GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Chieftaincy succession constitutes a fundamental aspect in traditional governance across the African continent. This institution considered as one of the pillars in African communities was well respected and justifies reasons why it stood the test of time^[1]. The Chief or Fon that incarnated this institution was considered as divine in natures and thus exercised judiciary, legislative, executive, religious and military functions during his reign. They therefore acted as custodians to the customs and traditions of their societies^[2]. Bearing in mind that conflicts are inevitable in human societies, the process of naming a successor to traditional leadership position among different ethnic groups in Africa became a major bone of contention. In the North West region of Cameroon, the situation had become rampant, thus constituting the bases of so many composite Fondoms within the region.

Then, chieftaincy succession in pinyin became a unique experience within the grassfield based on its location and tradition. The Nyen people have witnessed so many disputes prominent amongst which have been land, financial, religious, inter-tribal, farmer-grazer, and chieftaincy not being the least. According to Ngwe, individuals fought relentlessly to become traditional rulers not very much to perform the functions tradition required from them, but because of the material wealth and political dignity accruing from that office[3]. As a result of ambition and greed, well to do chiefs and individuals scrambled to grab noble titles and the noble seat of Ifo while others strive for autonomy in the fondom in disrespect of the existing traditional norms.

The chieftaincy disputes in Pinyin that degenerated to open-confrontations thus necessitating the intervention of administrative authorities in addressing the problem. Taking into account the fact that disputes do not often produce anything good, the Pinyin people do not seem to understand. The chieftaincy disputes caused serious harm in the traditional state. The weaknesses of the Pinyin society was that it did not have a written constitution that guided the institution of chieftaincy in order to avoid disputes, though it was clear that succession was hereditary^[4]. The contest for power grew so deep into the society that every attempt to resolve the disputes proved ineffective. The highest regulatory institutions in the land kwifor^[5] and Bukum^[6] (king-makers) attempted to resolve the disputes the traditional ways but the challenges received by the institutions relegated it to the background, giving an upper hand to the administration. However, resolving this conflict has proven to be dauntingly difficult and complex task as administrative authorities in recent times have contested customary norms thus making indigenes to dissociated themselves from administrative measures aimed at resolving the crisis. The administrative authorities have used different stages in resolving the chieftaincy conflicts.

Statement of the Problem

The advent of colonialism and later on post independent period had actually brought to the lime light new actors into the management of chieftaincy conflicts. The dynamic situation among the Nyen people of Menka and Pinyin was caused by the inability of traditional institutions in management and eventually resolving the chieftaincy imbroglio amongst princes within the royal family. Within Santa subdivision, the situation led to the creation of composite fondoms of once united communities. The case of Menka and Pinyin were quite glaring as this people had hitherto lived like a single polity. Their eventual separation and settlement within the same area continuously affected their wellbeing as issues of identity fueled by the chieftaincy squabbles continuously affected them. It was against this backdrop that administrative authorities became key actors in resolving the chieftaincy crisis that affected the Nyen people. It is based on this premise that this studies argues that administrative authorities were inconsistent in management of the chieftaincy conflict among the Nyen people of Menka and Pinyin. The controversies in relation to managing to conflicts made them lukewarm in resolving the differences that further made the situation complex. Both communities felt that administrative authorities were in most instances bias on several accounts, either favouring one community against the other. This continuously affected the several trajectories that emerged because of the conflicts.

Research Questions

The main research question addressing the central contention is: what were the causes, manifestation and administrative approaches adopted in managing the chieftaincy conflicts among the nyen people of Menka and Pinyin  in Santa subdivision?. To explore this topic, the following sub questions are necessary:

• What were the geographical and economic factors that led to conflicts among the Pinyin and Menka people?
• What were the causes of chieftaincy conflicts among the people?
• How did administrative authorities manage to resolved the  the conflicts?
• What were the impacts of chieftaincy conflicts among the nyen people?

Objectives of the Study

This dissertation has as main objective to examine the causes of the disputes, course manifestations, administrative response to conflicts and the impacts of the chieftaincy squabbles among the nyen people of Menka and Pinyin. This main objective is sub divided into various sub objectives as follows:

• To examine the geo-economic factors that characterised the area in conflict.
• To assess the causes of chieftaincy conflicts among the nyen people?
• To evaluate the role of administrative authorities in handling the conflicts within the different parties concerned.
• To assess the effects of chieftaincy conflicts among the nyen people?

 [1]J. Ubink, Traditional Authorities In Africa, Resurgence of Democratization(Amsterdam :Leiden University Press, 2008),4.

[2] D. Fuhnwi, “Fon, Chiefs and People in Conflicts in Bafut North West Cameroon,1900-19 82” (PhD Thesis in History,  The University of  Yaounde 1  ,2011),29.

[3] M. Ngwe, “Chieftaincy Conflicts in Santa Subdivision: The Case of Pinyin Clan” (MA Dissertation in History, The University of Yaoundé 1 ,2015),15.

[4] Magdaline Ngwe, “Chieftaincy Conflicts in Santa Subdivision: The Case of Pinyin Clan” (MA Dissertation in History , The University of  Yaounde 1  ,2015),45.          

[5]Kwifor: This was the main regulatory society with ritual powers, shared with the chief or Fon, to protect the chiefdom or village, ensure fertility of population, and have the power to remove pollution. They are symbols of sovereignty.

[6]Bukum: This is a group of notables, who could be lineage head or Quarter Head, an important palace retainers or ritual specialist. They took decisions regarding the affairs of the society. They include the seven and nine king-makers (Ŋkùm Ŋipwuə and Ŋkùm samba’a). These two councils of Bukum were actively involved in the process of the transfer of power in Pinyin.