Symbolic Quality and Cultural Practices Among the Bassa People of Cameroon

The growing demand for local products, or 'ethnic food'-both among organic food enthusiasts and for reasons of culinary identity-provides fertile ground for the development of the local food industry in Cameroon. Mintumba, a food product derived from cassava, is enjoyed by a wide range of consumers nationwide, yet its production is confined solely to 'Bassa country.' Despite these advantages, the economic development of this region remains a challenge. The author’s aim is to explain the paradox of cultural practices that seem to lead to the cultural construction of paradoxes. The actual economic value of mintumba is overshadowed by its symbolic value, which makes it a prestige food whose cultural technology perpetuates the interspecific relationship between humans and nature, and whose intangible culture weaves and strengthens intraspecific relationships.