Polemics and Implications of the Bamali Chieftaincy Dispute in The Bamenda Grassfields Region of Cameroon, 1980 To 2018

History

At a time when democracy and universal enlightenment are the order of the day, chieftaincy institutions are expected to complement the current structure of control to uphold peace and foster economic development. On the contrary, chieftaincy institutions are relatively seen as major avenues of instigating precariousness and hostility in some societies. Consequently, this study traces the origin and causes of chieftaincy disputes in the Bamenda Grassfields, and also scrutinizes the polemics and implications of the Bamali chieftaincy dispute specifically. The paper equally examine measures put in place to mitigate the Bamali chieftaincy dispute by state administrators. The study makes use of qualitative research techniques such as interviews and observations. The theoretical underpinning for this study is that of the relative deprivation theory whilst findings were analysed using the analytical approach. From the findings, some basis for chieftaincy disputes were revealed: interference from the political elite and egocentricity of village notables. Equally, the Socio-economic implications included: weakening of the sense of family and unity, vacuum in traditional authority and disruption in agricultural (rice) production. Based on the assessment made on the implications of the Bamali chieftaincy dispute, the study underscores the need for mitigating measures to be reinforced by stakeholders and the affected population in order to arrive at a lasting solution.

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