Introduction / History

The Elip live in the savanna plains and are agriculturalists. They are part of the Mbam communities. Their income comes from the sales of vegetables and fruits. They also sell yams, manioc, plantain, macabo and taro in the neighboring village markets. They live in mud brick or concrete blockhouses with tin roofs. Some of the houses near the main road have electricity, while the other use wood as the main energy and fuel.

Generations of Elip people cling to traditional beliefs rooted in a fear of evil spirits. The fear of sorcery is prevalent, and the issue of sorcery is regularly raised at times of misfortune. The ongoing struggle is the power people attribute to the spirit realm.

Though a large majority of people in Mbam communities may attend church or profess Christianity, they lack a foundation in God's Word. Because of the area's multilingual nature, church leaders tend to conduct services in French — the national language. As a result, churchgoers often fall back into familiar traditional beliefs, and the next generation repeats the cycle. Truths from God's Word in the mother tongue can tear down traditional strongholds.

Stories play a far more significant role than simple entertainment among the Elip people. Storytelling is a common way to relay vital information. This time-honored method will be utilized to reach people with God's Word and address the most pressing spiritual issues.