home

History

Murdered victims

Political Prisoners

Press Center

Gallery 

what u can do

Contact

Guestbook
 
 

.     " I'll like to say we have no more interest in the issue of culture or  nationhood than any people deserve to do in the present world of diverse cultures ; in which  every diversity is suppose to enrich and better the life of all. We are aware of the many crimes that humanity suffered in the last millennium in the hands of those claiming to defend values link to this two words. Yet since the spineless politicians who oversaw the occupation of  Republic of Ambazonia (Ex-BSC) and with it  brought it's people through un-imaginable brutality and ugliness have based their explanation for occupation just on these two  words, it has become necessary to show clearly that even  this explanation of theirs is skinless." 
 
 
 

 A NATION-STATE LIKE ANY OTHER ? 

In talking about the Ambazonia (Ex-BSC) nationhood, I will have to talk on the  Ambazonia (Ex-BSC) identity.  It's evident that one of the major identifying elements of a people is its culture and that's basically what I want to talk about. It is about the culture and cultural identity of Ambazonia (Ex-BSC) and it's evolution over the years. I should start by apologizing for using also the name British Southern Cameroons(BSC) in talking about our culture, for the name British Southern Cameroons(BSC) did not originate in our culture.And every time one uses words that have been given to you , you imprisoning yourself voluntarily. Since British Southern Cameroons(BSC) is the name used in most documents to identify us , we shall use it for now. 
 
 

 Definition of Culture 
The definition for culture I'm going to adopt for this piece is the one put forth by Bhiku Parekh: "a way of understanding, structuring, conducting, and talking about human life and encompassing all that is necessary for this purpose". The individual both on a conscious and sub-conscious level constructs cultural image through a complex process of formulation. Central to this process. is the concept of identification. At its most basic psychoanalytic usage, culture is "the earliest expression of an emotional tie with another person". Yet it is more than simply an emotional tie, it helps orient the individual sense of belonging. Identity is crucial to an individual; it defines every opinion and colors every single perspective of that individual. To better understand this emotional tie that helps orient the sense of belonging of citizen of the BSC(ROA), we will have to take a look at the evolution of their culture since humans started inhabiting the area. 
 
 

II. The effects of topography on the development of the Ambazonia (Ex-BSC) culture

b) Differences in Temperament 

It was during the 45years of join administration with Nigeria by Britain as a UN Trust Territory and the 40years since the UN plebiscite that the people of BSC(ROA) have really had much contact with other peoples. The persistence of certain cultural characteristics despite increased interaction with other peoples in a primitive people settled on a terrain for along time  is one of the most extraordinary facts noted by modern anthropology. An example of cultural characteristics that have remained peculiar to the citiizen of BSC(ROA) is their temperament. The citizen of BSC(ROA) has a very different temperament from the citizens of the surrounding neighboring countries-Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and LRC(French Cameroons). The citizens of LRC(French Cameroons) are more impulsive but under duress, the citizens of BSC(ROA) becomes more explosive than they do. Examples of this include the wild fighting that BSC(ROA) citizens  put up during WWI, making the battle of Nsanarakati-in BSC(ROA) the bloodiest 

and fiercest battle in Africa. Students from BSC(ROA) also displayed this explosive way of reacting to coercion by leading very fierce demonstrations at Universities when their rights were violated. The parents and teachers of the BSC(ROA) showed this perculiar temperament in persistent demonstration when LRC(French Cameroons) tried to replace their educational system with the less efficient francophone educational system. 
The BSC(ROA) masses carried-out very militant strikes and demonstrations all over the country in the 1990s for democratic reforms, despite the danger that it entailed at that time; again a display of their peculiar temperament. 
 
