Correcting Calixthe Beyala’s Misrepresentation: Southern Cameroons Is Not a “Translation Problem”
Calixthe Beyala, such remarks reflect not only a lack of precision, but also a distortion of history, and it is necessary—especially for the education of French-speaking audiences—to set the record straight.
Independence Dates Are Crucial
Republic of Cameroon: January 1, 1960 (independence from France).
Southern Cameroons: October 1, 1961 (end of British rule).
No Treaty of Union
International law requires a treaty to merge states. None exists between the Republic of Cameroon and Southern Cameroons.
No Consent to Assimilation
The people of Southern Cameroons never voted to become bilingual subjects of a centralized state.
It’s Not a Language Issue
It is about sovereignty and the right of a people to self-determination, as mandated by international law.
Conclusion
Calixthe Beyala’s remarks may reflect widespread misconceptions, but they must be corrected. Southern Cameroons is neither a translation problem nor a regional grievance. It is an unfinished business of decolonisation—a conflict between two states, one of which has been denied its independence.
The intellectual duty of writers, scholars, and leaders is to tell the truth and not to perpetuate narratives that serve power at the expense of justice.
Uchiba Nelson
Contributor, The Independentist
Southern Cameroons Is Not a “Translation Problem”
