Bamessing

Bamessing village is one of four villages that make up Ndop central Central Sub Division, and one of thirteen villages of Ngoketunjia division of the North West region of Cameroon. Bamessing is located along the ring road from Bamenda, some 38 km from the town of Bamenda, on the Bamenda-Nkambe stretch of the ring road, just before Bamunka (Ndop town).

Bamessing
Craft work in Bamessing
Bamessing Map of Cameroon showing the location of Bamessing Village
Coordinates: 5°59′5″N 10°21′37″E
Country	Cameroon
Region	Northwest
Department	Ngo-Ketunjia
Government
• Fon	HRH Richard Muntong III
Elevation	1,138 m (3,734 ft)
Population  (2005)
• Total	40,000
	(Census)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

Bamessing-Nsei is a traditional potter's village, with the pottery center of Prescraft, where traditional potters are encouraged to pursue their trade. In order to widen the product range, new techniques have been introduced, such as a potter's wheel, glazing, and wood kiln firing. Designers from Europe (Mission 21, Switzerland) help to develop new designs.

Prescraft is committed to a sustainable environment. Prespot maintains a fuel plantation and also runs a reforestation program with the farmers in the area, funded by Mission 21, Switzerland.

Administration

Bamessing village is a second class Fondom with respect to the administrative divisions in Cameroon. It is led by a traditional ruler whose decisions are guided by the Ngumba (secret society), and whose decisions are final. The traditional ruler is an auxiliary administrator. The government appoints divisional and sub divisional service heads, whose duties are coordinated by the senior officer of Ngoketunjia division.

Education

There are several educational institutions, including government-owned, privately-owned and denominational: embracing nursery, primary, secondary, and high schools.

Economy

Craft village

Wooden-cordial-bird-stool-blackened.

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 twenty-eight trained potters (piece workers); eight workers in tile and brick production (contracted laborers); five in clay production and reforestation (contracted laborers); ten seasonal workers in clay production and reforestation; six laborers in administration and organization; and thirty 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 follows the principles of the Fair Trade movement.

Prescraft produces all its articles in its own centers, or with home producers. They guarantee their producers a fair income and promote the crafts industry in the grasslands of Cameroon. At present, more than 150 men and women directly benefit 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 of the PCC‘s quest for justice and equal rights for every Cameroonian citizen.

The same principles also guide 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 coordinates 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.

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