By Jean-Germain Gros [Culled from « Preface » Cameroon: Politics and Society in Critical Perspectives. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America: 2003]
Rightly or wrongly, Anglophones in Cameroon today, or at least their elite, feel that they are second-class citizens of a country dominated by Francophones… I believe tat Anglophone nationalists (or at least the more ardent among them) miss several points about the Francophone-Anglophone divide.
First the division of Cameroon between “Francophones” and “Anglophones” is more historical and geographic than linguistic. A Mbororo (a member of the Peul ethnic group) cattle raiser, who has difficulties communicating even with her fellow Foulbe brethren in Fulfulde, might be quite surprised that she is “Francophone”.
The label simply has no meaning at the grassroots level. Indeed, I suspect that a majority of Cameroonians on either side of the Mungo are completely fluent I neither the tongue of Moliere nor that of Shakespeare. For the average Cameroonian, ethnicity is of much greater currency than identification with this or that colonial experience. The cleavage is sustained mainly by intellectuals and politicians and does not correspond to reality on the ground, but then again myths and distortions are stuff of politics. The intervention and (or) sharpening of differences is the first step toward legitimizing claims and gaining followers. It is also important in the creation of a culture of “victims,” especially when claims go unheeded by the dominant elite.
Secondly, Francophones in Cameroon are not a monolith nor are Anglophones. What does a Toupouri in Kousseri (extreme-north province) and a pygmy in Bertoua (eastern province) have in common, other than their “Francophoneness?” Does anybody believe Francophone means anything either? What of Bamilekes and Bassas, who straddle between Francophonie and “Anglophone,” which side of their identity should be given currency, the linguistic or ethnic?
Third, nationalist Anglophone writers have exaggerated how much Francophones have benefited from the Ahidjo-Biya dyad. The Biya regime in particular is a corrupt, manipulative, equal-opportunity violator of the public trust hell-bent in remaining in power, even if this means driving the country into abject penury. Cameroonians of all stripes have suffered from its malfeasance. Anglophones do not have the right of way in the maze of misdeeds drawn up by Biya and his acolytes, which is not to say that they have no valid claims. Cameroon is overcentralized and in dire need of honest government. Decentralization, as a return to federalism would make manifest, and better management of public resources would benefit everyone, not just Anglophones. On the other hand outright secession as advocated by some Anglophones, would likely contribute to the further Balkanization of the continent without any apparent benefit that could not be had from a less drastic measure and with much risk of further secession claims possibly inside the Anglophone community itself 9southwest vs. northwest). Biya has not even been all that benevolent toward his “home” province of the center-south, which may explain why symbolic opposition to him there may be on the rise.
Fourth, Anglophone nationalists have idealized West Cameroon’s experience under colonial rule, when in fact the region was far from pristine. So little the British apparently thought of West Cameroon – or so much that they thought of the administrative skills of Lord Luggard – that they did not bother to send in a governor, preferring instead to rule the territory as an appendage of Nigeria. This may well explain why in 1961 independence for West Cameroon was not on the referendum menu. In the current atmosphere glorification of the colonial past may make for good political strategy but it is bad history. In addition, Anglophones are not being consistent when they mock their counterparts across the Mungo for claiming Gauls as their ancestors when they themselves base their identity on the British colonial experience to argue for changes in the architecture of state power and allocation of resources.
In the end, however, it matters not whether Anglophone feelings of marginalization in contemporary Cameroon and, by contrast, how good they had it under British rule, are rooted in myth or reality. The point is, such feelings may give (and have given) way to political action (such as the call by the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, for secession) that could potentially alter the Cameroon landscape and (or) lead to violence. The “Anglophone problem” is the most burning issue in Cameroon politics today, not the least because it is articulated by talented counter elite intellectuals, and how well (or poorly) it is handled by the ruling elite may well determine whether Cameroon continues to be an oasis of stability in an unstable region or joins the maelstrom of state disintegration in Central Africa.
