Objects as Expression of Power, Religion and Therapy: The “Country” Pots in the Bamenda Grassfields Fondoms of Cameroon

In most parts of the world especially in Africa, people can be identified and distinguished through objects. These objects which some are worn on the body or carried along are decorated with symbols which could be decoded by those who comprehend their cultural connotations. The object this article focuses on is the indigenous or ‘country’ pots of the Bamenda Grassfields, pots which were used in the past by women in the kitchen, by traditional medical doctors and by traditional leaders; notables and heads of secret societies. Today, these country pots are not very visible in the kitchen as it was the case before because of the introduction of other containers. The questions raised by this paper are: What is the place of the country pot in the lives of the Bamenda Grassfields people? What is the symbolism of the motifs represented on the Bamenda Grassfields country pots? What are the change currently taking place in the production and use of these pots? The objectives of the article are to examine the roles and find out the meanings of the motifs represented on pots. It also explores the changes which are taking place in the production, commercialisation and use of the country pots. Data for this article was collected using the qualitative method and this data was analysed using content analysis and interpreted soon after collection was over. The interpretation was done with the theories of cultural ecology of Steward, functionalism of Radcliff-Brown and Malinowski, symbolic anthropology of Geertz and cultural evolution of Tylor and Morgan. Findings reveal that the country pots are an aspect of material culture of the Bamenda Grassfields. They are of very great cultural value and play a fundamental role in these cultures; they are an expression of power, religion, healing as well as communion. The country pots like any other cultural element, if they are valorised, they will continue to identify the people from generation to generation

Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, and associated health risks of foodborne pathogens in street foods sold in elementary schools, Yaounde, Cameroon

Objectives: Street foods are an affordable source of nutrition in Cameroon; however, their association with microbial pathogens poses significant risk to public health. Methods: We investigated 160 street food samples sold within elementary schools for the presence of foodborne pathogens and also the antimicrobial resistance of cultured-confirmed bacteria isolates using the agar disk diffusion method. Results: The total viable count of seven (bread, spaghetti, fish, peanuts, eggs, beef, pepper) of the eight street foods examined (except beans sauce) were >105 cfu/g and indicated unsatisfactory levels for human consumption. In addition, 16 bacteria pathogens with at least one in each street food were identified: E. coli was the most prevalent 47.50% (76/160), followed by Staphylococcus aureus 39.37% (63/160) in foods such as beef 80% (16/20) and bread 85% (17/20). Salmonella spp. 32.50% (52/160), Campylobacter spp. 14.37% (23/160) and Shigella spp. 23.75% (38/160) were largely isolated in eggs 60% (12/20), 35% (7/10), and pepper 40% (8/20) sauces, respectively. Furthermore, except E. coli, all bacteria isolates were highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin. Yersinia enterocolitica was the most susceptible to ciprofloxacin 90.90% (10/11), tetracycline 81.81% (9/11), gentamicin 81.81% (5/11), and chloramphenicol 90.09% (10/11). Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., and E. coli were highly resistant to chloramphenicol 90.47% (57/63), tetracycline 82.60% (19/23), gentamicin 81.57% (62/76), and vancomycin 64.47% (49/76), respectively. Conclusion: The findings strongly indicated that preventable foodborne diseases of resistance to a wide range of antibiotics could be occurring among food handlers and young children in street food vending settings. In particular, the presence of coliforms in all street food samples indicated poor hygiene and sanitary practices in street food activities. It thus recommends effective implementation strategies to improve food safety and hygiene practices in street food vending within elementary schools in Cameroon

CHALLENGES TO THE EFFECTIVE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COVID-19 IN LOW INCOME COUNTRIES

Coronavirus infection has been reported in every country in the world and the number of people getting sick in low income countries rises rapidly. Public health sectors are concerned with the effective prevention and control especially in these countries. The situation is becoming critical due to challenges faced in the effective control and management set out by these bodies. The article seeks to highlight some of the factors contributing to challenges faced by low income countries in controlling the spread of this disease. It is hoped that from this article, possible strategies for improvement can be designed as regarding the control of the COVID-19 spread

PEOPLE IN RECEPTACLES: THE CASE OF THE INDIGENOUS BASKET OF THE BAMENDA GRASSFIELDS OF CAMEROON

The people of the Bamenda Grassfields of Cameroon are incredible artists, producing invaluable objects in all the domains of arts; basketry, sculpture, embroidery, pottery, paintings, etc. People in receptacles: the case of the basket in the Bamenda Grassfields of Cameroon examines the usefulness of this culturally valuable object in the daily lives of the people. It raises the problem that as days go by, some of the values of the baskets are being modified because of the introduction of alternative containers. Although the basket like most indigenous receptacles still play very important functions in rituals and healing, if this domain of art is not conserved, in the next two to three decades, the generations to come will know nothing about the baskets because they might completely disappear. Before the arrival of the ‘whiteman’ or before the Bamenda Grassfields people came in contact with the outside world, the basket could be seen in all the different parts of the peoples’ culture, it could be used to identify different groups as their production style and materials varied. In the Nkambe area, more and more compact baskets were and are being produced unlike in areas like Bambui, Bafut, Mankon, Kedjom etc, where loosely woven baskets were and are manufactured. Data for this paper was collected using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher conducted fieldwork where he observed, interviewed key informants as well as took photographs of the different baskets and how they are being used. Information collected was analyzed soon after the fieldwork and interpreted using the theories of cultural ecology, functionalism as well as cultural dynamics.</jats:p