The long-running chieftaincy crisis in Bangolan, in Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region, took a dramatic turn on March 1, 2026, with the return of Fon Chafah XI after a decade-long absence.
The traditional ruler, who has occupied the throne for 44 years, set foot in Bangolan for the first time in 10 years, declaring that his mission was to reconcile with the population and promote peace and development.
His return followed the circulation of a social media video in which individuals identifying themselves as kingmakers announced his dethronement, accusing him of abandoning the village and desecrating its traditions.
From Yaounde, where he has reportedly been based, Fon Chafah responded by announcing plans to return. On the day of his visit, he arrived under heavy security, accompanied by sons and daughters of Bangolan, some of whom admitted they had not visited the village in more than 10 years.
A Crisis Rooted in 2014
The roots of the current turmoil trace back to July 15, 2014, when a video filmed at the Bamenda Municipal Stadium showed Fon Chafah publicly seeking spiritual “deliverance” under the influence of Apostle John Chi, of the Arch Of God Ministry.
In the footage, the Fon declared that he had “spent 30 years in darkness” and urged fellow traditional rulers to abandon what he described as spiritual initiations linked to power and protection.
He further called for the removal of “ancestral spirits” associated with Bangolan’s traditions.
Following this public conversion, the traditional ruler reportedly destroyed ancestral artifacts at the palace, triggering strong resistance from villagers who insisted that religious choices should not come at the expense of cultural heritage.
Protests erupted and persisted into 2015, after which Fon Chafah fled the village. For nearly a decade, he did not return until the recent dethronement video reignited the crisis.
A Carefully Managed Comeback
For his return, Fon Chafah reportedly entered Bangolan via the Noun Division, leading a long convoy. Witnesses say traditional masquerades and hired supporters were mobilized to welcome him, while many local residents stayed away in protest.
Among officials present was the Senior Divisional Officer for Ngoketunjia Division, Quetong Handerson, who declared that his presence was to support peace.
“Traditional rulers are auxiliary to the administration. With the traditional ruler in place, the administration is complete,” he said.
The Fon reportedly performed traditional rites at strategic points in the village before convening what he described as a peace and reconciliation meeting.
Reconciliation Without the People?
Despite praise on social media portraying the visit as a breakthrough for unity, critical questions remain unanswered.
Notably, the kingmakers who announced his dethronement were absent from the reconciliation meeting. Several neighboring traditional rulers also stayed away, casting doubt on the inclusiveness and legitimacy of the process.
For many residents, the event appeared more symbolic than substantive, an exercise in political and administrative optics rather than genuine dialogue.
Some observers have described the return as “playing to the gallery,” while others argue that the Fon’s renewed engagement with traditional rituals contradicts his 2014 rejection of ancestral practices, which he once labeled sinful.
An Unresolved Leadership Crisis
Bangolan, one of 13 villages in Ngoketunjia Division, remains deeply divided over the future of its traditional leadership. While Fon Chafah speaks of peace, many villagers argue that true reconciliation cannot occur without accountability for past actions, open dialogue with dissenting voices, and respect for cultural institutions.
After 10 years of absence and years of unresolved grievances, the legitimacy of his authority remains contested.
As the village struggles to come to terms with its fractured leadership, observers say state-backed symbolism cannot substitute for genuine community consent and without meaningful engagement with all stakeholders, the return of Fon Chafah XI risks entrenching, rather than healing, a crisis that has already cost Bangolan more than a decade of stability and cohesion.
For now, the question persists: in a village where many stayed away, who exactly has been reconciled and at what cost?
