Hakuna Matata” (No More Worries) - Integrating Indigenous Systems of Conflict Resolution into the Formal System of Government Administration in Cameroon: Case Study of the Ekpe Society of Manyu Division

Colonialism had tremendous effects on the lives, geography, and institutions of the colonized peoples. The colonizers rejected indigenous institutions and practices and adopted or imposed Western and Eurocentric policies in the processes of administration and conflict resolution. Not surprisingly, the differences in cultures between the colonialists and the indigenous populations were bound to cause challenges both to the colonizers and the indigenes. Despite the challenges encountered by the respective colonial administrations, most post-colonial governments replicated their policies. The consequences have been poor governance, confusion, and conflicts in the post-colonial era. To address the situation, calls are being made for the integration of indigenous institutions into the formal institutions of respective post-colonial administrations.The mixed method case study used in this study highlights the Ekpe process of conflict resolution as practiced by the indigenes of Manyu Division in the South West Region of Cameroon and explores the possibility of using Ekpe to resolve chieftaincy, land, and succession to property disputes in Manyu Division. Through observation and qualitative interviews, the Ekpe process of conflict resolution is described and the participants expressed their preference of Ekpe in resolving disputes. Logistic regression is also utilized to find out if there is a correlation between administrative involvement and chieftaincy conflicts, administrative involvement and land conflicts, the courts and succession to property disputes as well as a correlation between the Ekpe model and disputes. The outcome of the study reveals that the indigenes prefer the Ekpe model to resolve chieftaincy and land disputes, and the courts to resolve succession to property disputes in Manyu Division