BAFAW VILLAGES
Kurume
Whispers of lineage and the echoes of victory paint the story of Kurume, a village woven from both legend and the clash of steel. Though the true founder remains shrouded in the mists of time, the prevailing tale speaks of Bulo Nguti, brother to Akwo Njo of Kombone, who first established old Kurume, a place they called Bulo Bufiangu, "Bulo's sandy site."
But it was the thunder of war that truly shaped Kurume's destiny. Akamadibo, a war leader of formidable prowess, led the Bafaw warriors against the Bakossi, a conflict that ended in resounding triumph. The celebration that followed was a cacophony of joy, a vibrant eruption of noise and triumphant bangs, so loud that the village was forever after known as "Kru'me," the sound of victory itself. When the Swedes arrived, they wrote it down as "Kurume," thus immortalizing the name in written history.
The people of Kurume were not just warriors; they were also masters of their craft. The Germans, with their keen eyes, recognized the exceptional skill of Kurume's sculptors, their hands shaping wood and stone into works of art.
Like its sister villages, Kurume held within its heart a powerful secret society, the Besong Bekong Nguti juju. Linked to the Di'nfon of Kombone, Esembe of Kokobuma, and Elangwe of Dikomi, it was a force to be reckoned with. Yet, the arrival of the Basel Mission brought a seismic shift. Chief Si Ese Enene, embracing the new faith, turned his back on the ancient ways, destroying the shrine and silencing the whispers of the Besong Bekong Nguti.
Today, under the guidance of Nfon Emmanuel Epie, Kurume stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Bafaw people. It is a village shaped by war and artistry, a place where the echoes of victory mingle with the whispers of forgotten traditions, a legacy carried forward by the current generation.