Mbo people (Cameroon)

Mbo people

Regions with significant populations
Cameroon 67,000[1]
Languages
Mbo language

The Mbo people are an ethnic group of Cameroon. They live in the Mbo plain, Littoral Region, Moungo Division, Nkongsamba and Melong subdivisions and in the West Region, Menoua Division, Santchou Subdivision and Upper Nkam Division, Kekem Subdivision.^[2]

The Bakossi Forest Reserve, which includes the Bakossi National Park is mainly inhabited by the Bakossi people but the population also includes Mbo as well as Manehas, Bakem, Baneka and immigrant Bamiliki people.^[3] The Mbo and Banyangi people live in and around the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary. They hunt for bushmeat, which they sell fresh or smoked, and which is a good deal cheaper than other locally-available forms of protein.^[4]

The Mbo of West Cameroon originate from the Sandjou area in East Cameroon. The Mbo have been restricted to the southern banks of the Betse and Betenten rivers since 1900. They have a long tradition of conflict with the neighboring Bangwa people due to disputes over boundaries and oil palm groves and kidnappings for slavery. The Bamileke chiefdoms of Fongo Tongo, Foto, Foreke Dschang, Fondongela all claim origin from the Mbo. In other Bangwa chiefdoms minor subchiefs claim Mbo ancestor.^[5] The Mbo people are extremely poor. They do not have access to medical treatment so there is no HIV testing and counseling, although HIV/AIDS is prevalent.^[6]

References

1. ^ "Mbo of Cameroon". Joshua Project. http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=13629&rog3=CM. Retrieved 2011-10-13. 
2. ^ "Mbo". Ethnologue. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=mbo. Retrieved 2011-10-13. 
3. ^ Ekpe Inyang (2011). Evironmental Problems in the Bakossi Landscape. African Books Collective. p. 2ff. ISBN 9956717290. http://books.google.ca/books?id=rePxjBS6CA8C&pg=PA1. 
4. ^ A Willcox, D Nambu (2007). "Wildlife hunting practices and bushmeat dynamics of the Banyangi and Mbo people of Southwestern Cameroon". Biological Conservation 134 (2): 251-261. ISSN 00063207. http://www.mendeley.com/research/wildlife-hunting-practices-and-bushmeat-dynamics-of-the-banyangi-and-mbo-people-of-southwestern-cameroon/. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
5. ^ Robert Brain (1967). "THE BANGWA OF WEST CAMEROON". University College London. http://www.lebialem.info/The%20Bangwa%20of%20West%20Cameroon.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
6. ^ "The Mbo People of Cameroon". Mbo Foundation. http://mbo-foundation.org/the_people.html. Retrieved 2011-10-29.