By Mbuh Stella
On January 7, 2026, proceedings at the North West Court of Appeal in Bamenda took an unexpected turn when the traditional ruler of Babungo, HRM Fon Zofoa III, took his oath of office holding a gun.
The Fon was being sworn in as Secretary 2 of the North West Regional Assembly, a process that traditionally involves swearing on the Bible for Christians, the Quran for Muslims, or making a secular affirmation.
The use of a gun—unprecedented in a formal court setting—immediately drew public attention and sparked intense debate.
Images and reports from the ceremony quickly circulated on social media, triggering mixed reactions from legal experts, civil society actors, religious leaders, and defenders of traditional institutions.
The incident has since ignited a nationwide discussion on the boundaries between customary authority and Cameroon’s secular legal system.
A Cultural Symbol, Not a Weapon
Responding to criticism, the Fon of Babungo has defended his action as a culturally grounded decision rooted in Babungo and broader Tikar tradition.
“In Babungo tradition, the moment a man comes of age is marked by profound symbols that speak to responsibility, maturity, and social balance,” Fon Zofoa III explained.
“When a young man attains this stage, his parents formally present him with a gun… These acts do not celebrate violence, but rather discipline, readiness, and accountability.”
According to the Fon, the gun represents authority exercised with restraint, neutrality, and responsibility—not coercion or force.
“Within the broader Tikar cultural philosophy, the gun is not merely a weapon; it is a symbol of restraint, authority, and neutrality,” he said.
“It represents the power to act, tempered by the wisdom not to abuse that power.”
Fon Zofoa III said taking the oath with the gun was a deliberate affirmation of ancestral values and cultural consistency.
“The oath taken with the gun was not a call to force, but a solemn invocation of ancestral values—an acknowledgment that true leadership is anchored in tradition, guided by wisdom, and exercised with restraint,” he added.
Ethical Defense: Neutrality Over Religion
The decision has also received support from some scholars and ethics experts. In a statement dated January 7, 2026, Dr. Tumenta F. Kennedy, Senior Researcher in Global Ethics, described the act as “a victory for neutrality and cultural integrity.”
“The Fon is the father of all his people—Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists alike,” Dr. Kennedy stated.
“Had he chosen the Bible, he would have marginalized his Muslim subjects. Had he chosen the Koran, he would have alienated the Christian community.”
By opting for a traditional symbol, Dr. Kennedy argued, the Fon avoided religious bias and upheld inclusivity.
“By choosing the traditional instrument of his ancestors, he remains neutral, inclusive, and the true custodian of all his people,” he said.
Dr. Kennedy further argued that the oath carried deeper moral weight within traditional belief systems.
“In the Grassfields tradition, swearing by the gun invokes immediate, impartial justice,” he said. “The Fon has chosen substance over ceremony.”
Tradition Versus the Secular State
The oath debate has reignited a broader national conversation about how Cameroon’s traditional institutions should operate within modern governance structures.
While traditional rulers continue to wield moral and cultural authority, Cameroon’s constitution defines the country as a secular state governed by uniform legal standards.