Well argued points which nonetheless completely miss the essence of the "Anglophone problem". For "Anglophone" nationalists like myself, it is less of a language issue and more about a territorial issue, an international issue, an issue of confiscated sovereignty. In fact, I think the author is being biased because this same book ( with excellent contributions from some top "Anglophone" scholars) contains two solid chapters on the Anglophone problem by Drs. Ngenge and Jua which clearly explain the problem. So Gros' arguments are not based on ignorance but at a stubborn refusal to accept the arguments in his own book.
Posted by: Ambas Man | September 22, 2008 at 08:43 AM
SOUTHERN CAMEROONS AND LA REPUBLIQUE DU
CAMEROUN. PROBLEM IS THAT COLONIZATION AND LAND GRAB. THE AUTHOR WHO IS BLACK-FRENCH CAMEROUNESE, JUST LIKE OTHERS IS DISHONEST
AND HE DOESNT KNOW THE DIFFRENCE BETWEEN A COUNTRY AND A PRIMITIVE TRIBE.
EVEN DOGS WHO ARE BAXKWARD AND ILLETRATE
LIKE THE AUTHOR CAN WRITE BOOKS FOR ILLETRATES TO READ.
Posted by: DANGO TUMMA | September 22, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Mr. Tumma, are you sure you are an anglophone? your English is really bad.
* Problem is that colonization and land grab
* Just like others is dishonest
* baxkward and many more
Posted by: UnitedstatesofAfrica | September 23, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Its time to dismantle the present NEO-COLONIAL set up.
That's our true enemy.
The folks across the Mungo are not my problem.
Posted by: The SouthWesterner | September 23, 2008 at 04:59 PM
The writer of this article is very eloquent but lacks the basic understanding of a people.
First of all a people i.e British Southern Cameroonians do not only feel that they are second class but they also are living on a day to day bases.
Secondly, Britain was given the territory of Southern Cameroons as a trusteeship territory with a specific mandate to groom them for independence. It was not for a union or reunion with any other entity. The fact that Britain did not live up to her commission does not justify her action in any way. This violation should not therefore be taken as a means to enslave the British Southern Cameroonians. On the other hand, we decided to join La Republique du Cameroon in good faith(which we now realise does not exist in francophone mentality)with very specific rules which have not only been violated but overlooked. How does the writer explain the following if it is not enslavement.
1)Why was the Chad-Cameroon pipeline terminus taken to Kribi eventhough it was more cost-effective to be taken to Limbe.
2)Why are they plans to develop the Kribi port instead of Limbe which more cost effective.
3)Why is SONARA having its headquarters in Douala and pays its taxes there instead of Limbe.
4)Why must anglophones in Southwest be forced, due to inexistant roads, to travel through francophone provinces before getting to Northwest.
5)Take a look at Ministerial appointments, Directors of parastatals,SDOs,intake into professional schools, provincial development projects and appointments at all levels, just to name a few. You would understand what being enslaved looks like.
Besides all these, British Southern Cameroons decided in their will to join with La Republique du Cameroon and we should be allowed to leave the union at will.
Finally can you explain this equality to the people?
British Southern Cameroons + La Republique du Cameroun = Federal Republic of Cameroon = United Republic of Cameroon = La Republique du cameroun
Posted by: Gideon Mudoh | September 24, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Dear Gentle Readers,
The mighty Ethiopian Empire unanimously said the same of Eritrea and they were very wrong to be right. The Ethiopian King with subsequent communist backed dictators did all to thwart the truth from the rest of the world and it never materialized. Eritrea fought and got its independence. Is that what the world expects The Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) to do? Are we still negating the fact that liberty can be got in a golden plate in the 21st century? Then why do we call those who did it in the past barbarians? Today, Western Sahara is occupied by Morocco and their occupation is being backed by France, USA and sadly some African nation states. Successive UN Secretary Generals have sided with the big world powers and that does not mean that they are right. The continuous occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco is illegal and it will never work for it is unjust and wrong.
