The round towers
Conical roofs.
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Foumban Royal Palace is the palace of the sultans of the Bamoun people, in the town of Foumban in western Cameroon. It is one of the country's best-known historic sights, a large red-brick building with round towers. It is still the sultan's seat, and beside it the Museum of the Bamoun Kings tells the story of the kingdom and its arts. The Bamoun kingdom was founded in 1394 by Mfon Nshare Yen, who made Foumban its capital. Its most famous ruler was Ibrahim Njoya, who invented a script for the Bamoun language and championed arts and crafts. The palace was built under him in the early 20th century. The new museum building next to it opened on 13 April 2024. You see a broad two-storey palace in red brick, with many arches on the ground floor, round towers with conical roofs and wooden shutters. A wide square lies before it with a bronze statue of a warrior. To one side runs a wall decorated with fine blue and white geometric patterns. It is about 2.4 km from central Foumban in a straight line and about 69 km from the Bandjoun Chiefdom. Visits go with a guide, so ask at the entrance. Respect the sultan's residence, and ask before taking photos inside.
Conical roofs.
Geometric patterns.
Bamoun history.
Central Foumban, West Region, Cameroon
The Bamoun sultan who invented a script for their language.
Yes, it is the sultan's seat, and visits go with a guide.