WHEN THE PAST BECOMES THE FUTURE

This work was done in a context where groups for
culture revitalization sprang all over Cameroon. By
focusing on the actors, means and challenges of
culture revival, it aims to describe the outcome of
a process of de-tribalisation during which ethnic
groups had to relinquish their traditions in order to subscribe to modernization. The revitalization of
the Gbaya Culture within the Sirta group, works
against this trend; tradition is made relevant and
used in the current context as a tool for
respectability, social element for identity
reconstruction and ethnic cohesion.
This study deals with the struggle for adaptation to
a changing environment and the (re) invention of
tradition. The book also highlights hindrances
pertained in that process.
By placing this debate in the global context of
encounters between civilizations, this book reveals
dilemmas that occur in people s lives, choices that
are to be made, and mainly the state of bewilderment
in which members of ethnic groups find themselves in
Africa and more specifically in Cameroon.

Autorentext

Ndanga Ngnantare was born in Bertoua, Eastern Cameroon in 1979. He took a BA in History from the University of Ngaoundéré. In 2005 he left for Norway for a Master Degree in Visual Culture Studies at the University of Tromso. His research realms are african ancient history and tradition. This book is based on his Masters Reasearch Project.

Klappentext

This work was done in a context where groups for culture revitalization sprang all over Cameroon. By focusing on the actors, means and challenges of culture revival, it aims to describe the outcome of a process of de-tribalisation during which ethnic groups had to relinquish their traditions in order to subscribe to modernization. The revitalization of the Gbaya Culture within the Sirta group, works against this trend; tradition is made relevant and used in the current context as a tool for respectability, social element for identity reconstruction and ethnic cohesion. This study deals with the struggle for adaptation to a changing environment and the (re) invention of tradition. The book also highlights hindrances pertained in that process. By placing this debate in the global context of encounters between civilizations, this book reveals dilemmas that occur in people's lives, choices that are to be made, and mainly the state of bewilderment in which members of ethnic groups find themselves in Africa and more specifically in Cameroon.