Today, Western Sahara is divided and Moroccan propaganda maps include it as part and parcel of its kingdom. The same is of Cameroon Republic that presents The Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) as part and parcel of its territory on its propaganda maps and literature. The mighty South African white apartheid regime did the same for Namibia that was of the same status as The Southern Cameroons and some South Africans did vow that in living memory South West Africa now Namibia would never be independent in their life time. Today Namibia is a proud independent nation state with its seat at the UNO general assembly. Its population is not up to half that of The Southern Cameroons-Ambazonia.
Some persons are denying to admit the truth that The British Southern Cameroons is a nation state illegally occupied by Cameroon Republic. They do not want to admit the fact that: their human and economic rights are being infringed, that they are marginalized and their natural wealth that rightly belongs to them is being looted by Cameroon Republic. They want to trivialize a major international political issue by calling it the creation of the Anglophone elites. In all honesty, is it? Why would one million Southern Cameroonians be languishing in Nigeria as refugees and many Ambazonian-Americans in Maryland, other states of the USA, in the UK and other African States? Is that a normal condition of a country to create unfavorable condition for the expulsion of its population in droves? Would the author of this article sincerely call it normal? These are hyperboles!
They are wrong and will not continue to befuddle the world and the youths of Southern Cameroons indefinitely. The Southern Cameroons is a full-fledged Nation State as Cameroon Republic and Nigeria and simply want to restore its independence amicably. The danger is that if they will be cornered as what Cameroon Republic is trying to do with its cohorts and if the UNO, the AU and Britain that could broker peace continue to play it safe, they had done in the past in Rwanda, Eritrea, East Timor, and Namibia to mention just a few, it will be a another sad scenario in Africa. They will look with hindsight as some do look at Rwanda and say had we intervened. Is the world not tired of Africa being the sick continent of the world? Or they do not bother?
Those of you who want to trivialize the cardinal point that could disrupt peace of the region by calling it an anglophone-counter-elite creation should note that when locusts visit a village they do not differentiate the crops of black legs and villagers.
Dr. Viban
Posted by: Viban Williamson | September 24, 2008 at 01:57 PM
CORRECTION
MY INVESTIGATION PROVES THAT THE AUTH IS ACTUALLY HAITIAN, WHO GREW UP IN NEW YORK.
AS YOU CAN SEE PARALLEL, HAITI ISTHE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, YET MR AUTHOR HAVENT GOT TIME TO RESCUE HIS NATIVE COUNTRY. JUST AS ALL FRENCH MEN, BLACK OR WHITE. THEY MAKE NOISE TO
BE SEEN EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE NOTHING NEW TO SAY. SOO DONT TAKE HIS BOOK SERIOUS.
HE IS VOID OF SELF KNOWLEDGE . HIMSELF
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Posted by: http://camerooniansabroad.com | September 27, 2008 at 05:18 PM
This is a very good picture painted Jean-Germaine. I would like to look at it from a slightly different but close angle: the things that bind anglophones and francophones are stronger than any 'differences'. They are anglophones and we are franchophones is purely an act of the colonialists, therefore basing any seccession claims on such a premise is purely rubbish. when the colonialists were dividing up africa, they never cared who went where and who didn't: "no negro is better than the other". How then can we stick to being anglophone or francophone, as if it was something carefully thought out, and as if we chose to be francophone or anglophone?
Secondly, our cultural ties are stronger than any linguistic differences. Mr Secessionist, for how long have you been speaking English that you are prepared today to break up from your brother, with whom you have ancestral links? Who told you that the british even care about you? The Sawa group goes across the Moungo. There is no difference between the North West and West provinces. WE HAVE NOT BEEN SPEAKING ENGLISH AND FRENCH FOR UP TO ONE CENTRUY, BUT OUR BLOOD TIES ARE ANCESTRAL-THEY SPAN SEVERAL CENTURIES. So which should take precedence? The earlier our brothers come out of this reverie, the better for Cameroon.
Finally, i don't think the anglophones would have been any more ''nicer'' to the francophones, if they were in the majority.
