| Bafia | |
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Bafia
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Province | Centre Province |
| Department | Mbam-et-Inoubou |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 55,700 |
Bafia is a Cameroonian town and commune in the Centre Province region. It is the capital of the Mbam-et-Inoubou department. It lies 120 km (75 mi) north of the country's capital Yaoundé. Bafia has approximately 55,700, making it the third largest city in the province behind Yaoundé and Mbalmayo. Most citizens belong to either the Bafia people or the Yambassa people. It is the see of the eponymous diocese.
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While the Germans were crossing through the Mbam region, they would stop in the high plateau of the region which is called today Bafia. They asked one native who was returning from hunting what the name was. The hunter thought the guest was asking his name and answered, "Ufino yame yo lomo Bofia Nkano" ("My name is Bofia Nkano"), so the name Bafia was attributed to the area.
Bafia's prefect's office was created in 1960. The older department of MBAM (actual department of bam-et–Inoubou and Mbam-et-Kim). Since 1992 Bafia is the department of Mbam-et-Inoubou. Bafia welcomes also a Sub–Préfecture who administrats the district of Bafia, a commune that include the territorial spring of this commune. All central administration of the county is represented in the town by departmental and the district delegates.
The district's highest court is located in Bafia. There a one prison and a police force. The public notary, bailiffs of justice and lawyers arrange their studies in Bafia town–center.
The town of Bafia has one standard school, the school teachers of education (ENIEG), one classic high school, one technical high school, college of technical industrial education and commercial (cetic of Kiki), bilingual high school and three college of secondary education.
The district hospital of Bafia is the principal medical structure of town. It has many specialties (general medicine, pediatries, gynecology, odonto-stomatology, surgery, etc.).
Bafia football club enjoys having a stadium of its own: the Ayem stadium. This name comes from the name of a prefect who was a fan of football in general. He is the one who took the initiative to build a stadium and to offer it to Bafia's club and his surrounding. Bafia club knew its years of glory in national first division with the star Mouthe Philippe, then after the genius Bougoli in 1970.
There are four fuel stations for residents to use. It is noted there has been a recent development of motor-taxis, serving areas once inaccessible to cars. The main roads of the town are paved. The urban lighting is not everywhere. A post office offers all the postal services. Mobile and landline telephone operators are also active.
The banks services are practiced by the establishments of microfinance and money transfer. Several restaurants operated in the town and offers a variety of dishes dominates by local dishes (kepen, kibazi, kidjane, bitooso, etc.). A two starts hotel having a nightclub (discothèque) and several others slightly smaller establishments provide visitor accommodation. Most of bars and taverns completes the list.
The town has two bakeries as well as shops and markets for shopping.
Bafia is accessible by road. Coming from Yaoundé, many road transport companies through join Bafia road of 121 km from the bus station of Tongolo (in the north of Yaoundé). The Biamo airfield, very active during the first fifteen years after the independence, is no longer able to receive monomotors (mono-engines), twin-engined planes or helicopters. Coming from Douala, one can either pass through Yaoundé (360 km), or through Bafang and Bangangté or Bafang and Bafoussam (about 390 km in each case ). Douala, changes of transport companies will be operated either in Bafoussam or in Bafang.