His Royal Majesty Fon Angafor Mombo’oh III has returned home from a landmark development-focused tour of the United Kingdom with a renewed call for Cameroonians in the diaspora to prioritise investment back in their homeland.
The Fon arrived back at his palace in Bambui on Saturday 21 June 2025, after nearly a month of engagements with institutions, local leaders, and diaspora communities across multiple UK cities. Describing the visit as “very successful,” the ruler underscored that the main mission was to unite his people abroad and urge them to take responsibility for contributing tangibly to the development of their ancestral land.
“I had a very successful trip to the UK. The most important thing was meeting my people, bringing them together... but I pray that this will remain because if they can only walk and eat outside, not thinking of coming to invest at home, it is not speaking well.” the Fon said upon his return at the Douala International Airport
Throughout his stay, the Fon met members of the Bambui UK Development Association (BUKDA) and other Cameroonian communities, urging them to shift focus from symbolic support to practical action. He outlined priority projects including reviving the community’s water system, constructing a multimedia centre within the palace, improving electricity access through solar energy, and ensuring children in Bambui return to school.
His Royal Majesty’s visit began on 19 May, when he was received at Heathrow Airport by members of BUKDA. A welcoming dinner in Basingstoke marked the start of engagements that would blend tradition, development and diplomacy. While in Basingstoke, the Fon met with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Colin Phillimore, to discuss the potential for a documentary library chronicling Bambui’s heritage and a new school project.
The Mayor later described the meeting as “fascinating” and praised the Fon’s efforts to build connections and invest in education.
At a cultural ceremony in Southampton on 24 May, the Fon officially installed Akhamanchuo Dr Gideon Angafor as his representative for the UK and mainland Europe, tasking him with mobilising investment and uniting the diaspora. Several other community leaders were recognised, including BUKDA president Mrs Linda Amungwa, who was honoured with the title of “Mwefo” or Queen Mother.
The message of investment was central to the BUKDA 20th anniversary convention, which brought together Bambui indigenes and allies. Cultural promoter Prof. Yaah Nso Europe (Lady Bling VN) praised the event as a platform not just to celebrate heritage, but to “reflect on the development needs back home and how far we’ve come”.
The royal itinerary also included a deeply symbolic visit to Windsor Castle on 31 May, where the Fon and Her Majesty Queen Prudence Angafor paid tribute at the grave of Queen Elizabeth II. During the tour, they viewed Cameroonian royal artefacts gifted to the late Queen, highlighting long-standing cultural ties between the UK and Cameroon.
As the royal motorcade returned to Bambui on Saturday, crowds turned out in traditional attire, performing dances and chanting praises. But the celebration, the Fon insisted, should not distract from the hard work ahead. A council of village leaders is expected to convene in the days ahead to review the proposals brought from the UK and lay out a timeline for implementation.
In a region where development has long been disrupted by political tensions and economic uncertainty, the Fon’s call to action is a timely reminder that diaspora commitment must go beyond remittances and cultural ceremonies. According to Fon Angafor Mombo’oh III, the homeland is not just a place of origin, it is a place of obligation.
By Bakah Derick with reports
Photo credits: Bambui Satellite
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77