The problem in cameroon, first of all is that of bad governance, from which ALL cameroonians suffer, even franchophones (Le Paradox du Pays Organisateur); then comes the anglophone problem.
Posted by: Wonja | October 03, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Hi Dibussi,
I and many others are biginning to lost interest on this site because it is not updated with any new information for up to two weeks and more some times.Please do some thing about this.contact me on [email protected] in case you need technical asistance .
Best regards.
Posted by: Sir.Abotoky | October 06, 2008 at 07:28 AM
WONJA, YOU ANCESTRAL BLODD WILL SPAN
TO INFINITY, WHO CARES ABOUT RATS WHO SPEAKS AND PRACYISE A DEATH CULTURE CALLED FRENCH, OUR ONLY CONCERNED IS THAT PAUL BIYA AND HIS FRENCH -NEGROES SHOULD VACATE FROM OUR COUNTRY, THEY CAMER IN, BY WAY OF A FEDERATION, NOW THAT THE FEDERATION HAD ENDED, THEY OUGTTA BE GONE IN PEACE, WE DONT WANT TO HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH THESE ANIMALS
Posted by: red flag | October 08, 2008 at 12:07 AM
not only that the site publish information from all jack and jill ,without first investigating the facts and contents nor the motivation of the author.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE HAITIAN AUTHORS BOOK
WHO IS HE GEARING TO? THE CONTENT ARE NOT
ONLY VERY UN CONVENCING BUT FLATS LIES AND
FULL OF PROGAGNDA. AND NONSENSE. AS THOUGH HE WAS WRITING FOR PIGMIES IN THE CAMEROUN CENTRAL FOREST TO READ, POOR HAITIAN HE BETTER WRITE GRADE SCHOOL BOOKS FOR HIS IMPOVERISH NATIVE HAITI
HE CALL HIM SELF JEAN GERMAIN GROS. A FROG BY ANY OTHER NAME IS JUST A FROG
Posted by: dango tumma | October 15, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Mr. Dango,
While this book might have been edited by a Haitian "frog" as you put it, who doesn't necessarily share the "radical" tone of the book's "Anglophone" contributors, the book itself is a solid pro "Southern Cameroons" publication whose chapters are written by some of the leading Southern Cameroons scholars who have been at the forefront of bringing the Anglophone problem into mainstream African studies.These authors include:
Dr. Simon Ngenge
Dr. Tatah Mentan
Dr. Nantang Jua
Dr. Nyamnjoh
and even Prof. Victor Levine, arguably the leading scholar on the Cameroons Unification and Cameroon federal system of 1961-1972.
Posted by: Nina | October 16, 2008 at 09:33 AM
NINA, 'I DONT BUY WHAT YOU WROTE, ABOUT THE HAITIAN LIAR COME AUTHOR JEAN WHAT EVER
BUT I BUY WHAT DR VIVIAN WIILIAMSON WROTE.
THE RIGHT THING TO DO , IS FOR FRNCH CAMEROUN TO LIVE PEACEFULLY AND RULE ITS OWN COUNTRY ,WHILE AMBAZONIANS DO THE SAME
ON THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
Posted by: dango tumma | October 24, 2008 at 08:25 PM
ALL I KNOW IS THAT, THE ANGLOPHONE CAMEROONIAN LAUGHTER SIMPLY WENT ON A JOURNEY AND WILL SOON RETURN WITH MUCH MORE LAUGHTER. AGONY CAME FOR A VISIT AND HAD STARTED REGRETTING THAT SHE HAS OVER STAYED WHERE SHE WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO VISIT.
Posted by: Tufoin Relindis Nambu | July 16, 2014 at 03:44 PM
WHEN A HAND LINGERS AROUND THE ANUS FOR LONG, IT RETURNS WITH EXCRETA.Am neither a prophet of doom nor a secessionist but what happens when dialogue fails? remember history
Posted by: NCHIFOR KHAN | July 09, 2015 at 03:40 PM