In the Middle of It

Ethnocentrism is defined as evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one’s own culture. Cameroon’s great cultural diversity is one of its strengths, however things are not in perfect harmony over in west Africa. For example, in early April, there was an attack in a northwest region of Cameroon on houses of the Mbororo, which is a semi nomadic pastoralist group of the Fulani lineage. The Fulani were the first people in West Africa to convert to Islam. This group took over much of Western Africa and solidified itself as an economic power as well as a prominent religious group. This attack comes shortly after the murder of a major leader of the Esu in March 2022. In response, the entire region has been militarized. These recent outbursts of violence exemplifies long standing tensions possibly reaching a breaking point in the area. Whether it be disputes over territory, religion or political beliefs, conflicts have become increasingly deadly. The Mbororo are regarded as outsiders to the territory, having a complicated relationship with the Anglophone crisis, a conflict that began in 1961 between the north and south citizens of Cameroon after separatists sought to seek independence for the country’s minority anglophone regions.