The Socio-Cultural Perceptions of Mushrooms in the Western Grassfields of Cameroon

The mushroom is a delicacy in most, if not all Western Grassfields cuisine. It is regarded as a vegetable but science has proven that the mushroom is also a fungus. It naturally grows in March, April, August and September. In the past, the people usually depended on nature to provide the mushroom, but today, many people are cultivating the mushroom both in small and large quantities. This research seeks to answer two questions: What are the perceptions of the Western Grassfields people regarding the mushroom? What is the place of the mushroom in the lives of the Western Grassfields people? The objective of this paper is to find out the perceptions of the Western Grassfields people about the mushroom and to examine the functions of the mushroom in the lives of the people. Qualitative research was used for this article with techniques such as direct observation, indepth interview, life history and photography. Theories used to interpret the data included symbolic Anthropology and functionalism. Findings reveal that the mushroom is a delicacy in most cuisines in the Western Grassfields, it plays a role in healing as it has many therapeutic benefits. The mushroom is a good source of income which is one of the reasons why it is much cultivated today. The cultivation of the mushroom is an economic activity and if it is well harnessed, it will serve as a veritable source of employment to many people, especially the youths.