The Tarkeh family tree begins with HRH Fon Njorebeng I, son of Tembenjoh who migrated with the Bonjo’s and settled in Njinezi, Funam.  His mother was the daughter of  the Fomuki dynasty of Gunekwo.   The seat was then passed on to HRH Forchu.  HRH Forchu also ruled for a short while and travelled.  He was succeeded by one of his sons Mbacham.  HRH Fon Mbacham I, ruled for a short while and travelled.  During his reign, him and his people were forced to migrate to Bali Nyonga by the Germans during World War 1, to increase the population of  Bali for purposes of a joint force.   Since you cannot be hostile to your in-laws, he was forced by the Fon of Bali, to give one of his daughters named Ambit Rose to his son Tita Foncham in exchange for a peaceful stay of the Funam people in Bali.  His chosen successor was still under age, named Godfrey Fonba.  He was then succeeded while in Bali by his half-brother Fon Joseph Forchu.  HRH Fon Joseph Forchu, was installed chief in 1920 in Bali and in 1921 when the British had won the World War 1, the Fon decided to return with his people and resettled first in the old palace in Njinezi before moving to the current grounds where the palace is situated.  The name Tarkeh is not a family name per se but would be added to the name of Joseph Forchu  as Tarkeh,  by Bali people being the father of a daughter named “Arkeh”. “Tar” means  “father of” in Bali.  By 1934 when the British CEG Greggs was recording the history of  Meta, he wrote it down as “Tarkeh” and that has stayed on with all his children and brothers and all who lived in his palace ground under his leadership. 

HRH Joseph Forchu Tarkeh was married to more than 20 wives, and had more than a hundred children.  He was a ruler with common sense and intelligence and good leadership and was famous for his war tactics besides being a great hunter. He was also believed to have great magical powers, further enhanced by the mystery behind his shooting animals at great distance with a telescopic rifle offered to him by the Germans.  During this time he constructed the current palace, a solid storey building, with task force labour of the village and his children and brothers, and  which has stood for 90 years. He ruled from 1920-1985 when he travelled.  The name Tarkeh would stick with the family and the Fon would simply be referred to in an abbreviated form as Fontar. When the first of his nephews and children had gone to school and grew to understand this history some begun to change their names. The forerunner of this move was an ace footballer who went to the teacher training college, TTC, Batibo as Godfrey Fonba Tarkeh and would change his names to Walter Fobang Mbacham to bear the names of his father. WFM worked as a head master in Basell Mission School Njenka Bali Nyonga and then with Radio Buea introducing the first vernacular broadcast programs. WFM became a personal assistant to HE Fred Ndang before travelling to Canada for studies.  The others being Nih Marcus (a Scotland Yard trained Senior Superintendent of Police in West Cameroon) and Awah Daniel (CEO of RW King, the textile giant at the time). Like Walter F. Mbacham, these and other Tarkeh men of stature would pass on in quick succession. At the time of his travel, HRH Fontar had successively designated and lost his most viable options. Fontar then expressed the desire to let the seat be returned to the Mbacham lineage, son of  Walters F. Mbacham  who at the time was reading for a Masters degree at the University of Yaounde I.  The young “grand nephew” declined through the intermediary of his mother on the grounds of schooling. The seat was passed on to one of  Fontar’s son,  John Che Forchu who on enthronement opted to bear the names  HRH Wilfred Fon Njorebeng II.   When he travelled in 2015 declared the regent throne be returned to the designated lineage of HRH Mbacham I. On December 28, 2016, Prof.  Mbacham Wilfred Fon, son of late Godfrey Fonbah Tarkeh (renamed Walter Fobang Mbacham (1929-1969) was enthroned as  HRH  Prof.  Mbacham Wilfred Fon Tarkeh II.