The Emergence of Public Spheres in Colonial Cameroon: The Case of Palm Wine Drinking Joints as <i>lieux de sociabilité</i> in Bamenda Township

Although Habermas might not have had Africa in mind when he pro- pounded his public sphere theory, we still find basic premise useful capturing the scenario where people like to periodically congregate various sites socialize and indulge po- litical discourse while drinking. Using case of colonial Bamenda township, this study examines emergence functioning palm wine drinking joints as spaces par excellence. These were comparable European coffee shops salons which areas could gather discuss matters that concerned them. The informal emerged respond urbanization cosmopolitanism, stood out one distinctive lieux de sociabilité. They accessible all classes served centres for traditional liquor, gathering spreading news rumours, discussing politics social issues, playing dancing ‘bottle dance’, transiting ‘red streets’ visit damsels after sucking alcohol. relied on interviews archival material data article.