Islam or Christianity? The choices of the Wawa and the Kwanja of Cameroon

Abstract

Abstract This article addresses two questions. First, it seeks to explain why the Wawa and the Kwanja (two neighbouring groups of Cameroon) converted to Islam and Christianity in the 1960s, and argues that they did so in order to adopt a respected identity which was seen as ‘modern’ and was associated with national citizenship. Secondly, it analyses the reasons why the Wawa converted to Islam while most Kwanja chose Christianity, and argues that their choices depended primarily on how they interact with, and define their own identity vis-à-vis the neighbouring Fulbe.