University of Bamenda: Christian Nwufuh defends PhD thesis in style.

Nwufuh’s thesis was under the department of History, Heritage and International Studies of the faculty of Arts. He was given an excellent grade. 

The defense jury was made up of Prof Simon Tatah Ngenge as the president; Prof Canute A. Ngwa as the first Rapporteur; Prof Prof Fidessou Sylvestre as the second Rapporteur; Prof Rene N. Monteh as the first Examiner; Prof Talla Tantoh Rechard as second Examiner and Prof Takor N. Nixon as a member. 

Nwufuh Fuh’s defense focused on: “Identity Preservation and Intra community Conflicts in the Bafut Fondom, 1888-2009”

He told the Jury that identify problem in the contemporary century has generated a lot of challenges not only in Cameroon but in countries like Israel and Pakistan.

Nwufuh added that the over 250 ethnic groups in Cameroon possess a challenge of identity. The issue of Bafut, the researcher said, shows that once people’s identities are not respected, it generates to conflict.

Nwufuh explained that the problem of Bafut does not only stem from Bafut inhabitants alone but from the outside world. He added that European taxis were key sources of unrest amongst the autonomous chiefdoms.

The situation, he said, is further complicated by the recognition of chiefs by the colonial system and ultimately shows that it was a moral revolution in the Bafut Fondom.

Speaking to The Guardian Post shortly after the defense, Nwufuh revealed that he was inspired to work on the topic because of identity problems in the contemporary century which has generated a lot of challenges not only in Cameroon but in other countries.

He noted that he took Bafut Fondom as an illustration of identity problem taking into consideration that Cameroon has over 250 ethnic groups that pose the challenge. 

Nwufuh declared that, “the issue of Bafut is to illustrate to the world that once people’s identities are not respected, it generates to conflict”.

Potential to spur development

Quizzed on the importance of his work, Nwufuh noted that, it will contribute to the development of Bafut. He declared that “if the problem of Bafut in terms of identity is solved, there will be a takeoff of development in the Fondom economically. Bafut is compared to other Fondoms like Nso. There is no development where there is conflict”.

The crisis in the English-speaking regions, the scholar disclosed, made having access to certain information and sources difficult.

“…I had to develop a strategy of removing the informants from conflict prone areas to safer areas for discussion,” he stated.

Nwufuh’s second supervisor, Prof. Fidessou Sylvestre expressed delight that the candidate had succeeded after a long period of tedious work.

Prof Fidessou added that the topic is quite relevant as it ties with the societal realities experienced on daily basis. “…the work does not only limit itself to the Bafut Fondom but many other fondoms,” he stated. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3656 of Monday December 15, 2025