About Us

This history and growth of BACCO

Beginnings

BACCO-DMV is one of the most active Chapters of BACCO-USA (Bambui Cultural Community in the USA).

It was formed shortly after the Foundation Conference creating BACO - USA held on August 18th-20th, 2006 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The main goal of the group was to create a home away from home for all sons and daughters of Bambui living in the Washington Metro Area, thus the name BACCO-DC. This name was modified in 2023 to BACCO-DMV, in order to better reflect the well known local appellation of Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Activities of the group consisted of monthly meetings in members’ homes to share cultural meals, catch up with news and issues from back home, and be an anchor and support for each other. As an offshoot of BACO, the Chapter was going to be governed by the National BACO Constitution and take part in its main goal of helping in development projects back in the Motherland of Bambui.

Initial Membership

The initial members of the BACCO-DC Chapters were:

Elizabeth Fobi

Agatha Munu

Elizabeth Fobi

Edwan Fon

Victorine Bikesi

Nathalia Nteboh

Alaatum Nchami

Eric Mungo

Felix Azuni

Zac Angafor

Naomi Ndimatang

First Ever BACO Convention

These members were able to organise, plan and host the First ever BACO Convention on the weekend of June 29th – July 1st, 2007 in Maryland; one year after the Founding Conference in Milwaukee. The Convention was attended by Sons and Daughters of Bambui and their spouses residing all over the United States of America.

During this maiden BACCO Convention, Branch Reports were heard from the Eastern Region, Milwaukee, Texas, Minnesota and Detroit- Michigan. The key points discussed in this convention were the Draft Constitution

of BACO-USA presented by Maitre Jude Ambe, the kinds of development projects that could be carried out or supported back home in Bambui and plans made to register the group as a non-profit organization with

the IRS. It was during this legalization process that the name of the group was modified from Bambui Community (BACO) to Bambui Cultural Community (BACCO) in the USA.

Growth of the DMV Chapter

Since that initial convention, the Chapter has grown steadily both in numbers and financial contributions to carry out development projects back home. Members come together for one another during life's important moments like marriages, births, graduation ceremonies or deaths in the family.

From 2007 to 2012, new members like Dr. Chris Bime and his wife Philo Bime, Carol Bono , Nkang Pascal, Paul Bejingsi, Patience Kingah, now Patience Muchu had joined the BACCO-DC chapter and injected some new energy into the Chapter which catapulted it to higher heights.

Since that inaugural convention in 2007, BACCO - DC successfully hosted 2 other conventions in 2012 and 2019. The 2012 Convention was historic as it was graced by the presence of HRH Fon Angafor Mombo-oh 111 of Bambui. In addressing the Bambui Community on during that Convention, the Fon said, as a father to all sons and daughters of Bambui, he had come to see how his “children” were doing out here and advised all to remain anchored in the Bambui culture while abiding by the laws of their host country.

When the world was hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic from 2020-2022 and physical meetings were not possible, BACCO-DC kept up with the times and shifted to virtual meetings. By 2023, as the world opened back up, the physical meetings picked up and with that membership has grown to more than 25 families.