The experience of Kumba, faced with population growth, urban expansion and emerging
challenges from problems encountered within the development process, is rich, educating and
typical of small towns in transition within sub-Saharan Africa. Its population dynamics are
complex and date back to 1925 when the German administrator Johann Albrecht Shone laid the
town’s foundation stone. The occupation of this territory by people of diverse ethnic
backgrounds several of whom originated from the areas of Meme (Bafaw, Balongs, Bakundu,
Barombi), the North Western Cameroon plateau (Meta, Kom Bamiléke), the humid tropical
rainforest of the South West province (Bangwa, Bayang) and Nigeria (Ibo, Ibiobio) gave birth to
the town’s growth and expansion. The involvement of these populations of varying demographic
profiles in the territory and development process has given rise over the years to many problems.
These include political, socio-economic, environmental and cultural (domination of the Bafawautochthones)
problems. The growth trajectory of Kumba and its problems during the 20th and
21st centuries are what one would expect from any Third World where development processes
take root before any development plans are prepared. The necessity to tackle the issues is now
more urgent than ever before.