 
 

 III. Development within the BSC(ROA) before contact with Europeans. 

The psyche of the people of the BSC(ROA) developed during the more than 49500 years before 1500 AD-when the first Europeans arrived the shores of the atlantic with their big sailing ships, which will greatly increase their contact with other peoples. 

a) An Agricultural People 

In BSC(ROA) before the 15th  century, the predominant principle of social relations was that of the family and kinship association with communalism, in which families were also found affiliate members, who joined by association rather than birth. This was crucial because groups such as the family or clan owned land (the major means of production). Explained by saying the residents in any community were all descendants of the first person to settle on the land. Similarly, the labor that worked the land was generally recruited on a family basis. The family principle in the communual phase affected the two principal factors of production (labor and land) as well as the system of distributing goods. This extended family lineage and clans carried the principles of kinship alliances over large area. Communalism is one phase through which all human societies passed. In this setting, the families were headed by the older folks. With different localities favoring different activities across the territory, you had different social formations, for example, pastoralists and cultivators, fishing societies and even trading societies, which some eventually evolved into castes. Throughout the various localities some individuals and families were more successful than others, and these families established themselves as permanent rulers. Then age ceased to matter as much, because even a junior could succeed to his father. 

b) A Trading People 

Livestock became unevenly distributed much more readily than land and those families with the largest herds became socially and politically dominant, which accounts for a faster formation of Chiefdoms and fondoms in the north of  BSC(ROA) where the grassfield vegetation favored animal rearing. These various chiefdoms and fondoms exchanged the goods they produced in excess with items from other fondoms or chiefdoms, which lacked such goods. The needs thus fulfilled by trade were very few. For example, salt form the Lake Ejaham area and 
Lake Barombi, dried fish from around the Bimbia area, hoes and axes from Pinying and around Santa area, as well as, leather from other northern areas. From time salt, cloth, hoe and axes would come to serve as a form of money. 

c) Religious similarities 

A very influential factor in the development of national identity was religion. Religious leaders wield a lot of authority, as they were directly involved in implementing justice, in medicine and the arts. True is the fact that traditional religious practices existed in great variety. Yet it is worth noting the prevalent similarity between some forms of religious practices that spread throughout the BSC(ROA) before the arrival of Christianity and Islam, which prevail to this date. BSC(ROA) ancestral religions like Angbuw of the Bayang, Nkoh of the Mankon area and Ngonblow of the Ejagham are the same and the difference is just in their names , the Takebeng traditional dance of the Mankon area is also available in the Bayang area, but under a different name. Most of the traditions of the Bangwa in the south have their copies in the north. 

d) Socio-political Features 

The socio-political features, which were the outstanding indicator of development, were the increase of stratification and consolidation of the state. Thus, BSC(ROA) society before the 15th century was in a transitional stage, between the practice of agriculture (plus fishing and hunting) in family communities and the practice of the same activities within the state or within societies comparable to feudalism. 
 
 

IV.Developments after contact with Europeans.

a)Slave trade 

With the arrival of the Europeans in the 15th century and the slave trade that follows, the coastal people were carried away in the slave trade, or used for raids on their brothers who lived further inland who were then sold as slaves. These happenings caused a lot of distress, bitterness, and insecurity all over the territory. This brought all activities in trade and agriculture almost to a total halt. This caused retribalisation. People were displaced and separated from their neighbors for security reasons. For example, The Mankon, Bamunkumbit, Menda Nkwai, Banja and Mundum are originally all of one clan, But today their languages vary due to the disconnection. Another example, are the Kenyang and the upper Bayang also originally of one clan but today they speak practically different languages again a results of this disconnection. 

b) Colonization 
 

1.)29 years under German Administration. 
Colonialisation followed slave trade. In 1884 with the Berlin Conference on the partition of Africa. One year later in April 21, 1885  Britain and Germany signed a treaty transferring the BSC(ROA) regions to Germany. It was to be administered as part of the German Protectorate of Kamerun (?Schutzgebiet von Kamerun? which included part of present day Nigeria,Chad,CAR,andGabon) and separated 
from being part of the British sphere of influence. This occurred partly because of the natural markers, which made it difficult for the British to run it as part of their Nigerian colony. 
During the 29 years of the BSC(ROA) as part of the German protectorate, the Germans hardly developed their relationship from that of trading partner to that of administrator, because they fought prolonged wars of annexation with the people of BSC(ROA) especially with the Bangwa and Mankon. 
The outbreak of WWI in 1914 lead to an end to the German administration. 

