TITLE:
Power, Symbolism and Conflict in Bafut, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Divine Fuhnwi Ngwa
KEYWORDS:
Power, Symbolism, Conflict, Bafut, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.11 No.3,
September
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: Political power and authority in the African context
are a myth. It is manifested and represented in various ways including in the
form of natural forces and animals. Their importance and representation vary from
culture to culture and from one community to another. Each community has
beliefs and myths related to animals and power systems. Animals are believed to
have such exuberant energy or power that permits them to command authority and
control in the jungle. Such is the case of lions and elephants. Thus there are
cultural restrictions and control over these animals as paraphernalia or
symbolic representation of power and authority in several African societies.
Power mongers yearn to appropriate these animals or parts of their bodies in
the form of totems, insignia or paraphernalia to show case their power,
prestige, aura and social status. Such ventures constitute sources of friction
given that the process of appropriation of the symbols may stir conflict of
extreme dimension. In the late 1940s in Bafut, a conflict occurred between the
Fon (traditional ruler) and some subaltern chiefs over the control and
ownership of some wild animals in the area. This conflict destabilised the
political system of the fondom and
perpetrated disunity whose impact continues to negatively affect the fondom into the 21st century.
We intend to have an in-depth examination of the conflict in this paper and
from our sources, we conclude that the symbols and symbolism associated with
power breeds conflict in many indigenous
African communities (such as in Bafut) and efforts are needed to restore
peace in these communities.