Description
In Fons of Traditional Bamenda, Tatah Mbuy critically examines the predicament of traditional leaders in the Cameroon Grasslands in the wake of the civil unrest that has regrettably evolved into armed conflict in the territories that constituted the former Southern Cameroons. Drawing on his ethnographic knowledge of this region, Mbuy argues that chieftaincy in the Grasslands was historically perceived as a sacred institution, the locus of neutrality and justice and the custodian of its people’s cultural legacy. However, multiparty politics and bureaucratic elites have coopted traditional leaders to serve party interests to the detriment of their people, thus attracting widespread condemnation and violence towards their persons. Mbuy convincingly argues that the Fon should not be an active element in partisan or competitive politics. All civil administrators in any Fondom in “traditional Bamenda” would gain more if they are conscious of the cultural structure and adherence of the people. As a source of neutrality, Fons stand to serve their people and society should they steer clear of partisan politics. This text is highly recommended to all concerned citizens, students of history, anthropology, political science and civil administrators in Cameroon and beyond.
Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xiii
PART 1: THE TRADITIONAL RULER IN BAMENDA xxi
CHAPTER 1 1
The Traditional Ruler as an Institution
CHAPTER 2 13
The Divine Status and Authority of the Fon
CHAPTER 3 24
The Fon at the Heart of Public Relations
PART 2: PARTISAN POLITICS IN CAMEROON 31
CHAPTER 4 33
The Evolution of Party Politics in Cameroon (1884 -2020)
CHAPTER 5 46
Fons, Democracy and Partisan Politics in Cameroon (1992-2020)
PART 3: IN SEARCH FOR MEANING 53
CHAPTER 6 56
Reconstructing Identities
CHAPTER 7 69
Restoring the Dignity of the Fon
CONCLUSION 81
Bibliography 83
Index 87
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.