Cameroon Information and Education Day(CIED) in Colorado
May 7, 5 to 7 p.m.
[/media-credit] Cameroon dancers perform in front of the National Assembly in Yaounde, Cameroon. July 7, 1996.
The thought that Cameroon will celebrate 37 years of re-unification on May 20, 2009, is interesting. This is an opportunity to educate others, American students especially, about the country.
May 20 is symbolic because, despite its composition and differences, in language and culture, Cameroon has stayed together for 37 years and beyond. For those within my school of thought, and for those of other schools of thought, I think we all have some work to do for the country.
Beyond soccer, for which our country is well-known, not many people in America know and understand the country Cameroon.
Everyone likes Cameroonian soccer tactics, but they do not know the true composition of the players. They like Cameroonian food but they do not know where to go buy the ingredients. We love America but hesitate when someone talks about transplanting some American ideas and ideals into the Cameroonian way of life. The cliché about African solutions to African problems still holds.
Cameroon has huge natural resources and vast potential in its citizens. The country has some challenges, as well as some prospects for better things. This is true. Many Cameroonians also disagree on many things. This is true as well.
But I must add — that disagreement alone will not fix any of Cameroon’s deep-rooted problems. How else can we start to resolve 21st-century challenges and build a better Cameroon other than through education and by people coming together?
