Posted in Cologne News, Publications on Apr 14, 2026.
'The Futures of Royal Animals in Cameroon’s Grassfields: From Literary Imagination to Participatory Foresight'; Published in ‘World Futures Review’ Kenneth Toah Nsah’s research explores the intersection of literary analysis and participatory foresight to address the survival of ‘royal’ and ‘sacred’ animals in the Cameroon Grassfields. Focusing on species of deep cultural significance, such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and the Bannerman’s Turaco, the study examines their vulnerability amidst the global biodiversity crisis.
The paper first utilises postcolonial ecocriticism to analyse how Anglophone Cameroonian literature (including works by Jumbam, Bannavti, Nsahlai, and Nkengasong) foregrounds wildlife loss and environmental change. It then details participatory foresight workshops involving diverse stakeholders, from indigenous kings (fons) to environmentalists, who employed ‘narrative foresight’ to articulate ‘preferred futures’. Key recommendations include establishing specialised reserves, controlled breeding programmes, ecotourism, and the use of artificial animal parts for traditional ceremonies.
By bridging the gap between literary imagination and practical policy, Nsah’s work elevates Cameroonian and African perspectives within Anthropocene discourses, providing a humanities-led template for sustaining biodiversity through the integration of indigenous cultural values and foresight methodologies.
First published online April 1, 2026.
