This is the largest town in the West province, having more than 230 000 inhabitants. It is the town in which the legendary leader of the UPC, Ernest Oundie was executed. It is the economic and administrative headquarters of the Bameleke region. Located within the Noun plain and flanked from one side by the High plateau, this town has several tourist attractions and a very favorable climate. It has more than high class 15 hotels and several restaurants that offer diverse meals of local an international taste.
Several cultural artifacts present here testify to the rich Bameleke tradition that prevails in spite of the rapid rate of urbanization. This town also has a unique reputation of a national junction of roads between the North West, Adamawa, Centre and Littoral Provinces. Equally, direct routes link up the town to divisional headquarters of the West province like Dschang, Mbouda, Foumban, Bangante, Bafang, Baham and Bandjoun.
The population high is highly business inclined; this explains why the town is full of business centers, kiosks and all sorts of shades destined for one business site or the other. This makes the town very busy with movements to and fro in small Lorries, taxis and above all motor cycles that have become a dominant means of transport through out the country.
The town also has a number of small industries involved in sectors like soap fabrication, weaving of bags, making machines for the grinding of maize and tubers like cassava. It also has a highly developed infrastructure, many storey buildings and sporting grounds. The road network is however gradually in ruin; making the dry seasons very dusty in the town.