Food Taboos in Precolonial and Contemporary Cameroon: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Food taboos are observed in all traditional societies, especially in Cameroon where certain ethnic groups attach a lot of importance to them due to cultural reasons. Taboos related to culture are more subject to change (due to the level of literacy that prevails in the society and cultural contact) than those related to religion, which sparingly change. For instance, all Cameroonian Muslims avoid eating pork due to the belief that pork consumption will defile them. The taboos related to royal status also change sparingly. For example, among the Mbo, any hunter who kills the leopard compulsorily hands it to the paramount chief; and similarly among the Wawa, any hunter who kills a python is compelled to give it to the chief. These royal animal gifts are indicative of the prerogatives that traditional rulers enjoy in Cameroon. This study of Cameroon food taboos has revealed the tremendous change that has occurred in women's social status in Cameroon. Cameroonian women no longer observe the precolonial taboo imposed on them that forbade them from eating eggs, gizzards, and other foods. They have moved from their marginalized positions and even serve as ministers in the Government of Cameroon.