Inter-Faith Relations in the Bamenda Grassland, 1900-2016: Scrutinising Rivalry, Conflicts and Intolerance

Abstract

Religious differences have been the source of many conflicts in Africa especially in areas that harbour two or more religions that have sharp differences in beliefs and practices. Taking the case of the Bamenda Grassland, this paper takes into consideration three main religions; African Traditional Religion (ATR), Islam and Christianity. Even though Islam and Christianity are Abrahamic religions, they differ greatly in doctrine and practices. African Traditional Religion is completely of a different background. The co-existence of these religious traditions in the Bamenda Grassland demarcated its religious landscape in terms of beliefs and practices with each religion claiming to be the most genuine. Cultural, economic and political considerations played a major rule to further project the diversity between and within these religions in this area. Using primary, secondary and other sources, it was realised that the differences that existed between these three faith traditions from the pre-colonial and colonial periods were deepened in the post-independence era and resulted to physical confrontations in some areas.