buea, originally spelled "gbea", was founded by a hunter who came from the bomboko area. coming from the bomboko side of the mountain, he named the new-found land in amazement as "ebe'eya", meaning literally a "place of happenings". a prominent king of the bakweri (whose headquarters is buea) was chief kuva likenye, whose clashes with german troops during the bakweri resistance remain popular folklore; currently ruled by the endeleys. tea growing is an important local industry, especially in tole. buea was the colonial capital of german kamerun from 1901 to 1919, the capital of the southern cameroons from 1949 until 1961 and the capital of west cameroon until 1972, when ahmadou ahidjo abolished the federation of cameroon. the german colonial administration in buea was temporarily suspended during the eruption of mount cameroon from 28 april until june 1909. originally, buea's population consisted mainly of the bakweri people. however, owing to its status as a university town and the regional capital, there are significant numbers of other ethnic groups.