World view and society in Oko (Cameroon)

The religious world-view in Oku forms the basis for all social and political institutions and encompasses also the moral values and cultic activities. It is the ancestors who determine the fate the of the people and whose laws have only one purpose: to foster a community that lives in harmony. What is the significance of the famous Cameroon Grassland’s masks and how are they used? Regarding the cultural background, there has been, up to now, as good as no information.//Hans-Joachim Koloss demonstrates that the masks in Oku are a central cultural element and have a close connection to the ›supernatural‹ medicine which is a protection from witches and other destructive forces. In addition to a detailed portrayal of the political and social system, he discusses each of the subtle interdependent ties between ›society‹ and ›world-view‹, which include ideas of the sense and purpose of life, the relationship to the environment as well as the values and standards which determine social and political actions. This study is based on research which was carried out in Oku (Cameroon Grasslands) between 1975 and 1981 and between 1996 and 1998.