2.)45years under British Administration 

By April of 1916, the British General McPherson Dobell set in the start of British administration of BSC(ROA), which lasted for 45 years. This British administration over the BSC(ROA) was confirmed in the London Declaration of 1919. The process will lead to BSC(ROA) being administered as part of Nigeria-then a British colony. Major F.H. Ruxton in 1921 will take serious steps to develop indigenous institutions to take control over native administrations. The BSC(ROA) area was later divided into two provinces- Southern and Bamenda provinces in 1949. This prevails to date, but with only a change in the name of the Bamenda province to the Northwest Province. 
The League of Nations will legitimize British control of BSC(ROA) in 1922 as a B group Mandated territory of the league.B-group were territories that though they were not ready for immediate independence, were to be prepared for independence in the near future intrestingly LRC(French Cameroons) which now occupy BSC(ROA)was as well put in this group. In 1946, the mandate was renewed as a United Nations trusteeship territory. In the 1950s, the UN under pressure and misinformation by Britain did not apply it?s Charter on trust territory on the case of BSC(ROA) as was required and requested by the leaders of the BSC(ROA). The UN preferred to play the Cold War game and integrate BSC(ROA) into what was then capitalist sphere of influence, by illegally fabricating a new theory of getting  ?independence by joining? Nigeria or LRC(French Cameroons). 
The neglect and the influx of numerous Nigerians into BSC(ROA) during the British rule caused great resentment. Thus, faced with the choice of being part of Nigeria as a province in the Eastern region or an equal partner in a two state federation with LRC(French Cameroons) then under civil war. The second choice seemed more logical. 

3.)40 years with French Cameroons(La Republique du Cameroun). 

 Overthrow of Federal Constitution and destruction of the state of West Cameroon (BSC-ROA) Administration. 

Haven been refused their original request as stated in article 76b of the UN charter .This despite the fact that the UN general assembly had voted in favour of an independent BSC(ROA).On 11th February 1961, the people of BSC(ROA) voted to be an equal partner in a two-state federation with LRC(French Cameroons) as 
the Federal State of West Cameroon. Five months later in July, Mr.Amadou Ahidjo, president of LRC(French Cameroons) who signed the agreements, laid the groundwork for the illegal overthrow of the federal constitution in the Foumban conference. Pierre Mesmer-formal French prime minister and the one time French governor to LRC(French Cameroons) has  emphasized the French government?s involvement in the Foumban constitutional overthrow. We are looking forward to more details of the roll the French government played in this whole issue, as we await the declassification of documents relating to this happenings, document which are still under the seal of French state secret. 
In 1972 LRC(French Cameroons) will conclude it?s overthrow of the federal constitution, with it the destruction of the state of West Cameroon (BSC-ROA). The executive and legislature were dissolved and the judiciary was reduced to a fin of the Judiciary of East Cameroon(LRC-French Cameroons).(Link to the action of that day) 
 
 

V. The beginning of the struggle 

a) Reactions to the usurping of power 

This usurping of power happened to a people, who had been lead to believe that public servants or leaders have only the common interest in mind. It stirred within the BSC(ROA) politicians a confused reaction. While some like Augustine Ngom Jua who had foresight understood and denounced this vicious acts, others like S.T Muna and Foncha hoped to use the strategy of patience, persuasion and the reliance on the good will of this government to correct this exaggerated hooliganism. 
Before long, it was evident to Muna, Foncha and their type that all the reasons given for the dissolution of the administrative structures of BSC(ROA) were nothing but excuses. All hopes for persuasion were not worth it. 
To emphasis the fact that the people of BSC(ROA) were insignificant to the regime of LRC(FrenchCameroons) they did not hesitate to start using almost immediately extreme methods of suppression. Later Mr.Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, a former long serving minister of LRC(French Cameroons) and present traditional ruler of Bamouns (one of the largest ethnic groups in LRC-French Cameroons), told the people of BSC(ROA), ?if they are not satisfied with the prevalent situation they should better go elsewhere.? 
The people of BSC(ROA) believed their opinion counted.But the  regimes of LRC(French Cameroons) believe different and have responded to any attempts by BSC(ROA) to bring up the topic of equal rights for discussion  with violence and repression. Making it clear  to get peace, BSC(ROA) citizens need be obedient and compliant. 
The murders of Hon.Augustine Ngom Jua and Mr.Sylvester Kilo, demonstrate this points. The brutality with which LRC(French Cameroons) gendarmes, police and soldiers conduct their business in BSC(ROA) only goes to further emphasis the point. 

