding broadly with what was later to become Manyu Division.
Due to lack of knowledge of the cultural cathedrals, norms and heavy handedness of the Germans on the indegenous population, Puckler was murdered in 1904 when traveling in Anyang country on the "overside" of the Manyu River. His murder sparked off a rebellion known as "Npaw Manku" war that engulfed Anyang, Boki, Eastern Ejagham, and Lower Banyang towns and villages. Dr. Alfred Mansfeld (affectionately called "Dr. Mamfe" by the inhabitants), the second Civil Administrator changed the administrative headquarters to their present site in Mamfe in 1909. Mansfeld remained in charge of the district until the defeat of the Germans in the Cameroons Campaign (1914-1916) when the administration of the district passed into British hands. In 1921, there were proposals to change the name of Ossidinge Division to Mamfe Division. The divisional name, by Decree Number 63/DF/250 of July 1968 later morphed from Cross River Division to present day Manyu Division after the Decree was modified on August 30th 1968.
Present day Manyuland with an estimated population of 398,000, is home to the Anyang, Banyang, Ekwe/Ekoi and Ejagham people. Manyu Division with four administrative sub-divisions; Akwaya, Eyumojock, Mamfe Central and Upper Banyang have maintained a long and proud social order through the means of subcultures (Ngbe/Ekpe, Mfam, Obasinjom, Angbu, etc.) with privileged membership, which held sway over political, economic, social and religious matters.
The western city of Mamfe continues to double as the Divisional headquarters and Sub-divisional headquarters for Mamfe Central. Akwaya is the Sub-divisional headquarters for Akwaya while the headquarters of Eyumojock and Upper Banyang are in Eyumojock and Tinto respectively.
Manyuland consists of chiefdoms. Each chiefdom may be considered as a hamlet, village, town or city. These chiefdoms are further sub-divided into quarters. These quarters are administered by quarter heads or sub-chiefs who themselves are answerable to the chief. The underlying principle of all Manyuland governmental processes is that coercive authority is directly or ultimately a function of the community acting corporately.
Religiosity in Manyuland is founded in rituals, ceremonies and festivals of the people. Shrines, sacred places, religious objects, art and symbols, myths and legends, music and dance, beliefs and customs, proverbs, riddles are a plethora of vehicles used in the acknowledgement of the existence of the Supreme Being. In as much as customs are not always religious, many contain religious ideas. Also, religion helps to strengthen and perpetrate some of the customs, and in turn, the customs do the same to religion.
