Safeguarding Sacred Cultural Heritage in Kom Fondom of Bamenda Grassfields Since 1865: Stakes, Challenges and Influence.

The inhabitants of Bamenda Grassfields knew how to carefully use their hands to make ends meet. Gifted in handicraft, they have used the geography and its features as their springboard. Through inspiration or learnt skills, outstanding crafts were produced either to preserve vital information or as a business. With limited knowledge of this craft’s importance, the advent of Christianity led to some of these dignified objects being idolized, creating conditions favorable to their commercialization across borders or as gifts in exchange for gunpowder and other imported goods. The heavy benefits derived from the commercialisation of these crafts opened expansive windows for theft, looting, and trafficking, leading to the devaluation of some sacred artefacts. The desire of the United Nations and the yearning of some non-governmental organisations for the conscientious and intentional safeguarding of cultural heritage have not gone unheeded by researchers, especially Historians. These intentional moves, which embodied restitution and restoration, have prompted an avalanche of researchers worldwide to question functionalism and the quiddity (authenticity) of these crafts, as envisaged by their safeguarding. In the Bamenda Grassfields, particularly in Kom Fondom, despite several notable attempts by researchers and the government to address restitution, the demand to safeguard this sacred tangible heritage has not yet reached a satisfactory level. In an effort to bridge this gap left by previous researchers, we utilised both primary and secondary data sources. Throughout the research, it has been observed that the timid moves towards safeguarding Kom’s Sacred tangible heritage have been motivated by limited knowledge of its importance and a lack of curators, among other factors.

Keywords:Kom Fondom, Sacred, Tangible Heritage, Safeguard