Kumba
The great market town of the South-West
South-West Region (capital: Buéa) · Meme department (capital: Kumba)
Where is Kumba?
Kumba is in the South-West Region of Cameroon, about 130 km from Douala by road.
Kumba is the capital of the Meme division, in the South-West region, at an altitude of about 240 metres. With 144,268 inhabitants at the 2005 census, it was the country's eighth-largest city and the most populous in the South-West; a 2025 estimate puts it at around 300,000. It lies at a road junction of regional importance.
History and origin of the name
The name is said to come from the Bafaw word "Bakumbè", meaning the umbrella tree, a forest species. Tradition credits the hunter Midiki Bokeng with founding the town, and a monument stands in his honour. Under German rule, Kumba was the capital of the former Rio del Rey division.
What to see
- Lake Barombi Mbo, the largest volcanic crater lake in Cameroon, surrounded by dense forest.
- Kumba's main market and Fiango market, at the heart of the town's trade.
- The monument to the hunter Midiki Bokeng, the town's founder according to tradition.
Economy and local life
Kumba is a major trading centre for the region's farm produce: cocoa, palm oil and rubber. Its markets draw a large community of traders from neighbouring Nigeria, who are said to own more than half of the town's shops.
What to eat
The town shares the cooking of the South-West, where eru, a dish of Gnetum leaves simmered in palm oil, is the great speciality.
Practical information
The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from March to October. Kumba is about 75 kilometres from Buea and 130 kilometres from Douala by road. The town has been hit hard by the Anglophone crisis, including an attack on a school on 24 October 2020 that killed seven people: the security situation should be checked before any trip.
Distances by road
Approximate distances, city centre to city centre. Travel time depends heavily on road conditions and traffic.