17 Superstitious Beliefs Every Cameroonian once considered to be true

How superstitious are you as an African? Let us start with that. Isn't that a ridiculous question?

The reason for this is that, as Africans, we no longer take into account the factors that have shaped who we are.

Bear in mind that before the introduction of Christianity, Africans had many types of practices and beliefs that many would term “weird” nowadays.

It would not be sensible to talk about the various superstitious beliefs common with Cameroonian people without knowing what the term superstition means.

Superstition refers to a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief. From the definition, one can tell that some of these superstitious beliefs could be true or effective.

It should be noted that superstitious beliefs are not just in the African continent. It is everywhere around the globe. What varies is how a particular group of people value and respect these superstitions from others.

The funniest irony is those who introduced Christianity to us; value some of their crucial superstitious beliefs while we are busy doing the opposite.

Well, the purpose of this write-up is not on colonization but to remind us of some of the superstitious beliefs we were told as kids and believed whether true or false.

Secondly, we live in a society where these superstitious beliefs are not considered relevant as compared to the past, thus parents of today, do not tell their children about this anymore. 

Therefore, this article will equally create awareness among individuals that did not have a clue about these superstitions whether national or international

As earlier mentioned, superstitious beliefs are everywhere around the globe. The difference lies in how a particular group of people chooses to render more value to it or ignore them. It is a matter of choice and this is not different in the case of a country like Cameroon.

Below are 17 of the most common superstitious beliefs in Cameroon. I would advise you to grab a cool glass of water as some of these superstitious beliefs might choke you due to uncontrollable laughter.

In my opinion, some of these practices were told to promote good manners or maintain a level of security because witchcraft was more serious back then than it is now. What are your thoughts?

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# 1. It is forbidden to cross over someone’s legs, be it a stranger or an acquaintance

The first superstitious belief common in Cameroon as compiled by nourishmymind.com on the list is never cross someone who is blocking your way whether sitting on a chair or lying on the floor.

This is because it is believed that when you jump over someone, he or she would not grow taller than they are.

To remedy the situation, it is always advised to cross over again. Funny right? It might sound funny and unreasonable but you dare not do this to someone aware of this belief.

# 2. Itchy Palms

How I love this peculiar superstitious belief as it breeds money especially when I am broke hahaha. When you experience itchy palms, in Cameroon it simply means money is coming your way or good luck.

# 3. New tooth

I guess a majority of the population knows about this superstition because there is a stage of development where we lose and regain new teeth as children. When a child loses his/her tooth, he/she is required to throw it over the roof.

It is believed that if you throw your broken tooth on the roof of a building and the said tooth gets eaten by an agama lizard you will get a sparkly new tooth.

In Manyu, kembong to be precise, when we throw the tooth, we say something, which goes thus “Ekuhkuhsi cooh eyeng ezah keleh kah zifeh” (Mother's tongue) which means “Ekuhkuhsi I suppose the name of a god or something, should take the tooth you threw and give you another.

Please pardon my spelling it is not easy for me to spell in my mother tongue but I hope I am not too far from the correct spelling.  I am open to corrections in the comment section.

# 4. Python giving birth

The fourth shocking superstitious belief in Cameroon on the list is that when it is raining, and the sun is shining simultaneously, it means a python is giving birth.  I wish to teach you a nice short song for this belief. Are you ready?

It goes thus:

Rain di fall…

Sun di shine…

Mboma (Python colloquially known as Mboma) di born for bush

Nice right? Repeat one more time.

# 5. Do not hand alligator pepper to another person

The fifth superstitious belief on the list of some of the common superstitions everyone in Cameroon must have considered to be true is the belief that one does not have to hand an alligator pepper to another. It is preferable to keep it on the floor or anywhere for the person to pick.

With this handing of alligator pepper, I do not really know the consequence but will inquire and update you. However, in case you are aware of why, please drop the reason in the comment section.

In addition, if you are being attacked by witches or having strange dreams, you can keep one alligator pepper under your pillow. This is because it is believed that the alligator pepper possesses the power of sending witches away.

# 6. Spitting on the floor

I doubt if this is very common in other parts of Cameroon but from my area, it is known by many. 

If someone wishes to send you on an errand and does not want you to delay doing whatever the errand might be, they spit on the floor and tell you to come before the spit dries off. Failure to do that, your navel will get rotten.

I guess the purpose of this superstition is to keep the child focused to do whatever task he/she is asked to do, as children are fun of playing along the road or being distracted and forgetting what they are asked to do or buy.

I cannot let go of this memory where I had to forgo my “Mami play play” activities with my friends to go get what my elder brother told me to buy simply because I was scared of not having a rotten navel hahaha.

# 7. Goosebumps or pimples

Make some noise to all my visitors from Mamfe. They will understand this point better than any other tribe will. The Manyu or Bayangi people are known as “Die wakeup” in Cameroon.

It is said that when a Bayangi man dies, his/her spirit is roaming around waiting for the body to be buried to travel to a faraway land to have a new start. Bayangi people have two lives.

For me, it should be seen as the only tribe that took after Jesus concerning the resurrection. This would be a discussion for another time.

