Indigenous Approaches to Socio-Cultural Cohesion among the Ngie of Cameroon, 1863-2011

Abstract

Communities continuously find it difficult to live together and forge a sense of common development in modern Africa, even though government policies have enacted policies in that direction over the years. This is because most governments have ignored indigenous practices that were in force before colonialism, explaining why most communities have witnessed rampant conflicts between various groups within their vicinities. It is because of this that the study analyses the indigenous approaches which bounded African communities and enhanced coexistence. Using the historical method of analyses with data drawn from primary and secondary sources, the study argues that the indigenous socio-cultural approaches of the Ngie were cohesive in building a sense of common belonging and identity among the diverse groups of the area. It holds that communication modes, justice system, religion, cultural activities and intermarriages as well as social unions were instrumental in that dimension. The paper concludes that if indigenous mechanisms of cohesion are embraced by most colonial governments in Africa, the rampant differences and conflicts in communities will be minimised.

Keywords

References