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"Ask and you shall be given": Pentecostalism and the economic crisis in Cameroon

Akoko, R.M.

Citation

Akoko, R. M. (2007, June 26). "Ask and you shall be given": Pentecostalism and the

economic crisis in Cameroon. African studies collection. African Studies Centre. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/12290

Version: Corrected Publisher’s Version

License: Licence agreement concerning inclusion of doctoral thesis in the Institutional Repository of the University of Leiden

Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/12290

Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable).

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“Ask and you shall be given”:

Pentecostalism and the economic crisis in Cameroon

PROEFSCHRIFT

ter verkrijging van de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden,

op gezag van Rector Magnificus prof.mr. P.F. van der Heijden, volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties

te verdedigen op dinsdag 26 juni 2007 klokke 15.00 uur

door

Robert Mbe Akoko

geboren te Ngwo (Kameroen) in 1960

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Promotiecommissie:

Promotores: Prof.dr. P. Pels Prof.dr. P.L. Geschiere

Co-promotor: Dr. P. Konings (Afrika-Studiecentrum, Leiden) Referent: Dr. R. van Dijk (Afrika-Studiecentrum, Leiden)

Overige leden: Prof.dr. R. Bedaux

Prof.dr. B. Meyer (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Prof.dr. F. Nyamnjoh (CODESRIA, Dakar)

Dr. J. van Santen

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African Studies Centre

African Studies Collection, vol. 2

“Ask and you shall be given”

Pentecostalism and the

economic crisis in Cameroon

Robert Mbe Akoko

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This research project was made possible by a grant from the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO) and the African Studies Centre, Leiden

Robert Mbe Akoko

Department of Sociology and Anthropology Faculty of Social and Management Sciences University of Buea

P. O. Box 63, Buea Cameroon

akokorm@yahoo.com

Published by:

African Studies Centre P.O. Box 9555

2300 RB Leiden The Netherlands asc@fsw.leidenuniv.nl http//:asc.leidenuniv.nl

Cover design: Heike Slingerland

Printed by PrintPartners Ipskamp BV, Enschede

ISBN 978 90 54 48007 5

© Robert Mbe Akoko, 2007

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v

Contents

Acknowledgements vii

1 INTRODUCTION 1

Explaining the central theme: From asceticism to accumulation 2

Related topics: Pentecostalization of mainline churches and involvement in politics 7

Context of crisis and central questions 12

Relevance of general debates on Pentecostalism and religious change for this study 14

Techniques of data collection 39

Outline of the book and overview of the chapters 44

2 NEW PENTECOSTALISM IN THE WAKE OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN

CAMEROON 48

Reasons for the explosion of Pentecostalism in Cameroon 50

Some of the problems confronting the growth of Pentecostalism 53

The economic message of the Pentecostals 58

Conclusion 63

3 FROM ASCETICISM TO A GOSPEL OF PROSPERITY: THE CASE OF FULL GOSPEL MISSION CAMEROON 66

Transition to prosperity 69

Factors which influenced the adoption of the gospel of prosperity 73

Presenting the message 80

The reactions of the followers 90

Conclusion 100

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vi

4 A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE REACTIONS OF THE

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND FULL GOSPEL MISSION TO THE

ECONOMIC CRISIS IN CAMEROON 102

Nature of the economic crisis 105

Churches under comparison and how each has been affected by the crisis 107

Reactions to the crisis: How each group interprets the crisis and provides a solution 121

Zion Credit Financing 132

Conclusion 140

5 “YOU MUST BE BORN-AGAIN”:THE PENTECOSTALIZATION OF THE

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON 143

Earlier controversial attempts at introducing Pentecostal practices in the PCC 146

The ongoing Pentecostal practices in the church 157

Factors which have contributed to this development in the church 170

Why the authorities rejected earlier attempts but condone the present development 181

Conclusion 183

6 CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND THE DEMOCRATIZATION CONUNDRUM IN

CAMEROON 186

Rationalizing the emergence of liberation theology in Cameroon 187 The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and the

democratic process 193

The Roman Catholic Church and the democratic process 201

Conclusion 208

References 209

Summary 216

Samenvatting 220

Curriculum Vitae 225

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vii

Acknowledgements

Although I am the author of this book, the book is in much respect the result of the collective efforts of many. Since it is literally impossible to mention all those who assisted me in writing this book, I wish to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to all those who contributed in the writing of the book, particularly those mentioned here

My first gratitude goes to those who gave me the intellectual guidance right from the conception of the theme to the final write-up of this book. Besides provision of guidance, these academics in fact laid the foundation that has facilitated my rise in the higher education core of Cameroon. Indeed, even before completion of the work, I had already started achieving upward mobility due to the fruits of the work. The research leading to this would have been difficult without the grant from The Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO). It was thanks to WOTRO’s four-year grant that saw me successfully carry out the work. I must thank this foundation for its continuous support to research in Africa.

It is also a great pleasure for me to point out that Lenie Schoenmakers and her husband Piet have come to occupy a special place in my life. They did not only play the role of parents to me in The Netherlands but also extended it to my family back home. They made Posterholt a place of weekend relaxation for me.

