Ngekete’mboloh: Land-use Row in Upper Western Menchum River Valley (Cameroon), 1990s – 2019

uppermost western Menchum River Valley of North West Cameroon. The area is watered by River Menchum and tributaries including Meteh and Mughom. The Kom/Wum Forest Reserve makes it rich in biodiversity. Alluvial deposits along the river valley support intensive farming. Lumbering, hunting and fishing are common activities in the area. The Menchum River valley is a major bread basket of Menchum Division. Since the last decade of the 20th century, several hitherto unknown developments have led to cattle occupation of farmlands and destruction of crops, row between agriculturists and pastoralists otherwise known among the people as Ngekete’mboloh. Besides, out-dated grazing practices, deforestation, climate change, manipulative self-seeking elite, transhumance have led to women popular outcry, manoeuvres, youth mobilisation, attack on herders and cattle, seizure and claims for payment of crops destroyed. Primary documents from the Kuiifuai regulatory society in Bu were gleaned and interrogated, oral interviews conducted and observations made concerning this row. The work concludes that this emergent row between farmers and herders in this region of Cameroon has led to cattle destruction of crops, seizure of cattle for compensation, love-hate relationship between competing elite and the local population among others. Long-term solutions are needed to stem the tide and build trust among agriculturists and pastoralists some of whom are non-Fulani.