Thursday, August 19, 2010

Life in West Cameroon, A True Story








This is the true story of Alan Edward Parkinson who served in the Southern Cameroons with the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment. It is well written, illustrated, and displays the scorn to which the natives were held. Thanks for this open account of life in the days when this territory was a British Protectorate. This website is a treasure trove for historians, packed with details of daily life in the early days as the nation took shape and its destiny was cast.
Readers should pay particular attention to the attitudes of the French troops and also the way Nigerians in positions of power and authority treat the local folk. This is an oft overlooked fact in contemporary Cameroonian political discourse, especially when the legacy of some Southern Cameroonian politicians is distorted and they are accused of being sell-outs to the French speaking East Cameroun.
Enjoy, and please remember to sign his  guest book.!!





West Cameroon Aviation, the forgotten Story





 De Havilland DOVE in Cameroon Air Transport livery getting ready for delivery to TIKO, West Cameroon. Photo C. Alain Durand


 
In the former West Cameroon, there was a vibrant economy with the main employer the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), a sprawling Agro-Industrial complex that was the main motor of the economy. The abrupt departure of the British, and following in their heels, the Nigerians who had all the necessary skills needed in a new nation, and had been in management before, left the territory in the hands of inexperienced West Cameroonians. If you could read and write, you were guaranteed a very good job.
Thanks to the internet, we are now getting a better understanding of the complex dynamics that made the small ruling expatriate dominate the natives.
Take for example, the Prime Minister of West Cameroon firing the architect of the young, yet rapidly expanding Cameroon Air Transport company, leaving just two pilots with five planes...! Cameroonians wonder how they got where they are today. Go figure.
No more spoilers, and I strongly encourage you to write to  Rudi Leeuw who runs a very  interesting website that published Hans Beunk's story. Click on the highlighted text, please, to be taken to the relevant links.




New Coaches for the Cameroon Soccer Squad




Javier Clemente is the new head coach for Cameroon's soccer team, the Indomitable Lions. Cameroon, long rated by FIFA as one of the top soccer teams in the world has of late made a poor showing in competitions.
Clemente, who is Spanish will be assisted by two former players in the Cameroon National team, Omam Biyik, and Jacques Songo'o.
More on this story here in french by Georges Alain Boyomo of Mutations


Njoh Litumbe in the USA