Fondzenyuy Vitalis Fonfo
'From Tahnkiy to Satellites' is a research and community project based in Nkar, Bui Division in the North West Region of Cameroon. Long before modern satellites, the people of Nkar used a sacred volcanic peak called _Kirumen Ke Nkar_, known as 'Tahnkiy' meaning 'The Place of Seeing Far,' as a lookout. Trained watchmen stationed there would observe smoke, movement, and changes across the land for kilometers. They relayed warnings to protect the King, the clan, and Nkar’s historic iron industry. This was an early form of remote sensing, rooted in ancestral knowledge of terrain, light, and the environment.Today, the same principle exists in satellite technology that measures reflected sunlight to monitor the Earth from space. This project connects the two. First, we will document and honor Tahnkiy as indigenous science by recording oral histories from Nkar elders and mapping the lookout’s historic views. Second, we will translate that ancestral practice into modern tools by using free satellite data to help communities in the North West Region monitor agriculture, water sources, forests, and land use. Third, we will train youth, students, and teachers from institutions like the Catholic University of Cameroon in GIS, drone mapping, and satellite analysis, starting each training with the story of Tahnkiy so learners see themselves as continuing a local tradition.The goal is to show that science did not only come from outside. By linking indigenous knowledge to modern technology, we give communities ownership of the tools they need to respond to climate change, conflict, and resource challenges. The project will produce a digital dashboard called 'Digital Tahnkiy,' a bilingual curriculum for schools, and a traveling exhibition. Ultimately, 'From Tahnkiy to Satellites' honors the past while equipping the North West Region with practical, low-cost ways to see far and make better decisions for the future.
