Current Religious Make-Up of Cameroon
[1]
Saker Baptist Church, Limbe
As of
2013, Cameroon’s religious make-up consists of Christians, Muslims, Traditional
African Religions, and a few others such as Orthodox Jews, people that have no
associations with a certain religion, and Baha'i. [2] The breakdown of religion
in Cameroon as of 2013 is: 70% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic or Protestant),
20% Islam (mainly Sunni), 6% Traditional African Religions, and 4% as other
religious beliefs. [3] Cameroon is a very tolerant nation in regards to
religious freedom and it is written within their country’s constitution. [4]
[5]
MosquéeFadil
Origin Myths of Cameroon
Cameroon like many African countries has several origin
myths. In African Myths of Origin, Stephen Belcher gives the reader insight to
three of these origin myths. First, the
Fang which reside in the forests of Cameroon today. [6] Second, he told the
story of Jeki which can give insight to how the people near Duala lived before
trade became such a high importance. [7] Third, the Bamun Kingdom tells of how the
kingdom came to be located in what is currently northwest Cameroon. [8] Many of
these origin myths show the culture in a more primitive time and uses mystic
powers and animals, especially crocodiles, in the myths.
[9]
Location of the Bamun Kingdom
Cameroon’s indigenous religions are based off of rituals,
dance, ancestral worship, spirits, and at times magic. [10] One example of this
religion is through the ceremonial Okuyi.
Okuyi is when a participant goes into a trance like state to the rhythm
of drums and instruments. The individual
in the trance is symbolizing a deity or ancestor and can often speak words that
give direction to the community. [11] Two of the indigenous religions practiced
in Cameroon were Hausa Animism and Efik mythology. [12] Hausa Animism was the
religion centered on the spiritual force in physical things [13] and Efik
mythology was a belief in a single creator, Abassi, and was believed to be the
spirit of health and nature. [14] Many of these religions began to change with
opening of trade routes and colonization.
Many took on Christianity or Islam as their primary religion and
syncretism was also used by some groups combining their beliefs and one of the
other religions brought to their community.
Christianity and Islam in Cameroon
Christianity and Islam are the two dominant religions in Cameroon. Factors such as trade routes, colonization, missionaries, and war brought these two religions into Cameroon. Colonization by Britain, Germany, and after World War I the French allowed for Christian religions to be incorporated into Cameroon. Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to spread the gospel. The Muslims used trade routes to expand their territory and their religion.
[1] “Saker Baptist Church Limbe” https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Saker_Baptist_Church_Limbe.jpg
[6] Stephen Belcher. African
Myths of Origin (New York: Penguin Books, 2005) 261-67
[7] Stephen Belcher. African
Myths of Origin (New York: Penguin Books, 2005) 268-81
[8] Stephen Belcher. African
Myths of Origin (New York: Penguin Books, 2005) 282-83
[9] Bamun Kingdom Map” https://common.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bamun_Kingdom.gif
[11] “Religious Ceremonies” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African_religion#Ceremonies
, ¶1
[12] “West African Religions” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African_religion#West_Africa
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