Decolonize The Mount Cameroon Race

When the Mount Cameroon Race started in the 1970’s, it was like daring the ancestors led by the divine supremacy of Epasa Moto (god of Mount Cameroon). Traditionally, the race reached the summit and was won by indigenes except the reverend believed to be using white wizardry. Timothy Lekunze, Sarah Etonge, Tata Thomas conquered the Mountain under different companies, and fell from glory leaving the mountain in the same place, growing in height and reputation as the most gruesome race in the world.

By Christopher Fon Achobang

Daring competitors come from across the world to reenact the feats of yore. Running through Hut 2 to the summit becomes the epic tradition to uphold. Most of the runners come for fun and not just to win the prize money pledged by various business outfits. The race continues even after such businesses quit in the guise of not succeeding to impose modifications.

Yaounde authorities headed by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education almost jeopardized the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope this 2010. In typical Yaounde colonial mentality and style, they unilaterally modified the race itinerary, claiming that they were subscribing to calls for globalization of the race. Whatever globalization means to tropical pundits, to me, it is only a tendency for people to sell their birthright for peanuts.

Fortunately, his Royal Highness Chief Endeley, the suprimo of the Bakweri chiefs, supported by Lord Mayor Charles Mbella Moki of Buea and others stood up to defend the uniqueness of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope. The globalized Ministry of Sports and Physical Education bowed to the will of the people of Buea and the race of hope, to be run on 20 February 2010, will maintain the same itinerary adopted by the ancestors.

Albeit all ancestral arguments advanced against the globalization of a simple affair like the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, the Bakweri folk just paved the way for another race to bring hope to Southern Cameroonians and real ‘independence’.

The race begins with the current independence celebrations. It is a reminder that after 50 years Cameroonians are first of all Cameroonians and not French, English, Chinese, Arabs or Yaoundeans.

After 50 years of ‘Independence’ it seems most minds are finally being decolonized. We should pause and doff our hats to those who have been resisting the colonial attitude of Yaoundé for years. In 1984, Bamenda went up in flames after the Ministry of National Education attempted harmonizing Cameroon’s education systems starting with the General Certificate of Education (GCE). An infamous decision was taken by Yaounde imposing 6 subjects as the minimum for passing the GCE Ordinary Levels. I remember how we marched from downtown Abakwa (Bamenda) to present our petition against the infamous unilateral decision to Governor David Abouem à Choyi, at the governor’s office in up station, Bamendankwe. Yaounde bowed.

In 1993, Yaounde tried to force the two shifts work day on West Cameroon. At ‘reunification’ West Cameroon maintained its one shift work day. Work started at 7 A.M. to end at 3 P.M. After closing from official duties, West Cameroonians quickly changed into farm clothes and went to work on their farms, sometimes around the offices. The fresh tomatoes around the Buea Prisons are a product from such labour. Others went home and prepared to attend evening classes or study for correspondence courses to improve their academic level and professional performance. In East Cameroon (la République du Cameroun) work started at 8 A.M. and by 12 P.M. workers were rushing home for break (MIDI). This break lasted till 3 P.M. and some people never succeeded to make it back to work for the second shift from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. Once more my uncles and aunts marched in Abakwa against this change. Yaounde bowed.

For the first time opposition against Yaoundé machinations is coming from Buea. It is quite revolutionary, and should send a signal to Yaounde that the days of DIMABOLA (praise singing march to show support and present motions of support to Yaounde) on the streets of Buea are gone. Every decision taken in Yaounde impacting people across Cameroon will no longer be swallowed by Buea.

Above all, Buea’s reaction and Yaounde bowing tells Cameroonians that we are not doing enough to protest against the excesses of Yaounde. It is now clear that putting reasonable pressure and opposing Yaounde will cause the authorities there to backtrack from the perilous course they embarked on since independence.

In this anniversary year of Cameroon’s ‘independence’, Buea sends a clear message through the mediation of Yaounde, for the world to learn to accept what is good in these parts. Globalization should no longer mean Yaounde and Western capitals approving our traditional values for us to recognize them as unique and good. Egypt just proved it at the African Nations Cup. I refer to this as we have been told Cameroonians love football more than their lives. The ‘Lion Fighting Spirit’ was there, but the Indomitable Lions failed because Cameroon’s coaching bench was globalized and occupied by global coaches. China and ASEAN Tigers are strong because they recognize the uniqueness of their values in the global village.

May Epasa Moto protect Cameroonians and instill the love of fatherland in them. May it strengthen the fainted of spirit to stand up and resist infamy and stir Cameroon to higher glory, convinced that the course we steer is inspired by our deepest aspiration for our people, and not for a global people. Charity begins at home. Charity begins at home because we must be the best for ourselves and not the best students of Paris, London, Washington or Beijing. The best student of Africa, the best student of Cameroon will be that person who has understood the peculiarities and needs of the intelligent and hard working folk of this continent and land, and sets out to satisfying them. The global village will be most beautiful when its component parts become beautiful pieces of the globalization jigsaw puzzle.