Africa's Political Wastelands: The Bastardization of Cameroon
The Bastardization of Cameroon
Publication Year: 2008
Published by: African Books Collective
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
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pp. iv-
Contents
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pp. v-
Preface
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pp. vi-x
I barely made it back to Cameroon alive after a gruelling apprenticeship at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, that left me gasping for breath because of the rigorous nature of the academic atmosphere I experienced on that campus. It was with enthusiasm, then, that I returned to my native country, Cameroon, excited...
Note to the Reader
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pp. xi-
To avoid confusion, some clarification as to the usage of certain terminologies needs to be made. The orthography for “Cameroon” is as fluid as are the nation’s problems and this is due to Cameroon’s historical background. Mainly the Portuguese, Germans, the French and the British...
1. Imperialism and Postcolonial Africa in Perspective
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pp. 1-18
Africans, like other peoples around the world, “are innately no more violent, no more corrupt, no more greedy, and no more stupid…” (Thomson 2); in fact, they are generally speaking, simple, friendly, hospitable, trustworthy, and hardworking, even while still being human. These sterling qualities...
2. Ahmadou Ahidjo, Independence and the Hidden Agenda
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pp. 19-31
The once-upon-a-time twin yellow stars on the Cameroon flag told the tale of a nation, and so does the now lone star—the dilemma of a people: Anglophone and Francophone Cameroonians disagreeing over the kind of government to have—federation or otherwise—and the level of influence each faction should...
3. Government and the Status Quo in Cameroon
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pp. 32-58
With independence in 1961, the Federal Republic of Cameroon, made up of two states—West and East Cameroon—was born. In this unique situation, the federal structure and manner of operation clashed with itself because of the dual colonial backgrounds involved—English and French. The colonial powers...
4. The Cameroonian People: An Abused Blessing.
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pp. 59-73
If Cameroon has only one gift, and this is far from the case, then it has to be the heterogeneous nature of the people and the equally diverse cultural values, hence the country’s tourism slogan “Africa in miniature”. Patricia K. Kummer confirms this picture...
5. Cameroonian Resources and the Exploitation of the Masses
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pp. 74-114
In terms of natural resources, Cameroon is certainly endowed. The country produces timber, cocoa, coffee, banana, tea, gold, diamond, bauxite, and of course, crude oil and a lot more, but that is as far as it goes for the citizens as they, but for a few accomplices of the president’s, know nothing about revenue...
6. Of Uniformed Officers and the State of Anomy
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pp. 115-135
Many uniformed officers of Anglophone origin who came over with the union of La République and the Southern Cameroons, went on retirement having been promoted only once in about thirty years of service, in spite of the awards they received even during the West Cameroon days. Many, certainly, would have...
7. Towards a Renaissance: What must be done
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pp. 136-161
The question looming large now is whether Africa must continue down this path of destruction ad infinitum, or can something be done to salvage what is left of the continent and her peoples? And this is an urgent question, as one is fed up with portraits ridiculing the continent because of its repertoire of socio-economic...
8. Conclusion
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pp. 162-176
After all is said and done, in terms of the “modern” state, the inability of Africans to dispose of tribalism and function as a nation remains a major obstacle in the path of progress. It is time Africans recognize the continent’s predicament today. We cannot now simply dismiss the modern states put in place by imperialists...
Notes
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pp. 177-182
Works Cited
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pp. 183-187
Back Cover
E-ISBN-13: 9789956715121
Print-ISBN-13: 9789956558629
Page Count: 200
Publication Year: 2008
