Continuity or Discontinuity of Blessing Rituals in African Traditional Religion: Towards a Contextual Theology of Christian Faith Among the Meta’ People in North West Cameroon

Abstract

The mbàn (the Metaʼ family meeting house) is an institution unique to the Meta’ and Moghamo-speaking populations of the North West Region of Cameroon. Many rites of blessing are performed in this house. For instance, the blessing of a girl to be handed over in marriage, the blessing of a barren woman/wife in the family, the blessing of a sick or unfortunate child, the blessing of disputing parties after they have been reconciled, and the blessing of an entire family after the annual family gathering. The Meta’ speaking community called the mbàn: “the most important house in the compound,” “the original church” before the advent of Christianity, “the house of peace, love, unity, harmony, and reconciliation.” Unfortunately, Pentecostals among the Meta’ community have labeled the mbàn an evil place and a place where Meta’ people worship gods or idols. They vehemently state that the mbàn and the elements used for blessings should be thrown away or discarded. Data about the mbàn was gathered through interviews and questionnaires from different people among the Meta’ clan. In this study, therefore, I have attempted through interviews and questionnaires administered to participants consisting of thirty (30) Christians made up of ten (10) clergy and twenty (20) church members, ten (10) family heads, five (5) chiefs and two (2) regents, five (5) teachers, and five (5) university lecturers. This data was then used to propose a strategy for a contextualized use of the mbàn, its blessing rites, and tangible elements for local churches among Metaʼ Christians and others.