Giant stride:

Anglophone Cameroon literature extolled at Y’de book fair!

By Douglas A. Achingale in Yaounde

Did I say Anglophone Cameroon literature? Yes indeed! That is, prose narratives, poetry collections and plays penned by Cameroonians who hail from what are now referred to as the South West and North West regions; a literature which, for the most part, articulates the plight and aspirations of Anglophone Cameroonians in what writer and critic MbuhTennuMbuh calls “a poorly negotiated community.” A literature of the minority, just like Quebecois literature in Canada and African American literature in the USA!

                Makers of this literature could be counted only with the fingers of the hand in the early 1980s – the period of its birth. Today, however, they are in their numbers. And for a number of years now, they have grouped themselves under an umbrella body dubbed Anglophone Cameroon Writers’ Association, ACWA.

                Owing, perhaps, to bad publicity and some other obscurantist reasons, ACWA missed out on the maiden edition of the book fair organized by the ministry of art and culture, MINAC, in Yaounde a couple of years back. Nevertheless, they were on rendez-vous this year and imposingly so.

                Amongst the more than 200 stands at the fair village, ACWA’s was arguably the most sought-for and the liveliest, for the five days that the event took place. At no point in time were there less than five to seven enthusiastic visitors feeding their eyes and minds with the avalanche of displayed publications at the stand. Unlike other stands which were literally begging for visitors.

                Sales were more than impressive, and abundant joy was glaringly perceptible in the faces of all those who decided to own copies of the irresistible works procured from the ACWA stand; works of creative geniuses such as Bate Besong, Bernard Fonlon, SankieMaimo, NkemngongNkengasong, Bole Butake, Shadrach Ambanasom, Alobwed’Epie, Douglas Achingale, John Ngongkum, Nyaa Hans Ndah, MbuhTennuMbuh, Victor EpieNgome, PrisiliaManjoh, Sammy OkeAkombi, and so on and on.

Confrontation

                Of the hundreds of visitors who thronged the ACWA stand on the last day of the event was Noël MekoulouMvondoAkam, the DG of the National Social Insurance Fund, CNPS. No sooner did he appear, with an anonymous friend of his, than his eyes began sailing through the multitude of titles before him. It did not take long for the hungry eyes to land on an enticingly catchy title: “A Glossary of Cameroonian Pidgin English” by John NkemngongNkengasong. The prolific author was sitting nearby, watching pensively.

                In cold and cranky English, the DG sought to know the price of that newly published hard-cover volume, Nkemnngong’s latest in the market. The author’s reply was that it was only for exhibition and not for sale because that was the only copy he had. However, he continued, if it was to be sold, it would cost 40 000 FCFA, for it costs 41 Pounds online.

                “What! 40 000 Frs! You’re not serious!” MekoulouMvondo fumed, turning his steps away.

                “How much did you expect to buy it?” Nkemngong spat out, livid with rage. Now fretting, he immediately stood up and picked up the book. “Are you surprised at the price? A book of this quality? Then you don’t know books!” he thundered.

                Apparently thrusting his tail between his hind legs, Mekoulou and his friend disappeared from the place in thin air! 

Recognition

                Meritorious writers were recognized throughout the event for their landmark contributions to Cameroon literature. Onlookers were nevertheless taken aback when only one amongst the five or so writers recognized was Anglophone. “What of other talented literary technicians like Bate Besong, Bole Butake, MbellaSoneDipoko, etc.?” many asked in unison. “We hope they won’t make this same error in subsequent editions of the book fair,” they comforted themselves.