ORIGIN OF CHAMBA PEOPLE

Many anthropologists, researchers, historians and writers seem to agree that CHAMBA, worldwide, generally have their root in the Arabian Peninsular- SYRIA in particular- and fanned out to other parts of the world, about the 18th and 19th centuries, while leaving a bigger number behind.

WHY THE MIGRATION?

They were, primarily, in search of Vast lands in addition to waterways suitable for them to practice their much cherished trades of farming, hunting of game, and fishing. So they kept moving out of where those resources were inadequate and towards where they could find them in good supply.

CHAMBA LIVING PATTERN AND AUTHORITY RELATIONSHIP.

Till date, everywhere they are found, Chamba are “clan people” living in groups of related families. Each family has its head and a group of related families form a clan, with a clan leader. When separate but related clans settle together they have one PARAMOUNT LEADER (king), superintending over the clans in his jurisdiction (of course the paramount rulers or leaders are in grades of “small” and “big”).
So the Chamba, generally, see one another as (distant) relatives or brothers and sisters, particularly where they bear their unique Chamba names (such as NUBUMGA, DONZOMGA, LAFOYA, SHINTEMA BALINYONGA, SHEPUYA, NATEMA, BINTIMA, SABOMIYA, KOMBOSHI, ETC.).

CHAMBA CLANS.

Some of the many Chamba clans are listed as:

Sama, Dakka, Janga, Nyera, Kola, Poba, Kwasa, Ngwuma, Gbana, Shikunkuna, Salkuna, Zaa, Denkuna, Laga, Pyeri, Tikari, Dinyi, Paati, Sarkuna, Dungbalkuna, Kpenga, Lufum, Jidu, Zabilkuna, Zanikuma, Nyamkuna, Sobaa, Barnya, Gurum, Zagbonkuna, Zangani, Balla, Darim, Girim, etc.

WHERE ARE CHAMBA TODAY?

During their great migration, many stayed back in their root in Syria while multitudes fanned out and are scattered around the world, like other races, but with known concentration in Africa’s Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and other countries in the continent. In Cameroon, for instance, they founded and settled, majorly, in Wum and Bamenda Divisions of Bamenda Province. Here their settlements, in the main, have been Balikumbat, Balighansin, Balighashu, Baligham and Balinyonga which were founded by the sons of GARWOBEA. He was leading his group from Dindin towards Cameroon but died on the way before getting to Cameroon. After his death his five sons fought among themselves for possession of the group but eventually got it divided into five, and took one each before they moved, still, in the same direction and got to Cameroon. Till date, the Chamba remain a substantial population in the Bamenda area of Cameroon.

We will skip discussion about the Chamba in the other African countries and concentrate on the Nigerian Chamba, in particular, those in Adamawa and Taraba States which have the greatest concentration of Chamba population in Nigeria.

THE NIGERIAN CHAMBA AND THEIR SETTLEMENTS.l

The Nigerian Chamba, of course, were also the product of the Syrian Chamba migration. From Syria they passed through North and Central Africa, enduring years of tortuos challenges of hunger, sicknesses, diseases, wars, etc before eventually arriving West Africa’s Nigeria. And in Nigeria they founded a space which they established and named DINDIN. At that time Dindin covered the areas that we know today as GANYE, JADA, MAYO-BELWA, TOUNGO and FUFURE Local Government Areas, among other smaller spaces, all in Adamawa State, Nigeria, which State, till date, has one of, if not the highest, Chamba population in Nigeria, and indeed Ganye town today doubles as the traditional headquarters of the Nigerian Chamba as well as the headquarters of Ganye Local Government Area.

Some Among Other Chamba Settlements In Nigeria, Outside Dindin (Adamawa State), And Their Founders:

The Chamba occupation of Dindin attracted some people to the space, the first being BATTA followed by FULANI with their cattle and other animals in their numbers. Soon Dindin became too small and so too uncomfortable for the three..