Science Journal of Sociology and Anthropology
August 2013, Volume 2013, ISSN:2276-6359
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research Article
Historical and ethnological analysis of consumption of foodstuff in Adamawa and Western Cameroon
Atoukam Tchefenjem Liliane Dalis
Department of History Faculty of Arts, Letters and
Social Sciences
University of Ngaoundere
P. O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon
doi: 10.7237/sjsa/222
Accepted 22 July, 2013; Available Online 7 August 2013
Abstract:
A foodstuff is an element that originates from plants or animals consumed by human beings, to acquire energy and nutriments. In our society, this foodstuff has cosmetic, sanitary and ritual dimensions. The use of foodstuff depends on customs and the ages of the inhabitants of the same society. Should we encourage this multidimensional usage? In fact, foodstuffs play a role on the body and spirit of human beings and even on souls of ancestors. Few research works have been carried out on this subject, historically, anthropologically, sociologically and geographically. Changes are observed in nutritional behavior due to many factors. Our research works have contributed to Cameroon's historiography in general and those of the Bamileke's and Gbaya's in particular. Foodstuff is presented as an identity and a cultural support in the histological and anthropological perspectives. The value according to a foodstuff is brought from the prism of innovation. As such, the different functions of foodstuff and its contribution to the long lasting development have been identified.
Keywords: Bamileke, Culture, Ethnology, Foodstuff, Gbaya, History.