📍 GEOGRAPHY & LOCATION OF MBU
The Mbu homeland today spans approximately 249 km², including lands granted under the 1954 Westmacot Commission and the 1977 Presidential Decree that expanded traditional boundaries.
Mbu is located at
Mbu is bordered by
THE ORIGINS OF THE MBU PEOPLE
The Mbu people, traditionally known as Ertsam-Ermeumbo, trace their origins to ancient Widikum migrations from Tadkon. Oral history recounts long periods of movement through Mamfe, Widikum, Mankon, Bafut, Bamboutos, and Nkwen before finally settling on the Santa Plateau. The clan has existed for centuries and played a foundational role in shaping the population and cultural identity of Santa Subdivision.
Archaeological discoveries in nearby Shum Laka, one of the most important Stone Age sites in Central Africa, confirm that the wider Grassfields region—including the Santa Plateau—has been continuously occupied for over 30,000 years, strengthening the cultural and ancestral significance of Mbu’s location.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE & ROLE IN SANTA SUBDIVISION
Mbu is historically recognized as: The first settlers of the Santa Plateau
One of the six major Fondoms of the Northwest Region (alongside Bafut, Kom, Nso, Bali-Nyonga, and Mankon)
A major contributor to colonial and post-independence administrative development
Key historical moments include:
Settling the Njong people in 1923
- Donating land for the Santa administrative headquarters during the British era
- Hosting and integrating the Ala-Tening, Baba II, and Ndzong peoples
- Playing a leadership role in the Ngemba Court, where the Fon of Mbu served as co-president
The Mbu Fondom has been at the center of mediation, settlement, and governance in the region for over a century.
