Njangi: Pillar of Development in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the role played by njangi groups in the socio-economic development of the people in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Qualitative and quantitative data was obtained from secondary and primary sources. Primary data was mainly obtained from 281 income earners sampled from six towns and six villages. The analysed data showed that majority of income earners in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon did not have saving accounts in modern financial institutions as people mostly depended on financial njangi groups for saving. Many farmers belonged to farming njangi groups as the njangi groups ensured high quantity and high quality work in the farms. Low disposable incomes made it difficult for many people to acquire some essential household commodity and this led to the creation of commodity njangi groups that either collected specific commodity from members and gave to one member per session or collected fixed amounts of money from members and bought commodity that was given to one member per session. The advantages of njangi groups notwithstanding; failure in making financial, labour and commodity contributions by members; mismanagement of financial resources of njangi groups; and promotion of robbery were some of the weaknesses of njangi groups in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Despite these weaknesses, njangi groups were indispensable in the socio-economic development of the people in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.