b) Destruction of Infrastructure and the waste of  Ambazonia(BSC) resources 

Next on their plan was to simply occupy the territory of  BSC(ROA), transfer over the frontier to LRC(French Cameroons) what could be transfered, use the land and resources of BSC(ROA)for the benefit of LRC(French) and what could not be transfered was simply closed down to avoid the emergence of an a BSC(ROA) economic block to compete with them for power. They have purposely destroyed the economy of BSC(ROA), thus causing businesses to relocate which has lead to importation and have left the people of BSC(ROA) reliant on LRC(French Cameroons) for the supply of goods. This was done by not providing funds for maintenance of infrastructure like roads and closing State co-operations like the Powercam and Marketing Board and others. 
This accounts for the state of the roads in BSC(ROA) today. Many formal all season roads have been reduced to seasonal roads due to lack of repairs. Towns like Mamfe, Santa, Bali and others, which were booming with economic activities before , have been turned into ghost towns. 
The airports in Bamenda, Bali Tiko and Mamfe were closed and declared unfeasible. The Tiko, and Victoria seaports(BSC-ROA), which are-naturally-deep seaports, were closed, while the government spends billions of Francs CFA in contracts to dig sand out of the Douala seaport(LRC-French Cameroons). 
Businesses had already been discouraged by an unreasonably hike in taxes and charges to use the seaports in BSC(ROA). Most businesses thus moved to Douala(LRC-French Cameroons). However, the government itself used the Victoria seaport(BSC-ROA) during the 80s to export cocoa bean, when they had problems with congestion at Douala seaport(LRC-French Cameroons) 
The regime of LRC(French Cameroons) closed down Powercam(BSC-ROA) and left it?s fixed assets to rot, instead of joining it?s power generating facilities into a nationwide power grid. It refused to create a state wide power grid or simply to build turbines at the Menchumfall(BSC-ROA) to exploit it in the production of cheap power. The regimes preferred, on the other hand, to spend billions of Francs CFA, in maintaining and building new dams every day in different areas of LRC(French Cameroons). 
These cynical behavior extends to education, training and employment. There is a very disproportionate distribution of resources available for education. This unbalanced situation is also applied in the granting of employment. 
This deliberate impoverishment of our nation has compelled the vast majority of our people to earn their living in stupid, inhuman, and unnecessary jobs; like the breaking of stones in the Sabga hills in the North, or the removal of sand from the Manyu river in the South. But this have only gone to strengthen our political, instinctual, and moral drive not to want to live in this world of hypocrisy and violence of LRC(French Cameroons). 

