Bamessing
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Bamessing | |
|---|---|
 Craft work in Bamessing | |
  Bamessing Map of Cameroon showing the location of Bamessing Village | |
| Coordinates: 5°59′5″N 10°21′37″E / 5.98472°N 10.36028°E | |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Region | Northwest |
| Department | Ngo-Ketunjia |
| Elevation | 1,138 m (3,734 ft) |
| Population (2005)[1] | |
| • Total | 12,726 |
| (Census) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Bamessing village is one of the four villages that make up Ndop central Central Sub Division and one of the thirteen villages of Ngoketunjia division of the North West region of Cameroon. Bamessing village is located along the ring road from Bamenda some 38 km away from Bamenda town on the Bamenda-Nkambe stretch of the ring road just before you reach Bamunka (Ndop town).
Bamessing-Nsei is a traditional potter's village with the pottery center of prescraft the traditional potters are encouraged to carry on with their traditional trade. In order to widen the range of its products, new techniques were introduced such as the potter's wheel, glazing and wooden kiln firing. Designers from Europe (mission 21, Switzerland) help the potters to develop new and exciting designs. The poetry centre has a Guest House with space for 8 Guests. Guests can cook their own meals in a fully equipped kitchen or order a local meal. The house is simple but very clean and all beds are equipped with mosquito nets. Since prescraft is committed to a sustainable environment, prespot is keeping up a fuel plantation and running a reforestation program with the farmers in the village area Funded by Mission21, Switzerland.[2]
Administration
Bamessing village is a second class Fondom with respect to the scale of administrative divisions in Cameroon. It is administered by a traditional ruler whose decisions are guided by the ngumba (secret society) and it is final. The traditional ruler is an auxiliary administrator because government appoints divisional and sub divisional service heads whose authorities are coordinated by the senior divisional officer of Ngoketunjia Division.
Education
There are several educational institutions including government owned, privately owned and denominational ranging from nursery, primary through secondary and high schools.
Economy
Bamessing village is a pottery centre, where traditional crafts are made and sold throughout the North West region and the rest of Cameroon. You can spend the morning with a potter to make and keep your own creation and in the afternoon visit the workshop where the professionals work. There is also a large shop where you can buy their wares, prices range from 500 – 150,000 CFA. It is worthy of note that at the pottery centre there is also a small museum and rest house, should you wish to spend the night.
The center consists of 28 Trained potters (piece workers), 8 Workers in Tile and Brick production (contracted laborers), 5 Workers in clay production and reforestation (contracted laborers, including 1 blind worker), 10 Seasonal workers in clay production and reforestation, 6 Laborers in administration and organization, 30 Home producers (traditional pottery, basket weaving, raffia weaving).
As a Fair trade enterprise, which is also a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) and its regional chapter COFTA (Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa), prescraft follow the principles of the FAIR TRADE movement in all their activities.
PRESCRAFT produces all its articles in its own production centers or with home producers. They guarantee their producers a fair and just income and promote the crafts industry in the Grasslands of Cameroon. At present over 150 men and women are directly benefiting from their activities.
PRESCRAFT is a development project of the Presbyterian Church (PCC) in Cameroon. The PCC has a deep understanding of the Christian faith through the proclamation of the gospel. This is expressed by many forms of activities of church life in the congregations and institutions in the fields of theology, development, health, education and charity work for the society.
Its involvement in questions concerning economics and politics is a manifestation for the PCC‘s quest for justice and equal rights for every Cameroonian citizen.
The same principles are also guiding PRESCRAFT’S activities. The centers are established to provide working facilities which most craftsmen and -women cannot afford individually. Working in a group improves the quality standard and production capacity. Experienced producers train young apprentices. Each center has a leader who is coordinating the entire activities of the center in cooperation with the management of PRESCRAFT. The center leader is assisted by the administrator and production officer of PRESCRAFT.[3]
References
Further reading
- Jean-Pierre Warnier. Cameroon Grassfields Civilization. African Books Collective, 2012 - 164 p.
- http://www.travelocameroon.com/tours/bamenssing/#.WCyHvHY1Oik
- http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/bamessing.html