A few facts about The Bassa Mpoo Bati

This page gives you through a few pictures, videos and data, a rough snapshot of who the Bassa Mpoo Bati of Cameroon are. We hope it will not take more than 10 minutes of your time.

Table of Content

Origin

The Bassa, Mpoo, Bati are bantu ethnic groups. They are believed to originate from the Nile Valley in The ancient Egypt. After successive migrations, they settled in the Atlantic coasts of Cameroon, Central and West Africa.

Bassa Subgroups in Cameroon

Bassa, Mpoo, Bati, Basso, Bibeng, Ndokpenda

Cameroon regions where Bassa Mpoo Bati have settled

Center Region: Nyong et Ekelle Division (Likol family)
Littoral Region: Sanaga Maritime Division (Bikok & Babimbi families), Nkam Division (Log Kat family)
Southwest Region: Limbe, Buea, Muyuka

Bassa in Other Countries in Africa

Republic of Congo: Bassa of Oueso
Democratic Republic of Congo: Bassaa la Mpassu
Niger: Bassa-Nkomo
Nigeria: Bassa-Kaduna, Bassa Nge
Sierra Leone, Senegal, Togo, Liberia: Bassa-Ri

Religion, Holy Sites & Totems

Lilolombi: The Bassa have their own traditional religion. Although Christianity is now the most common religion among the Bassa, beliefs in traditional religion are still prominent. Lilolombi is the supreme being and the divine creator in Bassa traditional religion.
Ngog-Lituba: Literally pierced stone, is considered the cradle of the Bassa people. The legend is that the Bassa took refuge inside to escape extermination from Foulbe.
Spider: Saved the Bassa people by closing the opening of the Ngog Lituba with its web after the Bassa took refuge inside Ngog Lituba to escape the Foulbe.
Nge: Deity who came to the world to restore order and created a secret society where initiated Bassa men (a.k.a Nge-Nge) learn the secret of transmutation. Nge-Nge like to change into werewolf.

Music

Assiko is the best known music style. Traditional Assiko is played with bottles. Jean Bikoko (a.k.a. Aladin) is the father of the modern Assiko
Other traditional dances: Lihongo, Nkouk
Modern Bassa singers or musical groups: X Maleya, Belka Tobis, …

Jean Bikoko – The father of the Modern Assiko

Lihongo traditional dance Bassa

Jinette Kelsun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKla90apAk

X Maleya – Example of Bassa Modern singer

Gastronomy

If you are invited to dinner or lunch by a Bassa family in Cameroon, chances are you will come across some of the dishes below. Some of the dishes such as mbongo-tjobi, are specific Bassa dishes. Others such as Ndole are national dishes that you will find in any Cameroonian family.