ABOUT MANYU DIVISION
Manyu Division is one of the administrative divisions in the Republic of Cameroon. It is located in the South-West region of Cameroon. It covers a surface area of approximately 9,565 km square and has a population of approximately 177,389 according to annuaire statistics du Cameroun 2006. Its capital city is Mamfe.
Manyu division is made up of 234 villages within four (4) subdivisions as follows.
Mamfe Central;
Chief Town: MAMFE
Upper Banyang;
Chief Town; TINTO
Eyumojock;
Chief Town; EYUMOJOCK
Akwaya;
Chief Town; AKWAYA
WHO ARE THE MANYU PEOPLE?
Manyu division is one of the more than fifty basic administrative units of the Republic of Cameroon, West Africa. It is situated in the south west region of Cameroon, bordering with Nigeria.
Manyu has 2 clans namely, Bayangi and Akwaya.
The Bayangi as a clan has three tribes with three dialects which are:
Kenyang spoken in the Mamfe Central subdivision.
Ayang spoken in the upper Bayang subdivision, and
Ejagham spoken in the Eyumojock subdivision.
The Ejahgam is subdivided into Ejagham Njemaya spoken by the Ekwe people and Ejagham Ngonaya spoken by the people of Central Ejagham and Obang.
On the other hand the Akwaya Clan has two main tribes; the Boki and Denya though there are other smaller groups but the main tribal groups are the two mentioned.
MANYU CULTURAL HERITAGE
Manyu division has a rich cultural heritage, which cannot be passed by. Its richness in diversity range from its popular traditional dish, to the traditional regalia; and the customary dances and songs, to the peculiarity of its secret societies amongst others. These all are culminated in the perceptions that people have of the people of Manyu.
THE REGALIA
The traditional regalia of the Manyu people is one rich in colour and diversity.
For the males, it is a white shirt, worn over a nicely threaded wrapper, all tied by the side. Beads usually accompany, hung on the neck and usually of a red colour. Interesting of all these is the accompanying hat. Either of a red colour accompanied by feathers that signify the person’s titles, or they are adorned with an assortment of cowries and other traditional ornaments that give the wear its splendor.
The ladies wear a nicely threaded wrapper, a blouse mostly “lace material”, with a gracious headscarf well intertwined on the head accompanied with gorgeous colored beads.
THE FOOD & THE DANCE "MONINKIM"
Manyu traditional dances are a sight to behold. The popular “Moninkim” features a lady with a mirrored basket, with “cha-chas” on her legs. These produce a melody that even non-Manyu tend to move with unconsciously.
The “Ekpe” and “Obasinjom” secret societies are amongst the most glaring in Manyu, where title holders are often referred to as “Sesseku”, and chiefs called “Nfor”. The Manyu culture is actually an interesting one, that most should have a feel of, whenever they set foot in Cameroon.
THE FOOD
Eru is a traditional dish well known in Cameroon and in neighbouring Nigeria; a delicacy of the Manyu people. Eaten with its complement made of fermented cassava paste, commonly known as “water fufu” or “Akpu”, the dish widely satisfies the cravings of both national and international appetites as well as markets.