Welcome to Aghem

The Aghem people separated from their brothers at Ndobbo around the lake chad area sometime in the 17th century. This act became the origin of their name, "A-ghem" literally meaning "the ten's", to imply the population that separated from Ndobbo were a few ten's as compared to the entire tribe. I'm not going to dabble in to the causes of their separation as it is not the main focus of this text. This text is an attempt to demonstrate and establish the legendary myths of Aghemians as conquerors of menchum. "Fire side tales" have it that Aghemians were led by three great warriors known as Nlumnnam, Nu'nyum and Fekaikom.

This warriors led the people to what would become the present day Aghem clan during the first half of the 18th century. Legends have it that the Aghem people had a brief stay at the present day Benue state of Nigeria(Munchi). Even though most Aghemians point to Munchi(A description of Tuv people by Fulani) as a place of origin. It is not true for two main reason, the first reason is that Aghem is of the Bantu origin whilst the Tiv(Benue state tribes) are of the Tikar origin,
Secondly, there are lots of differences in culture and phonetics, for instance, There is no letter "R" in Aghem, whereas one can bearly identify a single sentence in Tiv language without an "R", Also the Tiv practice the exchange marriage system whereas the Aghems prelactice the Dowry system.
We could write lots of paragraphs to outline the tribal and cultural differences between the Aghems and the Tivs (Munchi people).

Nlumnnam one of the leading warriors planted a spear in Aghem after the two groups had reunited at present day chief Aku in a bid to demonstrate their desire to settle there. The two groups had left Ndobbo as a single group but later disintegrated about 6decades after as they approached Esu.One group moved towards bafmen and the later went through Gayama, Essimbi and finally got to Wum.
At the Wum the two groups accepted to form a confederation in other to Dislodge the land lords of Aghem(Upkwa-pkwajungs)
The first settlement of Aghemiams in Wum was on the Zoghokwo hill. According to the legend, the Zonghokwo hill must have been a mountain, because it is described to have been very high giving Aghemians a complete view of the entire pkwajung settlement. It also provided the Aghemians the much needed security over the land lords, they could easy spot any approaching targets. The elevation will also provide them an added battle advantage in case they were attacked.

The land the Aghem people reached was initially called Upkwa(from the words U-Pkwà'a to mean muscles in Aghem). As the name goes the existing inhabitants of present day Aghem(Pkwajungs) were very muscular and dreaded warriors.
The were the only tribe that had successfully thwarted the Chamba (Bafut and Esu) imperialism in the Early 18th century.
All other tribes south of present day Aghem (Befang, Beba, Essimbi, Bu, and Aguilli) had been subjugated and were tax to pay very expensive tributes to the "Nfor" of Bafut Every season.

The Aghemians attacked and defeated these people(wpkwa),intergrated their remnants , a few upkwa warriors escaped through northeast direction to Esu while others moved southward to form present day Atong and Atui villages on the present day boundary line separating Aghem(Wendughu) and Essimbi.

After the defeat of the pkwajungs, the Aghemians decided to transform the existing confederation in to a federation of 6 main families or subgroups(Kesughu, Wazoh, Waindoghu, Zonghokwo, Tselegha and Wajung) under the leadership of family heads or Bahtums. At this time Aghem was ruled by six rulers equal in status but protocol demanded that the denkeghem(present day rulling family of Maagha village) of the Sihbuh family be the main coordinator of the land.

After settlement and consolidation of their frontiers, the Aghems started to reek havoc in a bid to dominate their neighbours with great presure to the south and North because of the much needed resources(palm oil, palm kernel, hunting forests, sweepings brooms etc) and fertile lands respectively.
They will soon become the first group in Menchum and will be second to known in terms of the victory of conquest, diplomacy and "Treachery ". The legend has it that the Aghems have never lost a war. They fought the Bafuts in the mid eighteen century, Bebas, Essimbis, Befangs, Wehs (18th and late 19th century, and the koms(18th Century).