Power, Symbolism and Conflict in Bafut, Cameroon

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 fon dom and perpetrated disunity whose impact continues to negatively affect the fon dom into the 21 st 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 n eeded to restore peace in these communities.