French Cameroons gained its independence from France on January 1, 1960 while the British Southern Cameroons gained its independence from Britain and (re)united with the French Cameroons on October 1, 1961. However, the Biya regime has decided to commemorate the "Fiftieth Anniversaries of the Independence and Reunification of Cameroon" on May 20, 2010 and not on January 1, 2010 and/or October 1, 2011. The historical confusion of generations of Cameroonians contnues unabated...
Click here to visit the official "fiftieth anniversaries (SIC)" webiste.
What a fiftieth anniversary webpage - they dare not, in their one-way monologue - leave a comments' section, even for 'motions de soutien'.
Ha! independance, cha, cha, cha!
Posted by: OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS | Wednesday, 19 May 2010 at 01:26 PM
The World Bank, IMF, G8, diplomatic corps, etc, etc are snickering with laughter... "Independance - 50 ans! Just wait," they'll whisper into one another's ears:
"At daybreak, they will come with bowls like panhandlers... having shoved away their ridiculous party anniversary uniforms."
Posted by: OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS | Wednesday, 19 May 2010 at 01:33 PM
was Jesus born on 25 of December?
Posted by: The Entrepreneur Newsonline Inc. | Thursday, 20 May 2010 at 10:17 PM
Why don't you tell us? Was he?
Posted by: A P Geofrey | Friday, 21 May 2010 at 04:01 AM
He is asking because Cameroun is his religion and he genuflects to kiss High Priestess Pauline Biya in the toosh.
Posted by: Va Boy | Friday, 21 May 2010 at 09:51 AM
what is in a date? Perhaps, You could celebrate on any day you wish,....So, was Jesus born on December 25?
Should Cameroon Celebrate 15 June or 11 September, etc as its national day? Any date of its choosen, which is symbolic to its communal ideals. Whats in a date?
Billions of christians communion Jesus' birth on December 25...was he born on that day? So, Why fault Cameroon's May 20 to your mental ridgidities?
More:
http://www.entrepreneurnewsonline.com/2010/05/cameroons-50-years-of-golden-exceptional-african-glory.html
Posted by: The Entrepreneur Newsonline Inc. | Friday, 21 May 2010 at 12:46 PM
Entrepreneur, I agree with you that country should be free to any occasion anytime; so last year Cameroon celebrated the 37th anniversary of Reunification on May 20, 2009. This 20th may, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of "Reunification." It is the Biya regime's god given right. But in a country that respects its citizens, a simple official one-page statement will be published to explain this apparent illogical action, especially in a country where 70% of high school and university students polled do not know the significance or difference between 11 February and 20th May...
Spo the fact that the 50th anniversary marks "50 years of exceptional African glory" as you put it does not change the fact that the organizers of the event owe Cameroonians an explanation - unless of course you still believe in the infallibility of Cameroon's ruling class...
Posted by: Wantim | Friday, 21 May 2010 at 05:40 PM
Hey guess what? How about celebrating the 100th anniversary of independence and reunification next year? After all, we can celebrate anniversaries anytime and anywhere!! Dis Entrepreneur ova foolish!!!
Posted by: Edna | Friday, 21 May 2010 at 08:42 PM
Yeah! Keep making stuff up like some old fashioned communist country like North Korea or Nazi Germany. Those countries routinely twisted the facts when they were inconvenient. The facts are really just the facts, Orwellian fellow.
Posted by: Va Boy | Saturday, 22 May 2010 at 12:52 AM
Cameroon's 50 Years of Exceptional Golden African Glory
Arrive_pr200510 Cameroon's Independence Celebration, 1960 - 2010
By Ernest L. Molua (Editor-in-Chief),
On May 20, 2010, Cameroon crowned celebrations of its independence from France, Great Britain and Germany. Millions of Cameroonians marched in unison to drum beats to put behind them the travails of Berlin 1884, Versailles 1919 and drawnout negotiations of the late 1950s that gave the territory independence in 1960. Cameroon, Africa's unbridled land of peace and tranquility, where mountains and seas, hills and lakes reminds anyone with an open mind, on nature's appeasement with itself in the creation of the landmass. Throughout the ten regions, all divisional and sub-divisional headquarters and districts in the country, school children, adults and militants of over 250 political parties marched, sang and danced to the ideals of the liberation heroes of 1960 and the nation's founding fathers: Free at last, free at last, free at last...
