Aboubakar Sule, a native of Dumbu in the Misaje Subdivision, Donga Mantung Division, North West Region of Cameroon spent decades trying to carve out a life for himself in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala.
Like many rural-to-urban migrants, Sule had hoped that the city would offer him the opportunity to build a better life for his family. Yet, in 2022, after years of chasing success in the city, he made an uncommon decision that surprised many as he chose to return home to Dumbu with his family.
Sule’s migration story is not one of forced displacement or economic ruin. Rather, it was a strategic choice to maximize his productivity and happiness.
In a candid interview with Hilltopvoices TV, Sule explained that while nothing forced him out of Douala, he realized that life in the city was no longer as promising as it once seemed.
"Things were going back," he remarked, reflecting on the gradual decline in opportunities.
For Sule, the village represented something different: freedom, productivity, and a chance to leave a legacy for future generations.
Click here for the video
The decision to return
Sule’s return was not a spontaneous move. He first discussed his desire to leave the city with his wife two years before his final departure. Surprisingly, his wife, Madam Sule, embraced the idea wholeheartedly. Unlike many modern women who might resist returning to rural life, Madam Sule had a passion for farming, which made the transition seamless. In fact, she moved to Dumbu two years before her husband, setting the stage for their new life.
Aboubakar Sule in his farmAccording to Sule, the children also adapted easily to rural life, thanks to the frequent trips he had organized to the village over the years.
“I used to take them to the village for up to three months at a time, so they were already familiar with it,” he shared.
Their familiarity with rural living eased the adjustment, and they soon embraced their new environment.
Life and challenges in Dumbu
Once back in Dumbu, Sule faced some of the common challenges of rural reintegration, particularly boundary disputes with neighbours over land and access roads. However, these hurdles did not deter him. He now manages a multi-hectare farm, cultivating a variety of crops including cassava, oil palms for palm oil, soybeans, corn, pineapples and more. In addition to farming, Sule runs a community grinding mill and a clothing shop, both of which serve the local community and markets.
Sule is proud of his accomplishments in Dumbu, noting that life in the village is far more fulfilling than in the city.
“I have created a heritage and legacy that I will be remembered for,” he said as he advices young people: “Don’t suffer in town. The village has more to offer. The village is growing faster than the town.”
Madam Sule’s perspective
When we met Madam Sule, she was preparing a meal in her firewood kitchen, radiating warmth and contentment. She echoed her husband’s sentiments about village life, admitting that while expenses in town had become overwhelming, the village offered a chance to live more simply and self-sufficiently.
Madam Sule “There are opportunities in the village. If you work hard, you will be happy,” she said.
Madam Sule has been actively involved in farming since her return, cultivating crops like cassava and processing garri; a staple food in Cameroon.
“Since we came back, it has been great. We’ve been farming a lot, and I just fried some garri to sell and some for our children,” she shared proudly.
While life in the village has its challenges, especially with the limited cash flow, she is grateful for the abundance of food and the sense of community. She advices other women to stand by their husbands, especially in tough times, and to embrace the idea of returning to their roots if city life becomes unsustainable.
Creating a legacy for future generations
Sule’s return to Dumbu was not just about improving his own life but also about preparing his children for the future. On the day of our visit, we found him with his children, clearing a well that had filled with rain runoff. This well supplies water to their household, using a fuel-powered pump. During the dry season, it becomes a vital resource not only for his family but for the surrounding community.
Though the village does not have regular electricity, Sule has overcome this challenge by installing a solar power system. This powers the family’s television, which keeps his children entertained through a satellite dish connection, and lights up the compound at night. The system is one of many ways Sule is ensuring that his children don’t feel the pinch of moving from the city to the village. The shift has been made smoother with this modern adaptation, enabling them to enjoy some of the comforts they were accustomed to in Douala.
“Now that they have TV, they are happy,” Sule said, smiling as his children played nearby with their bicycle.
Looking forward
Despite the occasional difficulty, Sule is content with his decision to leave Douala. He points to his livestock and land with pride, knowing that these are assets he could not have acquired in the city. For Sule and his family, life in Dumbu is a life of purpose, productivity, and connection to the land: a reset of the migration clock.
