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| Title: | Chiefs and the problem of witchcraft: varying patterns in south and west Cameroon |
| Author: | Geschiere, Peter |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Periodical: | Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law |
| Issue: | 37-38 |
| Pages: | 307-327 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Cameroon |
| Subjects: | chieftaincy witchcraft |
| External link: | https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.1996.10756485 |
| Abstract: | Issues of witchcraft and sorcery can offer a good starting point for analysing variations and oscillations in the moral authority of chiefs. Within Cameroon, there are regional variations in the degree to which chiefs are still supposed to maintain some sort of control over occult forces. In some areas, especially in the Grassfields of the Bamenda and Bamileke in the Northwest and West Provinces, where chieftaincy has a long history and where chiefs succeeded in consolidating their position during colonial times, the chiefs and their courts still seem to be able to contain, at least to a degree, the fear of new forms of witchcraft associated with the new riches of a small and wealthy bourgeoisie of emigrant businessmen. In other regions, notably in the segmentary societies of the Maka, Beti, Duala and Bakweri of the southern and eastern forest areas, where 'customary chiefs' were in fact largely a creation of the colonial authorities, chiefs hardly seem capable of doing so. In these areas as well, the 'customary' chiefs are certainly associated with occult powers. But they are supposed to use these to strengthen their own position rather than to protect their communities. It is also in these areas that there seems to be a general pressure on the State to intervene against the new witchcraft threats. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |
