Batie Community Gets New 'Chief'

After two years without a leader, the Batie community based in Douala now has a new head. During a colourful ceremony at the premises of Parcours Vita in Bonamoussadi last Saturday June 22, Jean Bertrand Doumbissi was officially installed and presented to his new collaborators. Chaired by the paramount Chief of Batie, His Majesty Chief Theodore Tchouainkam, the event brought together all members of the Batie community and sister tribes, alongside administrative, municipal and religious authorities.

After two years without a leader, the Batie community based in Douala now has a new head. During a colourful ceremony at the premises of Parcours Vita in Bonamoussadi last Saturday June 22, Jean Bertrand Doumbissi was officially installed and presented to his new collaborators. Chaired by the paramount Chief of Batie, His Majesty Chief Theodore Tchouainkam, the event brought together all members of the Batie community and sister tribes, alongside administrative, municipal and religious authorities. Jean Bertrand Dounbissi is in charge of the Batie population in the Littoral and South West Regions. His main responsibility is to serve as an intermediary between the Royal Palace and the community with regards to matters concerning them. Stressing on his main task of promoting growth and solidarity amongst the natives based in the economic capital, His Majesty Chief Theodore Tchouainkam called on the new leader to preserve the existing relationship between the Batie people and their host communities. He equally lauded the strides covered by the former leader, Joseph Henri Happy, to whom funeral homage was paid. The wellbeing and prosperity of the people, he stressed, underlies the eventual development of Cameroon as a whole. The installation ceremony was preceded by a round table discussion and the election of Miss/Master Batie 2013 at the Batie Community Hall in the New Bell neighbourhood.