The Cameroonian blogosphere has grown considerably since I wrote an article in 2006 titled "Where are the Cameroonian bloggers?" Today, there are numerous online diaries, political, general interest and specialized blogs created by Cameroonians. Unfortunately, most of these very interesting blogs remain largely unknown to the general public.
One of these is the blog on Cameroon Literature in English which showcases literary works by English-speaking Cameroonian writers.
The blog seeks to debunk the widely-held view in national and international literary circles that literature is virtually non-existent in English-speaking Cameroon – the much talked-about “paucity” of Anglophone Cameroon writing which scholars have been writing about since the 1970s and which next year’s international conference on new perspectives on Cameroonian literature will also bring up. As the conference call for papers points out:
Writers of the Diaspora continue to hold the lead in the quality and quantity of works published, as authoritative bodies (notably the Académie Française and the French language promotion agency, ADLF) continue to honour many of Mongo Beti’s compatriots with literary distinctions. In the shadow of this production, which is essentially in French, a local Anglophone literature has been forging ahead with relative success, even though – third paradox? – the English-speaking Diaspora seems to be caught in a deafening silence.
So, is there really a "deafening literary silence" from the English-speaking Cameroonians, particularly those in the Diaspora or is that literature simply suffering from under-exposure? It is this question which is behind the creation of the blog on Cameroonian Literature in English:
“Is Cameroon Anglophone Literature non-existent? Or is there a thriving literary community in the former British Southern Cameroons which is simply not known on the national and international scene?
This blog will try to answer this question by profiling novelists, poets and playwrights from that former British trust territory, most of whose works are not available out of Cameroon, and have only limited distribution within Cameroon.
The blog will also focus on the emerging third generation Anglophone writers in the Diaspora who are part of what is increasingly being referred to as the Anglophone Cameroon Literary Renaissance.”
I think,Cameroon Anglophone literature bloggers are trying on their part,compare to other segments of Anglophones,eg anglophones marketers,social scientist, scienstist,engineers,Agronomist you name the rest ,they have no blogs at all
Posted by: martin sone | May 30, 2008 at 08:43 AM
I feel saddened by the neo colonial phydo mentality of most French Speaking Cameroonians. Well if most books published are those of Francophones, it is a logical knock out attempted at ridiculing Anglo saxon Education. Today it has burnt their fingers as they shamlessly are turning via English Standard of Education and evaluation. Double standards and double face is the natural yard stick of the French. Another great fear though never expressed is that Anglophone writers will definitely write against their corrupt dirty politics practiced across Africa fondly called FracAfrique. Anglophone writers cannot hide facts for the sake of money or self agrandisment.We shall overcome this struggle one day. Dear brother and sisters keep your pens deeped in ink. Sprout until the pens turn out very fint ink. We have readers deing to read very captivating, educative and transformative literature. We have people who badly need motivational literature that captures their imagintion and draws them away from the blink of disaster. There are many persons who badly need to read from books situations that look like theirs or far worse than theis to give more meaning to their own life. It is mostly Anglo saxon writers who have answers to these yearnings
Posted by: Ndim Bernard Ngouche | June 02, 2008 at 08:41 PM