c) The reign of terror 

The present regime  of LRC(French Cameroons) even resorts to sterilization of    BSC(ROA) citizens without their consent. When  Rev.Father Fontegh, uncovered this act he  was later murdered. 
Since the 1990s, the mass killing of unarmed BSC(ROA) citizens has become the order of the day. In the demonstration for democratic reforms and the launching of the Social Democratic party (SDF), in the demonstrations against fraud in the  municipal and presidential elections of the  90s and others; the regime responded to all of these with excessive brutality. The reasons for the killing of BSC(ROA) citizens vary greatly; from killing as a way to practice killing skills, to killing for the simple pleasure of killing. 
Che Ngwa Ghandi was arrested and tortured to death at Bamenda on the Nov 18 1992. Nobody has been able to give a concrete reason for his arrest. The forces of LRC(French Cameroons) carry out rape and all other sorts of awful crimes on our people. Six gendarmes raped Beatrice Ngon, who later killed herself in April 24 1991 as a results.Corporal Amajam, a gendarme of LRC(French Cameroon) during one of their searches in Kimbo for victims, forcefully broke into the toilet of a house, where he met a pregnant woman; whom he kick in the stomach, forcing her to deliver prematurely. Lt Sebastian Takwa, a BSC(ROA) citizen intervened to stop the further beating, Corporal Amajam shot and killed him on the spot. There has been no trial for these crimes. An incident occurred in Nkwen, during the state of emergency in the 90s when a 12-year-old threw a stone at a truck carrying soldiers; The soldiers descended(?) from the truck, kicked open all the doors of the houses in the neigborhood(?) and pulled people hiding from under the beds. They  assembled them at the seating room of the house. The Lieutenant in charge was already giving instructions for all of them, including the old women and the children, to be shot, when a Captain of Bangem-BSC(ROA) origin, showed up and stopped the killing. He instead had all the people taken to the station. 
This is just a small part of the type of aggressiveness, brutality, and ugliness BSC(ROA) are forced to leave through day in day out. For participating in an opinion pull or signing a petition on the BSC(ROA) you can end up in prison without trail for not less than 4 to 6 years, as is the case for Abel Achah Apong, Etchu Arrey and others. Or you could be killed in a very brutal way while in detention , while awaiting trial, as was the case with Fai Lawrence , whom a peace of stick was forced into his anal  was left to bleed to death; Or you could be beaten to death like Thomas Ngoh, whose corpse had several broken bones and missing toenails.(link) 
Yet the thing that puzzles us is the ease and freedom with which those who run this regime stock the stolen wealth in suppose civilised countries. They travel freely around the so called civilized countries of this world. Mr.Biya, for example, have known bank accounts with known banks in Switzerland, England and France. He has a Hospital in Baden-Baden and a Casino here in Germany. He has a 113 million-dollar house in the United States of America and  much more. This   should indeed bring shame within a lot of circles in a lot of places around the world, as this violates some of the most fundamental moral taboos of civilization (shearing the booty of a barbaric regime that typically brutalizes others in the most uncivilized manner). It is obvious that nobody can call themselves civilized and real freemen in the value of the word, if we do not develop an instinctual barrier against cruelty brutality and ugliness. This is to be shaped by men and women who have the good conscience of being human. 
 
 

VI) Conclusion

Thomas Jefferson said, ?when a system becomes unjust, a people have the right to overthrow the system." 
Ours is not only unjust, but also intolerable and humanly inadmissible.This violence committed against us, denial of our cultural identity, rejection of our equal participation in what we call home, and the exploitation are amongs the reasons why we cannot stick with LRC(French Cameroons) any more, not forgetting the illegality in the first place of the union. We know that all their thoughts towards us are evil and any thing they say is propaganda. Nothing that any of their politicians say can be taken seriously, be it about decentralisation or the referendum Mr.Biya talked of in his interview with ?Jeune Afrique?. 
     In a radio broadcast of the 90s, done in the Ewondo and Eton languages they did all in their power to incite ethnic animosity against BSC(ROA) citizens. Today, they claim we are brothers. 
In our struggle for independence what is at stake is simply our life, the life of human beings, which has become a plaything in the hands of the politicians, generals and managers of LRC(French Cameroons). 
We are refusing the rules of the game that is rigged against us. 
It is obvious that the degree of cooperation we get from the world at large is going to dictate the way and time of the end of this whole saga. The peaceful dissolution of the formal Czechoslovakia is the way we would like our nightmares to end. But if we do not get this chance, we will have to use, as Malcolm X said, ?any means necessary?. For us, it is a matter of life and death. 
We need your support to solve this impasse in a civilized way. 
May God bless you and may you walk, talk and live in his spirit. 

Political Matematics of the Cameroons 
Let Southern Cameroons=SC, La Republique du Cameroun=LRC 
In 1961, LRC+SC=Federal Republic of Cameroon 
72,LRC+SC(military bases being build)=United Republic of Cameroon 
1984,LRC+Military bases all over SC=LRC 

(link)Question and Answers in connection to the above+econs distruction( at the end link to Frequently asked Question on the BSC)