Claiming sovereignty through equestrian spectacle in northern Cameroon

Abstract

Sovereignty requires legitimacy of rule, and can therefore be contested by constituent members of a state. The historical legitimacy of traditional rulers within Cameroon constitutes a potential threat to state sovereignty. Traditional rulers employ art and performance as a means of garnering popular support, emphasizing their roles as cultural and religious leaders. The Islamic religious festival of Juulde Layhaaji as celebrated in Ngaoundéré, northern Cameroon, provides an example of this interaction between traditional ruler and populace. Lying uncomfortably in the background is the knowledge on the part of both state and traditional ruler that the show of support for the ruler during this festival, as a display of citizenship, carries with it the potential for transferal to the political sphere given the right circumstances.