The problem that concerns this research is the issue of assimilation of the Anglophone inherited colonial culture by the established Francophone leading government of the country of Cameroon. The insistent abuse and brutality of citizens of the English speaking part of Cameroon who cannot express themselves in French. The careful plan to subside the English system of education and judiciary to replace it with the French system. The deliberate desire to reduce the dual cultural heritage of the colonial masters to a new supremacy of a culture.
Within this problem, many questions raised are such as; does the English system pose a threat to the French in Cameroon? Is the battle between the two operating systems as a result of neo-colonial influence or it is as a result of the feeling of cultural superiority by the French speaking Cameroon? If the Anglophone Cameroonian feels dominated, then in what aspects of daily life are these aspects of dominance seen within the context of Cameroon.
Table of Contents
MOTIVATION
INTRODUCTION
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM/QUESTION
RESEARCH METHOD
PURPOSE OF STUDY
Chapter 1
1.1 DEFINITIONS
1.1.1 CULTURAL DOMINATION
1.1.2 NATION BUILDING
1.2 BRIEF HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF CAMEROON
1.3 CASE STUDY
1.4 ANALYSIS OF THE CASE STUDY
Chapter 2
2.1 LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN POST COLONIAL CAMEROON
Chapter 3 LANGUAGE STRATEGIES AND TRANSFORMATIVE MODELS FOR NATION-BUILDING IN CAMEROON
3.1 FROM CULTURAL DOMINATION TO CULTURAL AUTONOMY
3.2 THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN: BILINGUALISM AND NATION BUILDING
3.3 THE AFRICAN LINGUA FRANCA MODEL
3.4 TRANSFORMATIVE STRATEGIES FOR NATION BUILDING: THE UBUNTU MODEL FOR AFRICANS
3.5 MODEL FROM OTHER MULTILINGUAL CONTEXTS
CONCLUSION
BIBLOGRAPHY
Research Objectives and Themes
This research aims to analyze the impact of cultural and linguistic domination on the process of nation-building in Cameroon. By examining the marginalization of the Anglophone population within a system heavily influenced by Francophone assimilationist policies, the study seeks to highlight the ethical crises resulting from these power imbalances and propose transformative models for achieving sustainable national unity.
- Cultural domination and linguistic marginalization in post-colonial Cameroon.
- The impact of Francophone-led government structures on Anglophone identity.
- Societal consequences of exclusionary administrative and legal systems.
- Applicability of the Ubuntu philosophy as a framework for national cohesion.
- Comparative analysis of multilingual nation-building strategies in other contexts.
Excerpt from the Book
1.3 CASE STUDY
This is the story of a man nicknamed “fan boy” (fine boy), an elderly man who loved jokes and children so much that he always referred to himself as a fine boy. In the month of March 2014 I was still serving as a pastor in Abongmbang in the East Region of Cameroon. There, I went through all sorts of insults and mockery because I was an Anglophone trying to gather a congregation of God’s people by my broken French. I was referred to as “Anglo-fool” and for them, it was an insult and a very big one for a Francophone to call you among his/her peers as; ‘regarde moi cet Anglophone.’ Just for saying that, you were despised and made fun of. On the 13rd of March 2014, I decided to take a leave to spend some time home with my family. As I reached home and alighted the taxi, there were policemen who had mounted a road block just near my entrance.
Behold was the bouncing ‘fan boy’ going to the market with his gourd of palm wine for sale. Not in any car or taxi, this above 75 years old man was passing by when suddenly one of the officers shouted “heh, arrête! et présente toi” (heh! Stop there and present yourself). As confused as the old man was, he didn’t even think that it was directed to him and so he continued on his way. Without taking time to explain things to him, the young officer pulled the old man by the cloak and he and all his drinks went to the ground. That was not even the problem. The issue was that he kept speaking to the old man in French and when the old man was speaking Pidgin-English, he wouldn’t listen and rather insisted that he spoke in French.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Provides fundamental definitions of cultural domination and nation-building while detailing the historical and political backdrop of Cameroon, including a specific case study of linguistic discrimination.
Chapter 2: Analyzes how language and culture are utilized in post-colonial Cameroon as tools for marginalization, specifically focusing on the exclusion of Anglophones from government recruitment and public life.
Chapter 3: Explores potential solutions and transformative models, such as cultural autonomy, the utilization of Pidgin and "Franc-Anglais" as common bonds, the Ubuntu philosophy, and lessons from other multilingual nations like Canada.
Keywords
Cameroon, Anglophones, Francophones, Cultural Domination, Nation Building, Linguistic Discrimination, Assimilation, Ubuntu, Post-colonialism, Bilingualism, National Unity, Human Rights, Marginalization, Social Conflict, Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how cultural and linguistic domination hinders the process of nation-building in Cameroon, specifically focusing on the tension between the Anglophone minority and the Francophone-dominated government.
What are the primary themes discussed in this work?
Central themes include the legacy of colonialism, the systemic marginalization of English-speaking citizens, the impact of administrative and legal assimilation, and the search for authentic national integration.
What is the primary research question?
The research seeks to understand if the assimilation of the Anglophone heritage by the Francophone government poses a threat to national unity and in what aspects of daily life this dominance is experienced.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a qualitative research method based on an "insider perspective," incorporating personal observation, critical hermeneutics, and analysis of written materials to interpret the experiences of those affected by these power dynamics.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers definitions of key terms, a historical overview of Cameroon's colonial past, case studies of linguistic harassment, an analysis of discriminatory recruitment practices, and proposed transformative strategies for national cohesion.
Which keywords define this academic work?
Key terms include cultural domination, Anglophone marginalization, nation building, Ubuntu philosophy, and post-colonial identity.
How does the author interpret the case of "fan boy"?
The author uses this incident as a micro-level illustration of systemic linguistic discrimination and the impunity of law enforcement agents, which highlights broader ethical failures in the current governance of Cameroon.
What is the Ubuntu model as suggested by the author?
The author presents Ubuntu as an African philosophy of solidarity—"I am because we are"—to argue for a society where human interconnectedness, hospitality, and mutual respect override divisive individualism and exclusionary politics.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Rev Emmanuel Wayi (Autor:in), 2016, Cultural domination as a hindrance to nation building in Cameroon, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/351811
