The Bamiléké, centred around Bafoussam, are the most populous group in the western highlands. As so many have migrated to Douala they do now constitute over a third of the city´s inhabitants, more than the city´s original inhabitants, the Douala. Forming a middle class of transport entrepreneurs and heavily involved in the import-export business, the Bamiléké control the city´s economy. I made some personal empirical research confirming this. My boss was Bamiléké, as well as all the other people employed by him at Fidex. All his clients (bosses and staff) were Bamiléké, too. Only this can be explained as well by the fact that in Africa most people prefer their own tribe, so it is to be expected that a Bamiléké will only do business with other Bamilékés.

In their homeland the Bamiléké show a strong sense of tradition and a complex sociopolitical structure centred on independent chiefdoms. Unlike the Bamoun, who give allegiance to a single person, the sultan, the Bamiléké have about 80 chefferies, each strongly independent and very hierarchical.  Below the fon is a council of dignitaries called the mkem and each member has responsibility for a secred society, such as the kamveu, which in turn is responsible for preserving the rituals. You can see these Chefferies in the highlands, the one in Bandjoun being the most impressive chief´s compound in Central Africa and the best example in western Cameroun of Bamiléké architecture: huge huts of bamboo with straw roofs supported by tall carved pillars, like totem poles, with elaborate, carved doorways and walls with geometrical designs. The overall sight is so impressive because the buildings are so much larger than normal African huts, and the sheer number of buildings gives the place a certain grandeur.