Endogenous Norms, Local Powers and Social Legitimacy: A Comparative Study of Customary Justice among the Bamoun and Manguissa

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of the Bamoun and Manguissa customary justice systems in order to understand how endogenous norms, local powers and legitimation logics structure conflict resolution in two Cameroonian societies. Within the framework of legal pluralism, the study shows that these communities mobilise deeply rooted customary mechanisms based on palaver, mediation, ordeals, narratives and rituals to maintain social cohesion and restore relational balance. Based on an ethnographic survey conducted between Foumban and Ebebda, the results reveal two contrasting models: a highly institutionalised Bamoun justice system, inherited from monarchical centralisation and Islamo-colonial hybridisation, and a segmented, flexible Manguisa justice system based on oral tradition. Despite these structural differences, the two systems converge in their restorative function and their vocation to preserve lineages and stabilise social relations. The article also highlights how actors navigate between customary law, state law and religious norms in a context of legal pluralism. These findings invite us to reconsider customary systems as relevant resources for thinking about local governance, restorative justice and endogenous peace mechanisms in Africa.