Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)
89 Year Old SOKOUDJOU, Who Has Been On The Throne For 72 Years, Is Highly Respected For Being A True Guardian Of Tradition, For Being Honest, Patriotic, Outspoken, Progress – Oriented, And Being Against Involvement of Traditional Rulers In Partisan Or “Belly” Politics. Biya Regime Considers Sokoudjou As Opposition, Because Of His Blunt Criticism Of The Regime For Bad Governance.
The highly respected ParamountTraditional Ruler of Bamendjou in the West Region of Cameroon, 89 year old HRM Natchemah Fo Sojoudjou, who has been on the throne of 72 years, and who is apparently the longest serving traditional ruler in the country, has travelled to the United States of America on the invitation of the Bamileke Community out there, to attend the ALL BAMILEKE CONVENTION (ABC) scheduled to hold in Chicago, from September 4 – 6, 2026. The ALL BAMILEKE CONVENTION is said to be the biggest event that brings together all sons and daughters of the Bamileke tribe based in the United States.
It should be noted that people of the Bamleke tribe, which is apparently the biggest tribe in Cameroon today in terms of population, are spread all over the country and the world at large. Worthy of note that the indigenous population of the West Region is almost entirely Bamileke, or Bami as they are fondly called, as they occupy seven of the eight Divisions of the region.
“Don’t Forget Where You Are Coming From”
Meanwhile, the visit of HRM Sokoudjou to the United States is being considered by the Bamendjou Palace as historic, because he has over the years, rarely accepted, an invitation to travel out of the country. He is said to be carrying a message of Love, Unity, Peace, Solidarity and progress to the large Bamileke Community in the United States that, will be meeting in Chicago for the ALL BAMILEKE CONVENTION, as from tomorrow (Friday, September 4), to Sunday, September 6, 2026.
HRM Sokoudjou will in his address, also call on members of the Bamileke Community in the United States, not to forget where they are coming from. He will call on each of them that has not yet built a house back in his or her village, to try to do so, and that they should as well strive to contribute to the development of their different villages, and the country in general.
A Highly Respected Traditional Ruler
Meanwhile, it is not for nothing that HRM Natchemah Fo Sokoudjou of Bamendjo, has been invited to the ALL BAMILEKE CONVENTION in the United States of America. HRM Sokoudjou, is highly respected for his values. He is considered by many as a traditional ruler, who unlike a large majority of traditional rulers in Cameroon today, tenaciously stand as a true guardian of tradition and culture. HRM Sokoudjou who is reputed for being an outspoken traditional ruler, is also much respected for being honest and patriotic, as well as for being an advocate for social justice, and a traditional ruler with is progress –oriented way of seeing things.
HRM Sokoudjou is also very much appreciated and respected for being firm against the involvement of traditional rulers in partisan or in ‘belly’ politics, that has dragged the traditional institution in Cameroon into mud and disrepute or disrespect. HRM Sokoudjou is neutral when it comes to party politics. All major opposition parties in the country highly appreciate and respect HRM Sokoudjou, for placing the traditional institution above party politics, and for being very frank when talking to any politician, as well as for being outspoken against wrongdoings in the country, including in politics. Leaders of major opposition parties in Cameroon do occasionally pay courtesy calls to HRM Sokoudjou, when in the West Region. The Bamendjou people are also very proud, respectful and supportive of their traditional ruler, for the great values he incarnates, which brings much pride or honour to the chiefdom.
Nostalgic Feelings
Meanwhile, HRM Natchemie Sokoudjou, who became the traditional ruler of Bamendjou at a tender age, was known as Jean Philippe Rameau Sokoudjou, before he became a traditional ruler. Besides being traditional ruler, Sokoudjou was a Cooperative Inspector, and later a big coffee famer, in the good old days of the Ahidjo regime, when coffee farmers in the West Region were among those that could talk money in the country.
Today, HRM Sokoudjou often looks back with nostalgia to the Cameroon of the 70s with the famous Cameroon Airlines, Cameroon Shipping Limes, Regifercam (Cameroon railway), and so, and so forth, that made Cameroon a rapidly developing country, as well as a respected country. Cameroon then was not on the list of African countries that the Breton Woods Institutions classify as highly indebted poor countries, or that Amnesty International could classifies as corrupt countries. Cameroon then was not an absentee member of the African Union (then Organization of African Unity). Cameroon then was a pride to Africa.
Cameroon is today a shadow of what it used to be, and the outspoken traditional ruler of Bamendjou, HRM Sohoudjou, who lived the Ahidjo era, and has been living the Biya era which is 43 years old, weeps for Cameroon, and never hesitates to criticize the Biya regime for having taken Cameroon many years behind or backwards.
Not surprisingly, the Biya regime that is intolerant to criticism, or frank talk, has been considering HRM Sokoudjou as an opposition, because of his blunt criticism of the regime for bad governance and underdevelopment, or lack of progress.
