Beliefs and Practices Relating to the Tchie-peuh Rite among the Baleng of the Mifi Department

Abstract

This study aims to verify the correlation between beliefs and practices related to the Tchie-peuh rite among the Baleng people. It seeks to test the hypothesis that beliefs about the Tchie-peuh rite are correlated with the practice of that rite among the Baleng people of the Mifi division. Although it is a fundamental element in the transition from young Baleng men to accomplished Baleng men, the Tchie-peuh rite is becoming less and less practiced by young Baleng men, and thus risks disappearing over time.

To test our hypothesis, an investigation was conducted with 458 participants, students or members of associations, aged between 14 and 57 years. Their level of education ranged from the class of 4e to the final year of secondary education. They were selected based on a reasoned choice sampling technique. The data were processed using correlation and regression analysis, which showed that beliefs about the Tchie-peuh rite are significantly correlated with the practice of the rite (r=0.743, p<0.001). These results support the main hypothesis and suggest that the more the participants are socially close to a traditional environment, the more they tend to practice the rite.