FOUMBAN

also spelled Foumbam, town, northwestern Cameroon, west-central Africa. It lies 140 miles (225 km) north-northwest of Yaound. It was the historic capital of the Bamum (Mum) kingdom; a palace there dates from the 18th century. Njoya (18891933), the most famous of the Bamum kings, established schools, invented a system of pictographic writing, and patronized the arts. The palace now houses the Foumban Museum of Bamum Art, containing examples of wood carving, realistic masks in copper and terra-cotta, and collections of bamboo and raffia furniture. Local handicrafts are sold in Foumban, which is the most important centre for artisans in northwestern Cameroon. The town is also a collecting centre for coffee, cocoa, and tobacco sent by road to Douala for export. There are coffee-processing plants in the area and a chocolate factory at Koutaba, several miles west. Foumban is served by an airfield, a hospital, and a customs station. Pop. (1985 est.) 50,120.