17/08/2026
Fon Of Funam, FUDA Honoured By US Congress
By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe
The US Congress has honoured HRH Professor Wilfred Mbacham Fon Tarkeh II of Funam and the FUDA Association.
This was during the 2026 FUDA-Bome USA Convention, which took place in Maryland from July 31 to August 2, 2026.
The convention, which brought together members of the Funam-Bome Development Association and other guests, was held under the theme, “Honouring Our Heritage, Connecting Our Roots, Inspiring Our Future.”
The two prestigious recognitions were received from the US Congress and presented on behalf of Congressman Jamie Raskin by his Field Representative, Joseph Eyong on August 1
According to Joseph Eyong, it was “a moment of great honour to the people from the Congressman, Jamie Raskin, who himself was unavoidably absent due to other official duties."
The representative of the Funam-Bome Development Association (FUDA) said, “This is bigger than an award. It is a recognition of our heritage, leadership, service, and the powerful legacy we are building for generations to come.”
They added that “deep gratitude goes to Congressman Jamie Raskin for this distinguished honour, and to Joseph Eyong for presenting it on his behalf.”
“Our roots matter, Our heritage matters. Our legacy matters. Today, we celebrate with humility, gratitude and immense pride,” a post on the FUDA-USA page said.
It should be noted that the person who had been behind the scenes in the link and networking between the Funam community and the Congressman Jamie Raskin and also working closely in the activities of the district with the field representative Mr Joseph Eyong is Madam Josephine Atanga.
Though she was not present at the convention, her role in the success of the event and the link between the Congress and her community could not have gone unappreciated by Joseph Eyong, the representative of Congressman Jamie Raskin.
Funam: A Community, Not Just A People
The Funam people come from the Meta clan of the Bome Valley in the North West Region of Cameroon.
Like every other village in the clan, the Funam people commonly speak the Meta language.
Normally, like all the other villages of the region, the Funam people had their shrines, which they worshipped and offered sacrifices to.
These sacrifices were either to appease the ‘gods’ of the land, seek peace and prosperity, or ask for rains to flourish their crops. Some of these sacrifices were performed yearly, while others were performed whenever the need arose.
The Fon, who coordinates the affairs of the village, works with the village Traditional Council in carrying out or taking major decisions.
Funam has a typical lowland terrain, with some undulations found here and there. Clay soils occupy most of the land surface.
Funam is blessed with a good number of streams which run across the village, such as Tegyen, Anyi and Kwen streams. A good number of ponds and swamps also exist.
The vegetation cover is mostly high savanna, with short, tough grasses and occasional clumps of trees, often evergreen in nature.
In a few places, outcrops of hard rocks with little or no subsoil prevent the occurrence of tree vegetation. In other parts, one can find hillsides covered with forest almost to the top.
This may be a relict forest, that is, remnants of woodland that were formerly more extensive, which have been cut down either for furniture, building, selling or fuelwood.
The mainstay of the Funam people is agriculture, with the cultivation of crops like maize, yams, cocoyams, plantains, bananas, potatoes, beans and cassava, both for local consumption and for sale.
There are a few inhabitants who carry out other activities like mechanics, electricity, bricklaying, carpentry and petty trading.
In order to better appreciate the income-generating activities of the people, the PRA tools of seasonal pattern and money availability are used.
The focus here is on understanding and analysing the seasonal production pattern, marketing and saving practices of the people.
Based on this information, two distinct seasons are identified: the rainy season, which starts from mid-March to mid-October, witnessing the following activities: clearing, tilling, planting, weeding, mulching, harvesting, tapping, crushing of nuts, cracking of kernels and weaving; and the dry season, which starts from late October to early March, with the following activities: moulding of bricks, building of houses, celebration, tapping, clearing, tilling, planting, weaving, mulching, harvesting and weaving by both men, women, youths and children.
The 2026 FUDA-Bome USA Convention, which took place in Maryland from July 31 to August 2, 2026, was therefore an avenue where the people gathered with their Fon and, by extension, the Palace, to discuss their heritage.
The presence of the Congressman's representative and the recognition the Congress gave was a huge boost and a show of community inclusion and unity between Maryland and the people of Funam.