In Posterholt, Lenie very much knew my favorite dishes, which were usually combined with rabbit, red cabbage, egg and bubbled water which she made sure she provided to me. My little son, Piet, will always be a reminder of the bond that exists between the two families.

I am immeasurably indebted to the African Studies Centre, Leiden, which provided vital support every time that I was in the Netherlands. The Centre provided office space, access to all its facilities and supplemented the living grant from WOTRO. It was during the period of a visiting fellowship offered me by the Centre in July and August 2006, that part of the book was written. I wish to extend my special thanks to all members of the Culture, Politics and Inequality (CPI) theme group of the Center who made valuable contributions to my research in a seminar, which I presented on the research proposal leading to this book.

Their insightful criticisms and suggestions subsequently got incorporated into the book. I am also indebted to members of staff of the Centre for making me feel at home during my stay in The Netherlands. I am in this regard particularly grateful to Professor Jan Abbink, Professor Leo de Haan (director) Dr Stephen Ellis, Dr

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viii

Dick Foeken, Dr Gerti Hesseling, Marieke van Winden, Maaike Westra, Joop Nijssen, Karl Dorrepaal, Gitty Petit, Dr Ineke van Kessel, Dr Klaas van Walraven, Julie Ndaya, Professor Wim van Binsbergen, Dr Rijk van Dijk (my senior researcher on Pentecostalism from who I learnt a lot), Dr Han van Dijk, Dr Mirjam de Bruijn, Ann Reeves, Dr Sabine Luning, Karin Nijenhuis, Lucien and Willem who made sure my Laptop was always in good condition for me to carry out the task even out of the office. I wish to thank Kiky van Til, my office mate during my first stay in The Netherlands who made sure that I had coffee or tea to brave the scourging winter cold. The ‘drops’ and general information on living in The Netherlands, which she offered me were indeed helpful. The entire staff of the Centre’s library is not left out for their assistance in guiding me through the library, ordering books which I needed but were not available in the library and in making several gifts of books that have swelled my library in Cameroon. I want to thank also prof. Birgit Meyer (now at the Free University, Amsterdam) for her very stimulating interest in my work. I equally wish to acknowledge the cooperation of members of the Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies (CNWS) of Leiden University, especially Ilona Beumer for making the Dutch translation of the summary.

I should like to express my gratitude to the University of Buea authorities for granting me study leave to do the Ph.D in The Netherlands. I wish to acknowledge the financial assistance they gave me as part of the University’s staff development initiative. I will in particular, thank the former Vice Chancellor Professor Cornelius Lambi (my Dean at the time I had to go out) and the incumbent, Professor Vincent Titanji (at the time Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of teaching) for the role they played in always advising me to do the Ph.D and in making it easy for my study leave application file to move fast despite some initial obstacles. Indeed, I must make reference to the entire teaching and administrative staff of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences for their collaboration.

However, all the efforts would have been in vain but for the trustful cooperation of many of my informants from the various Pentecostal churches. I refer in these regards to Reverend Paul Ewome of Full Gospel Mission. Reverend Ewome was an extremely open and fatherly person who offered whatever information I needed. I approached him anytime and anywhere whenever I needed his assistance and there was never a time he was not willing to talk with me. My close relationship with him enhanced the cooperation I received from members of this church in Buea. I will also wish to appreciate the assistance of Dr Pius Oben elder of the Molyko Assembly of Full Gospel Mission. He was instrumental in enabling me to obtain an authorization to carry out research on Full Gospel Mission from the headquarters of the church in Douala. I wish to pay

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ix

special thanks to the founding missionary of the church, Reverend Werner Knorr, who, without prior notice, accepted to be interviewed in his residence in Bamenda. The materials on the church’s position on prosperity and a publication on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the church in Cameroon, which I got from him were very useful. Pastor Vincent Ebong and Isaiah Ndifor of the Deeper Life Bible Church Buea helped in providing me with information on the church, including some written materials. For research on the mainline churches, I wish to hereby acknowledge the cooperation of Reverends Drs Michael Bame Bame, Isaac Elangwe, Joshua Muyo, Edwards Lekenze, Bishop George Nkuo and Father Moses Tazoh.

I should also acknowledge the material and moral support I received from my parents. It is through their sacrifice that I had the opportunity to receive a good academic foundation that prepared me for the Ph.D programme. My brothers and sisters of the Akoko family too are not forgotten because we have always worked as a team, with success, to enable all members of the family to progress. I am in like manner thankful to my maternal uncles for their untiring love and support. I readily think here of Mr Daniel Awum of Yaounde and Mr Jacob Anaraban of Bamenda.

I must extend my heart felt appreciation to my friends and mates who generally supported me during this research. Reference is here made to Dr Mike Yanou, Dr Antoine Socpa, Dr Sounders Balgah, Dr Basil Ndjio, Dr Margaret Niger-Thomas, Dr Nicodemus Awasom, Dr Moses Anyi, Dr Isaac Ndambi and Mr Moses Ebah.

Finally, Georgina has been there for me as a partner for over years. She has not only influenced everything I have done since I knew her, but also made it possible for me to live in the world rather than to merely inhabit space. In my absence, she took care of the home and my little boy, Piet, single-handedly. For that, there can be no adequate thanks to give.

Believe me, I am quite capable of making my own mistakes – none of these people had anything to do with any errors or omissions in this book.

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