What is the implication of having goosebumps or pimples? Well, it is believed that when one experiences this, it simply means there is a ghost around.  

When one suddenly has goosebumps, feels heavy to move or finds it difficult to take the next step, feels weak, etc. it simply communicates that a ghost is around.

I believe in this particular superstition because I have once experienced it and many would testify to this superstitious belief.  Are you getting scared?

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# 8. Seeing ghosts

Superstition in Cameroon has it that one should not bend over and look in between his/her legs in a public gathering or club to be precise.

The reason is that if you do so, you might see a ghost.

# 9. Whistling at night

A friend of mine narrated a story of how his grandpa always scolded him whenever he whistled at night. He had to ask why it is not good to do this action at night.

Here is the reason: in Cameroon, it is believed that whistling at night invites or attracts snakes and evil spirits.

# 10. Sneezing

Another common superstitious belief in Cameroon that everyone believes to be true is the aspect of sneezing at times 3 or 4 times in a minute and in a sequence.

When this happens, it is perceived that someone is calling your name or gossiping about you somewhere. Some individuals after experiencing this go as far as saying whoever is talking or calling their name should stop.

Where are you reading from? Do you have something similar to this in your area?

# 11. Selling items on credit first thing when you open will bring ill luck

In Cameroon, it is believed that if your first customer comes to buy things on credit and you give, there is a possibility that many other customers would come to take goods on credit.

Many business people, sellers, or shop owners avoid this situation especially when you are the first person to approve immediately after they open. It is a no! no! dear.

Secondly, it is also believed that some people have good luck and bring good luck to the seller. For instance, after serving this person you suddenly have many customers who either buy other things or buy the product of the one who brought the luck.

# 12. If you swallow a seed, it will germinate in your stomach

This is the funniest superstitious belief many considered to be true. Imagine someone telling you that if you swallow a seed it will germinate on your head or stomach now. That person definitely deserves a blow but we all believed this as kids.  

From a personal viewpoint, I believe this superstition is told to restrict children from swallowing harmful seeds, as they cannot tell what is good or not.

When I was about 4 years old, I wept bitterly for mistakenly swallowing the seed of an orange. I waited to see an orange tree on my head but nothing happened. I took it upon myself to experiment once more but this time intentionally.

Nothing happened. So, there was a day I happen to suck an orange beside my uncle and said “oh, I have mistakenly swallowed a seed. He immediately responded, “It will grow on your head”

I said uncle is a lie as I have swallowed two seeds already and nothing happened.

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# 13. When a dog barks excessively at night, an evil spirit is present.

In Cameroon, some animals signify something. Dogs for instance are considered to have foresight. Meaning they can see beyond the physical.

It is believed in Cameroon that when a dog barks more than usual, there is something strange or bad around. Maybe there is an evil spirit or a ghost around.

# 14. Killing the wall gecko

In Cameroon, it is believed that if one kills a wall gecko, it will lead to bad luck for the house and its occupants. When most people see it, they rather send it away than attempt to kill it.

# 15. Kicking a stone

Generally, some say it is a bad omen to strike your leg against a stone. Cameroonians believe that hitting your left leg mistakenly against a stone or stump is seen as an evil omen or warning to turn back from where ever the person might be going.

Many believe that failure to heed the warning something terrible or bad might happen while the right leg signifies something good is coming your way.

# 16. Hooting owls at night

In Cameroon, owls represent witchcraft. When an owl lands anywhere near anyone's house, people try to hunt it down as it is believed that, a witch or wizard has come to monitor things.

It goes the same with a bat. When a bat enters your house, it is considered that a witch or wizard has entered the house.

# 17. A crying cat signifies dead

Are you scared already? Superstition in Cameroon holds that when a cat is crying someone around is about to die or join their ancestors.

Final remarks

The above-mentioned common superstitious beliefs are just the tip of an iceberg but for the purpose of the write-up, nourishmymind.com came up with a list of 17.

Superstitious beliefs are everywhere around the globe. The question is to what extent do you believe or value these beliefs.

The introduction of Christianity is making Africans lose some of these superstitious beliefs.

When you are not aware of something or do not comprehend a certain concept and someone explicitly explains it to you. Are you to add what you just learned to what you already know or throw what you already know away?

Religion is good but that does not mean we should throw some of these superstitious beliefs, which make us unique as Africans from other continents, what makes Cameroon different from other African countries, and what makes ethnic groups vary from others concerning the interpretation of these superstitious beliefs.

The purpose of the article is to remind us of some of our childhood memories of how we acted towards any superstitious belief we heard of, it is equally to educate or create awareness among those who never knew of some common superstitious beliefs in Cameroon and above all to pass on this beautiful stories to the younger generation.

The truth is Africans are slowly losing their identity due to colonization and there will be a time when none of these superstitions would be told.

Keeping colonization aside, what do you expect a parent whose parents did not tell him/her these stories either because they do not believe in it and are not aware of, to tell his/her own kids?

Where are you reading from? Please feel free to share some of your superstitions. Are they similar to those of Cameroon? Which did you expect to see but is not on the list? I look forward to seeing your comments. Thanks for your time.

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