Yaounde - the city at the geographical heart of the nation - was the lieu fatal for the big occasion. In attendance to the grandeur of the colourful ceremony were nine Heads of State, most of them with their spouses. Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbazogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Francoise Mbozize of the Central African Republic, Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Ali Ben Mbongo of the Republic of Gabon, Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d’Ivoire, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Fradique De Menezes of Soa Tome and Principe and Idriss Deby Itno of Tchad. Two former Nigerian Heads of State: Retired General Olusegun Obasanjo and Retired General Yakubu Gowon. Gracing the occassion where two Noble Peace Laureats His Excellency Dr Koffi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Dr Mohammed El Baradei former chairman of United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency.
The enthusiasm in Paris and in Yaounde was exhibited by the attendance of two former French Prime Ministers, Monsieur Michel Rocard and Monsieur Alain Jupe. The French Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning (Regional Development), Monsieur Jean-Louis Borloo was on hand to remind the people of Cameroon how far they have come from the tutelage of France. The Chairman of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping and the Secretary General of Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma, marked themselves present in the land of glory. The Vice Secretary General of the United Nations Dr Asha Rose Migiro and the Executive Director of United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS Dr Michel Sidibe personally came to the land of peace to witness the occassion. A special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI, President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, Monsignor Peter Apia was on hand to bless the nation in its glorious journey. Apart from these, there are also countless delegations from different countries of the globe and diplomatic missions represented.
Cameroon_50th_anniversary logo Cameroon which has adopted May 20 as its National Day, marking 38 years ago, precisely on May 20, 1972 when it became a unitary state consolidating a national union and a rebirth of the Cameroon pre-1918, decided to have a date with history on a day that reminds the world of its singular determination and strength to overcome the historic machinations of 1884 and 1919 on its destiny. The festivities marking 50 years of independence and reunification where eloquently held under the theme “Defence forces and the Nation: Together to consolidate the achievements of 50 years of independence”, to aptly highlight the peace and tranquility the country has enjoyed to the envy of other nations thousands of nautical miles beyond its shores. Even the United States of America is not free of a history void of civil strife which Cameroon proudly upholds in the anals of human communion.
The colourful event, which true to tradition, was punctuated by a military parade and a civilian march past, started with the arrival of Cameroon’s Head of State and Commander in Chief of the armed forces, President Paul Biya at the Yaounde May 20 Boulevard. After a review of the troops, President Paul Biya, a man who espouses communal liberalism to the letter, greeted the nine African Heads of State and other dignitaries present at the ceremony.
20_mai2010 In true military celebrations, the alpha jet of the Air Force gave the kicker to the military parade which was placed under the command of General Sali Mohamadou. It all started with the Presidential Guard, followed by the Gendarmerie, a unit that was created in 1960. And in true national unity, the Rapid Intervention Battalions with units in Tiko, Douala and Koutaba demonstrated Cameroon' security excellence. The National Police Force that have fast been gaining prestige with student police officers participating for the first time. The Marine and the Custom departments; forces that are instrumental in raising revenue for the state answered present. As if to highlight his endurance and strength at the helm of state, for close to 30 minutes of the parade President Paul Biya, Commander in Chief of the Defence forces stood up in reciprocation to greetings from his men of the different corps. The parade was a display of strength and loyalty to national values. The military display ended with the motorised forces. Horses, Jeep, trucks, tankers and other military artillery drove past the Presidential tribune in a show of prestige and military prowess; all under the close watch of the nine Heads of State and top personalities.
Celebrations in the previous weeks have been characterized by prayer sessions, church services, sports competitions, academic tournaments and quizes and a national conference to re-define Cameroon and Africa's trajectory of development. The Africa 21 International conference was the highlight of intellectual discourse and political intercourse.
P1030054 The Heads of State and Government, heads of international organizations, experts, business leaders, civil society representatives, Africans and non-Africans who participated on 18 and 19 May 2010, in the Africa 21 Yaounde International Conference on New Challenges for Africa were in collective optimism on Africa's stake in the 21st century. Whilst thanking His Excellency President Paul BIYA for having taken the initiative to organize this reflection, which enabled the participants to review the ground covered by Africa over the past 50 years and chart the way forward for the continent; the participants unanimously declared by mutual agreement: their conviction that the 21st century already marks Africa’s return to stronger growth, the limitation of its indebtedness and a wider audience in the international community; their faith in Africa’s ability to generate innovation and progress based on its human values, the strength of its youth, its rich environment and the abundant resources of its soil and subsoil; their refusal of an Africa marginalized and underrepresented in international forums; and their desire to see Africa rather take its rightful place in the search for solutions to the problems besetting the world today.
