The Grand Duchy of Mayo-Louti

Monday, November 25, 2013

My two post mates and I obviously like naming things.  We’ve been the Dukes of Guider basically since we got here, and we’ve named all the streets in our area.  We also love history and are nerdy, so of course that eventually led us to giving the other PCVs in the country titles.  When we got here we had all been reading Game of Thrones, so we had already thought of Cameroon is something from that or at least Medieval-esque.  When the Extreme North got shut down, that immediately made it beyond the wall, and us on the border.  Well, here is a short introduction to the Northern Realm. 

The Dukes of Guider include my two post mates and myself, and are known as the Grand Dukes of the Mayo-Louti in formal situations.  The Grand Duchy of Mayo-Louti was a part of the Kingdom of Cameroon, but has become largely autonomous due to lack of aid from the greater kingdom in the fight against Boko Haram, colorfully thought of as the Sith.  Helping the Dukes to hold the line in Douroum, Mandama, and Larbak are the Marquesses of Mayo-Louti.  For those who don’t know, a Marquess is like a Count, but the area they control borders another nation, and they are thus entrusted with more responsibility. 

Due to Sith incursions, the territories to the north of the Grand Duchy have been lost, as well as the areas in Mayo-Louti to the west of the Mayo-Oulo river.  Since the closures after the initial raid, the Mayo-Oula forms a natural border for the Grand Duchy on the North, West, and South where it wraps around.  To the North and the West are the Forbidden Lands.  To the East is Chad, which, along with the Kingdom of Cameroon to the South, the Grand Duchy maintains friendly relations. 

The Dukes have many allies within the region, including the Countesses of Garoua, the Baroness of Bibemi, the Lord and Lady of Ngong, and the Baroness of Poli.  Several new Squires have also recently been accepted, into the region in Badjouma Centre, Pitoa, Sanguéré Paule, Admouri, Djalengo, and Bamé.  They will have the chance to be knighted if they last the three months to IST, and are eligible inherit titles after a year.  The Mayo-Louti Grand Duchy and the Northern Realm of the Kingdom Cameroon are the only things holding back the onslaught of Boko Haram. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Today the Peace Corps car brought the Dukes to the frontier to survey the border towns Douroum, Mandama, and Larbak.  We made contact with the Marquesses and some people in their villages.  The purpose of the trip was to see where they live, so in case of trouble the Dukes can come find them.  Unfortunately, the only form of communication available is in-person, meaning going ourselves or sending a moto-driver with a note.  They don’t have phone service, and carrier pidgins have been extinct for a long time. 

The border towns, especially Mandama and Douroum, are located in a really pretty area in the mountains in the Northern end of the Grand Duchy.  It was definitely beautiful, but I sure love my amenities in the heart of Mayo-Louti.   I might have to start pay more frequent visits to the Wall to monitor the situation, hang out with the Marquesses, and go to the market to drink bil-bil.