By Peterkins Manyong
On Friday, February 1, Cameroon celebrated what it termed "National Day of Bilingualism" with the main theme "Bilingualism, The Key to Success" with the sub-theme "Bilingualism, The Key to Progress".
Unfortunately, the conduct of some top government officials who presided at some of these celebrations portrayed that they were anything but enthusiastic about Bilingualism.
The perfect example is Haman Adama, Minster of Basic Education. During the celebration of this year's Bilingualism Day in Fundong, Boyo Division, Haman Adama delivered her message in French and chipped in a few words in English only in the conclusion when she thanked the organizers of the occasion for the massive mobilisation.
Obviously aware of his Minister's inclination, Christopher Nde Soh Boma, Northwest Delegate for Basic Education, who spoke earlier, had delivered his own address in French. The few English words in his speech were spoken when giving statistics on school enrollment in the Northwest. As his boss later did, he uttered a few English words only at the end of her address.
The Basic Education Minister's behaviour reflected the general contempt for English by Cameroon's Francophones, championed by no other than Paul Biya himself. Here is a man who has never in his 25-year rule addressed the nation in English. Apart from the routine "I do so swear", Biya only spoke English in Bamenda and Buea in 1991 when he toured the ten provinces at the apex of the "Ghost Towns And Civil Disobedience Campaigns".
This conduct of Biya only goes to confirm allegations that during his tenure as Prime Minister which began in 1975, he said bilingualism was a very expensive weapon for a Third World country and wanted English abolished. But Ahmadou Ahidjo, though himself ignorant of the English language, knew better and rejected the proposal.
As further proof of this disdain for English, presidential decrees are read out entirely in French, despite the myriads of translators, the likes of Johnson Nkwain at the Presidency. It is only at CRTV that attempts are made to convey the information in English.
Generalised Anglophobia
Apart from Biya, Francophones in general regard English and its speakers with scorn. "Je ne comprend pas ton Anglais la" rudely translated "I don't understand that your English" is the well known reaction of most Francophones to Anglophones who speak English to them. The military tops all other services in the phobia for English.
Not only is military training entirely in French, law maintenance officials treat English as dog language which they are under no obligation to understand, let alone master. Even Anglophone gendarmes and police address fellow Anglophones in French while on duty, obviously for the sake of conformity. To the average Francophone, bilingualism means an Anglophone knowing French.
The arrogance with which Francophones speak French even in Anglophone territory proves this point. It was only after the launch of the SDF in 1990 that the Francophone began to have some respect for Anglophones and the English language. But even after that, many of them continued to mock Fru Ndi for his inability to speak French, completely ignoring the fact that Biya is "stone deaf" in English. The second-hand citizenship position of Anglophones is no better proven than in this instance of bilingualism.
Because of Francophone arrogance, Anglophones have developed self-defence mechanisms. In reaction to the contemptuous use of the word "Anglo" or "Anglofool", Anglophones have since nicknamed Francophone "frogs" because of their inclination to be loud mouthed.
The patronising and uncouth behaviour of most Francophones was once summed up by Johnnie McViban in an article in Cameroon Tribune, "If you are walking down the street and someone suddenly grips your hand before asking you what time it is, then know you have a perfect example of a frog standing right in front of you."
Francophones generally behave as if Anglophones were forced on them and see the English language as an unnecessary bore that should be done away with. Yet, they know very well that without a knowledge of English they are lost in a world where computer and most business communications are carried out in English.
The current influx of
Francophones into Anglophone schools does not stem from a sudden
outburst of enthusiasm for the English language. It is the result of a
realisation by most Francophones that without English, they are not
only lost, but irredeemable.
English As Bitter Pill
Francophones have also realised that with certificates in English or a bit of knowledge in the language they can grab scholarships and jobs that require knowledge of English. The struggle for Cameroon's admission into the Commonwealth was motivated partly by this factor.
With the ever-increasing influence of the US in many aspects of life everywhere in the world, the French language is declining in importance. In France itself the university degree system has been replaced by the English system. Cameroon has since followed the footprint of her master.
Jacques Chirac, former French President, admitted the strength of English when he once called on fellow French speakers to fight against its growing influence. Chirac was to live the reality of the situation when at an international conference he listened to his Foreign Minister deliver his address in English.
Francophone Cameroonians would do well to ignore their numerical supremacy in Cameroon. The world, as the hackneyed saying goes, is "a global village".English is not the native language of Northwesterners and Southwesterners. If people like Francis Wete and Victor Julius Ngoh never studied English, they wouldn't be where they are today.
Anglophones on their part would do better by being bilingual. Most Anglophones studying in Nigeria, Ghana and other English-speaking African countries, earn their living by teaching French. English-speaking Francophones do same in French-speaking countries. Bilingualism is an albatross on the back of the Biya regime. There is no way it can discard it without also shaking off the yoke of national unity.
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