CULTS AND SEASONAL DANCES OF THE YAMBA (CAMEROON)

Three major cults of the Yamba and the general dances that follow are described in detail. The exegesis obtained from Yamba informants shows how they understand their cults. These cults which are peculiar to th e Yamba (and Mfumte) area at the fringe of the western Grassfields of Cameroon are quarter or lineage-based activities which in other Grassf ields' communities have been appropriated by the palace-culture of mor e centralized chiefdoms. The material presented throws more light on p alace-centred activities as to their origins in ''local initiatic and power-collecting cults'' (E.M. Chilver).