About thirty other African countries will similarly be celebrating their independence from the yoke of colonialism and their liberation from the shackles of caucasian diktats. For Cameroon, the future is brightest with a youthful population, a growing workforce and diversified economy. Achieving the vision for the years ahead will hinge on President Biya's dictum of rigour and moralization - the eternal pillars of great civilizations, and on which the people of Cameroon must build a viable state to the success and enjoyment of its citizens and to the envy of its competitors and detractors. A community that rises from society's communal liberal ethos and founded on a new deal of rigour where the needs of its youths is at the heart of progressive public policy, shall without doubt be the water that nurture the dreams of the founding fathers and liberation heroes.
Posted by: The Real Entrepreneur Newsonline Inc. | Saturday, 22 May 2010 at 10:40 AM
hmmm... Independence day? Well, May 20,1972 is when Cameroon, retroactively, became a unitary state and, I think, it's worth celebrating. So Cameroon should rather celebrate May 20 as say Union Day and/or October 1/February 11 as Federation day( give the days whatever names you wish). Independence day suits french-speaking Cameroon very well, after all they gained independence on January 1,1960 though, if they need a reminder,they were four months twenty days late when they celebrated 50yrs of Independence last May 20. English-speaking Cameroon has no interest or reason in celebrating 50yrs of independence. English-speaking cameroon has never been a nation neither has she at anytime in history gained independence. So, do I need to say more on this? I don't think so. Yet, I don't see why english-speaking Cameroon shouldn't join her french-speaking counterparts in celebrating her 50yrs aniversary in arrears, be it that we are compatriots(a family,housemates). Therefore, Cameroonians, and particularly the political elite, should revisit our history and, if I must opine, review,revise and amend our historical days celebrations. We, french and english, should respect and celebrate our important historical dates individually and/or collectively. But if me must celebrate "Independence Day" for Cameroon, let it be a day that identifies with our common history and preferable it should be when that common history began, October 1,1961. God Bless Cameroon!
Posted by: Stephen E.A | Saturday, 22 May 2010 at 01:33 PM
This Fucking Anniversary is just Illogical and Illegal. Last year it was Re-unification and now it has became Independence, what an Irony. Independence my foot.Celebrating Independence in theory.
Posted by: Chief Ayuk Arrey | Saturday, 22 May 2010 at 03:52 PM
This is about historical facta and not how someone or some group of pple feel about such dates.
ENTREPRENEUR, PLEASE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS STAMP COMMEMORATING THE 30TH ANNIV OF CAMEROON'S INDEPENDENCE IN 1990.
www.flagsonstamps.info/Cameroun.htm
look closely at the various stamps, compare those celebrating the anniversary of reunification and then
Think twice, if you re really an independent intellectual.
I am not a seccessionist, but, historical facts are so stubborn and cannot be twisted to easily.
Remember, Issa Tcheroma, minister of communication of cameroon stated recently that the only date for cameroon's independence recognised by the UN is the 1st of January 1960, what what fallacy
Posted by: Meva'a | Wednesday, 26 May 2010 at 10:54 AM
Don't worry Entrepreneur might be surfering from memory lost due to too much exposure to cold. When it comes to alling people names wow!! he/she is so good. Now historical facts are being trampered upon by an inconsiderate regime and she/he asks people "if Jesus was born on chrismas day" And to him/her that is necesary as justification. AS if religion is a bases of truth and conformity.
Posted by: A P Geofrey | Wednesday, 26 May 2010 at 01:57 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Machete Molua has replaced Issa Tchiroma as la Republique du Cameroun's Minister of Communication.
Posted by: TAGRO | Wednesday, 26 May 2010 at 02:28 PM
They want Southern Cameroonians to forget and disappear. See Southern Cameroons flags here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Cameroons.
Bamboozle free zone.
Sure, entrepreneur online would relish the job of liar-in-chief.
Posted by: Va Boy | Wednesday, 26 May 2010 at 03:14 PM
The guy is brain dead. The butcher is enjoing his moist tongue on his rectum.
Posted by: njimaforboy | Wednesday, 26 May 2010 at 03:23 PM
I thank thee that I am none of the wheels of power but I am one with the living creatures that are crushed by it.
Posted by: supra vaiders | Monday, 17 October 2011 at 01:11 PM