Introduction
The Toupouri are a people shared between northern Cameroon and southwestern Chad. They have a rich and diverse history and culture. Concerning marriage, the practice of jee faage (read: je fagué) or jee taogi (read: je taogui) – two notions that reflect the same cultural reality – was common. Unfortunately, this practice is now facing many challenges that it is essential to understand in this article.
Jee faage, an ancestral practice
Among the Toupouri, a people of more than 350,000 souls (according to the Horizon IRD website), an honourable marriage is conditioned by the designation of jee faage, “the owner of the path”, literal translation into French. Before any nuptial process, the future bride designates a person of her convenience, sometimes with the agreement of her suitor, who must play the role of intermediary and notary between her and her future husband from the beginning of their meeting until the end of their life. The jee faage participates in discussions with the girl’s parents concerning the request of their future son-in-law and in the negotiation of the price of the dowry. As a witness, he is regularly called upon to participate in the resolution of conflicts in the couple.
The Crisis Factors of the Practice of Jee faage
The practice of jee faage has always played a determining role in the Toupouri social order. Unfortunately, in Chad, this practice is in crisis; its role tends to disappear. Young people get married without respecting this step: marriage by unwanted pregnancy, by arrangement (“come, we stay”), cohabitation. This is explained by the adoption of modern values, the high price of the dowry and the influence of other cultures conveyed by the media (social networks). These factors mean that the jee faage is almost erased from the marriage process.
In addition, inter-ethnic marriage has further complicated the role of jee faage. Because, between two cultures, the jee faage is lost and does not know which culture is applied.
Between Yesterday and Today: Rethinking the Practice of Jee faage
When the practice of jee faage was rigorously respected, there were fewer problems and marriage as a traditional institution was honoured by all. Many Toupouri people today refuse to be jee faage because of the disappointing behaviour of young people, who are very versatile in their commitment. There are therefore voices that are rising to rethink the Toupouri culture, more particularly the practice of jee faage. These voices intend to contribute to cultural stability and the preservation of this practice despite the challenges.
Conclusion
Clearly, the practice of jee faage among the Toupouri people of Chad is in crisis. Several factors justify this crisis which contributes to erasing the major role of jee faage in the marriage process. A society without cultural identity is destined to disappear. It is therefore crucial that the practice of jee faage be preserved to avoid the total moral collapse of the Toupouri people.
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