Indigenous Perspectives and Ecological Knowledge in the Conservation of the Ecosystem: Exploring Shadrach Ambanasom’s Forest of the Gods

Abstract

This study looks into the cultural and ecological importance of sacred groves and shrines among the Dudum people of the Grassfields as reflected in Shadrach Ambanasom’s Forest of the Gods. It shows that these holy places are not only centres for spiritual rituals but also natural spaces that preserve indigenous ecological wisdom and keep the people connected to their environment. Through a close reading of Forest of the Gods, this research exposes how Ambanasom uses images, myths, and storytelling to warn the people about the dangers of neglecting their natural heritage. The study also relates that what the Dudum people are doing in preserving nature aligns with the modern Sustainable Development Goals, such as good health, sustainable communities, climate action, and biodiversity conservation. It further points out that while many studies have written generally about African traditional conservation systems, very few have examined how Ambanasom’s ecological messages in Forest of the Gods connect with the wider call for sustainable development. This study fills that gap, as it uses the concepts of Ecocriticism and New Historicism to blend textual analysis with cultural understanding and show how the Gassfields’ traditions can inform the contemporary protection efforts of the environment. The research concludes that although the Dudum people once lived in harmony with nature, the pressures of modern life have pushed them away from these values, causing damage to their spiritual connections with nature. The study therefore calls for a return to the respect and balance that once existed between humans and nature.