Southern West Cameroon Revisited (1950-1972) Volume One: Unveiling Inescapable Traps

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, About this Book, Praise, About the Author

Southern West Cameroon Revisited (1950-1972) Volume One Unveiling Inescapable Traps Anthony Ndi Langaa Research & Publishing CIG Mankon, Bamenda P Publisher: Langaa RPCIG Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group P.O. Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon Langaagrp@gmail.com www.langaa-rpcig.net Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective orders@africanbookscollective.com www.africanbookcollective.com ISBN: 9956-791-44-X© Anthony Ndi 2014 DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Langaa RPCIG. To the unsung patriots and heroes, whose names are enshrined in these pages, that the eternal ideals for which they burnt out their lives may remain radiant beacons for Cameroon posterity. About this Book This book contributes to discussions on the topical issue of “Fifty Years after the independence of the Southern Cameroons”, by taking a critical look at the process that lead up to Southern Cameroons’ ‘reunification’ with la République du Cameroun. This was the period spanning from 1951 to 1961, and possibly up to 1972. This immediately conjures two overriding factors; first, the British colonial policy in Southern Cameroons, which dominated political life in the period leading up to: the Plebiscite, the Buea Tripartite Conference, the Bamenda All Party Conference, the Foumban Constitutional Conference and the Yaounde Tripartite Conference during the phase, 1959-1961. This constituted one huge hoax, whilst that from 19611972 and, beyond was dominated by the enigmatic figure of President Ahrnadou Ahidjo. At the heart of the first, are the declassified British secret papers which have uncovered the ugly undercurrents that characterised British colonial policy, while on the other hand, is President Ahmadou Ahidjo, who practically personalized the administration of the Federal Republic of Cameroon. His domination of the entire existence of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, (19611972 ) was overshadowed by the fact that he could not brood sharing power with any individual or institution. Simply put, he was allergic to democratic principles-or any form of opposition to his authority. As well, he was a matchless dictator especially in his ambivalent dealings with Southern West Cameroon. Apparently, it was the “destiny” of Southern Cameroons ‘that up to 1961, it was harnessed to the tenterhooks of Great Britain and from 1961-1972, transferred to those of the Ahidjo Regime; neither of which wished its people well. Praise for this Book “In his new work, Anthony Ndi bombards us with exciting new revelations about the events leading up to the reunification of Cameroon and beyond. What counts for many still today as a tragic historical memory, is given substance and cause in his careful analysis of the sources available, now reinforced by new materials released since 2012 from the archives of the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office. Ndi’s focus on the personalities of the major players leading to the breaking of the promise made by the British to support independence for Southern Cameroons and the subsequent plebiscite decision to re-join La République du Cameroun, enriches our understanding of the mixture of shrewd tactics by and naive blunders of the many that actually shaped events. As a case study in the realities of how decisions were made and later regretted in a period of quite shameful indiscretion, we are given a salutary account of how a history that hitherto had been written from the standpoint of the victor, needed to be and here is rewritten from that of the vanquished.” Michael Rowlands, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Material Culture, University College London “A monumental treatise with startling revelation on Cameroons’ national history, written with superb confidence suitable in the circumstance of celebrations marking the Golden Jubilee of Southern Cameroons independence- mature times enough for the inescapable traps of its history to be unveiled and unleashed for posterity.” Professor Tafah Edokat Oki Edward, Vice Chancellor, University of Bamenda “Writing a foreword to a book written by a luminous historiographer like Anthony Ndi can be exciting and challenging. Exciting because it gives on the opportunity to discover new facts and appreciate new techniques in the state of the art of historiography. In the same instance, presenting a foreword to a study of this calibre is challenging. Challenging because the historical plot espoused by the author resides in a setting of controversies where the tension between the force of argument and...