A Guardian of Tradition, Culture, and Cameroon’s Forest Heritage

Our friend of the month this December is His Majesty Mvondo Bruno, Traditional Chief of Minkok-Bityli in the Sanaga Maritime Division of Cameroon’s Littoral Region. He stands as a respected leader whose influence extends far beyond his village. Known for his unwavering commitment to environmental protection, cultural preservation, and community leadership, he plays a key role in regional initiatives focused on conserving natural resources and strengthening traditional governance.

His Majesty Mvondo Bruno, Traditional Chief of Minkok-Bityli

Beyond ritual knowledge, he is also a senior expert in traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, an expert in sacred forest management, and a ritualist for forest peoples. His dedication to cultural advocacy has led him to serve as a spokesperson for the Fang-Béti-Bulu communities in their efforts to repatriate cultural property taken during colonial times. His passion for forest and wildlife conservation comes from his upbringing as the son of a farmer in the heart of the Congo Basin rainforest. The forest, he explains, is the source of food, materials, and spiritual balance. Without it, life loses its richness. For him, protecting forests and wildlife, especially species essential to rituals and livelihoods, is inseparable from his role as a traditional chief.

Among his most memorable moments in the fight for land rights are the advocacy campaigns aimed at ensuring that customary provisions are recognised in land management. He recalls the 2013 correspondence from Cameroon’s Head of State urging the Government to consider traditional chiefs’ proposals in land reform, as well as his 2014 trip to the United States to negotiate key projects such as the Tenure Facilities initiative and the Unification of Participatory Mapping Approaches in Cameroon. Another highlight was his speech at the African Union forum in Addis Ababa, where he championed customary land rights and better land access for women and young people. More recently, he has helped establish mechanisms to prevent and manage land conflicts in communities within Yoko and Nanga Eboko.

Elephant in Cameroon

When asked about how citizens can help conserve wildlife, particularly elephants, His Majesty suggests promoting alternatives to poaching, encouraging ecotourism and solidarity tourism, and preserving traditional knowledge that helps keep elephants away from villages. He also advocates for the planting of moabi trees, which grow quickly thanks to elephant dung. Addressing conflicts between humans and elephants remains a major concern in many Cameroonian communities. For His Majesty, the most realistic and respectful solutions include strengthening state–community collaboration, ensuring that communities play a primary role in managing protected areas, and allocating sufficient resources to support these efforts.

Through his leadership, His Majesty Mvondo Bruno embodies a powerful blend of cultural stewardship, environmental advocacy, and community empowerment, which is an example of how traditional authority can guide modern solutions to protect both heritage and nature.