The formation of marriage in traditional Cameroonian law

Cameroonian society is a cultural melting pot of tradition and modernity. The social institution of marriage is a prime example of this. Indeed, the effects and consequences of marriage, and first and foremost its formation - the subject of our study - are influenced by modern legal rules drawn from French law and traditional Cameroonian law. In this respect, we note that the latter are often set aside in preference to the former, which enjoy a certain supremacy. And yet, the law applicable to a given society must be a perfect reflection of it. In this respect, our reflection is a call to Cameroonian legislators to take greater account of traditional law. The latter should draw more on traditional legal resources to produce a law that reflects Cameroon’s social reality. It’s not a question of getting lost in the multitude of existing customary practices, but of drawing from them the essential rules of law that are universal to all ethnic groups and respectful of human dignity.