Etonde Njayou

Cameroon’s traditional chiefdoms have long been pillars of local governance, guardians of the sacred and natural mediators between the visible and invisible forces that govern society. They embodied political, spiritual and judicial authority, based on rites, beliefs and ancestral legitimacy. Yet today, these institutions, once respected and feared, are undergoing profound transformation, even alteration of their essence, under the influence of modern political dynamics. This book is part of a wider reflection on the evolution of traditional powers in Africa, and more specifically in Cameroon, where chieftaincy is no longer just a customary institution, but a stake of power and influence for local political elites. It sheds light on a worrying phenomenon: the desecration of the sacred and divine in traditional chieftaincies in the service of political ambitions.