Religion in Cameroon
The diversity of Cameroon comes true, this time via
religion. As with most countries in Africa this diversity was caused by
geographical and cultural circumstances such as natural borders or by interacting
by trade or other means with either the Arab/Islamic world or Christian Europe.
Northern Cameroon is mostly dominated by the Fulani, cattle herding peoples that
over time have settled as farmers and merchants. The Fulani people were the
first group in West Africa that converted to Islam through jihads and continue
to grow till this day. French is widely spoken with Arabic as well. The Fulani oblige
to the Sunni branch of Islam with different variations and beliefs based on
location and leadership.
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| Fulani woman. |
A
majority of the peoples follow some form of Christianity. Most of these people
reside in the southern part of the country where the family of Beti people
resides. Included within these peoples are the Eton, Bulu and the Ewondo tribe which
were early converts to Catholicism, they are also culturally and linguistically
related to the Fang of Gabon and Cameroon which have created an oral tradition
based on myths of creation and their heritage.(1)
Traditional or animists religions account for about a quarter
of the population and can be found within all regions of Cameroon. These
traditions include the worship of ancestors and the beliefs that people,
animals and scared places such as groves of trees are spiritual beings that influence
all aspects of life.
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| Bamileke death ceremony. |
The Bamileke in the west and the Maka in east practice some
kind spell craft or public form of autopsy to conclude cause of death especially
if witchcraft is suspected.
The oral
myths of the Fangs of Gabon and Cameroon:
The Fang
which linguistically are linked to other groups in Cameroon such as the Beti
and the Bulu are part of the larger Bantu family. Within these oral traditions
insight is given to how the Fang, the Bulu and the Beti all lived together
further to the north of their present day location. They were forced to migrate
south as they were attacked and pursued by red giants up to the river which
blocked their escape as they had not gained the knowledge of ship building yet.
A giant crocodile helped the Fang cross the river and as the giants approached
and stepped onto the crocodile; it sank into the water and drowned them. As
they proceeded they come across a forest with an enormous tree blocking the
path. Debating on how to get around the tree, some Pygmies come along to show
them a narrow path which would allow them to pass. However the people were
fighting over the order and the right to lead which caused them to separate into
different groups once they passed the great tree.
Effects of Christianity and Islam on Cameroon:
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| Yaoundé cathedral |
Cameroon as compared to most of Africa has had a stable
government and freedom of religion is respected which has lead to little
turmoil. Recently this has changed with the rise of Boko Haram the Islamic
terrorist group in Nigeria. Traditional Sufi Islam is being challenged by a fundamental ideology of Islam know as Wahhabism. Catholic and Protestant churches are
losing converts to the Revivalist Church all these changes have undermined the
stability that Cameroon has maintained for years.(2)
References:
(1)Cameroon. Retrieved from: http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Cameroon.html
(2)African Arguments. Cameroon’s rising religious tensions Retrieved from: http://africanarguments.org/2015/09/08/cameroons-rising-religious-tensions/
