Abstract
A HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE ALKALI COURT AND SHARIA LAW IN THE BAMENDA GRASSFIELDS
Jabiru Muhammadou Amadou*
ABSTRACT
The genesis for the use of Muslim or Sharia Law can be found in the British Political Institutions that were created in the British Southern Cameroons during the Mandate period. The British with a view to reducing the cost of administration and solving the problem of lack of personnel decided to make use of the existing administrative institutions. There was also the problem of judging Muslim cases. In so doing, however, several modifications were made which affected such institutions. The Alkali Court in the Bamenda Grassfields during the colonial rule was a typical example. The use of Muslim or Sharia Law in determining cases would seem to have begun with the creation of the Ngemba Native Authorities in the Bamenda Division. Thereafter, Muslim Law covered was widened through the establishment of Alkali Courts in different part of the region. The Alkali Court in this paper refers to ?Native Court? presided over by Alkali Court Judges (Muslim Court Judges). Such courts were expected to dispense justice according to Muslim Law. This paper examines the growth, position and status of the Alkali Court and the impact of the court on the Muslims of the Bamenda Grassfields during the colonial rule.
[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate]