Canute - Chronicles from the Heartland

I Weep For Bamenda

By Canute Tangwa

Apparently, as a Buea boy I have no business weeping for Bamenda aka Abakwa. I should not weep more than the bereaved! However, two things took me up country: one that entailed weeping, pain and sorrow - the death of one of our best and brightest, Peter Terence Awa alias Peter T (Binot) and a joyous event in far-off Fundong - the traditional and 'whiteman' wedding of my friend in need and in deed, Ivo Lysinge or simply Papin or Marvé to friends.
 
I used a stone to shoot two birds! We hit the road from Douala in the evening of Friday, October 16. It was bound to be interesting because I was in the company of friends I have known for over 35 years!

Guinea-Conakry: From Glory To Decadence

BY CANUTE TANGWA

On October 2, 1958, Ahmed Sekou Toure said ‘NON’ to General De Gaulle and wrested independence from France. “We prefer freedom in poverty than wealth in bondage”, he thundered to the face of the insufferable French and his bemused peers like Leopold Sedar Senghor and Houphouet Boigny. French reaction was swift and telling (economic sanctions) but Guineans clung to their dignity.

SECURITY CONCERNS IN THE GULF OF GUINEA: AMERICAN, REGIONAL AND COUNTRY RESPONSE

By CANUTE C.N. TANGWA

According to Chester Crocker, former US assistant secretary of state for Africa, “there is more piracy in the Gulf of Guinea than anywhere else in the world”.¹ Thus, the Gulf of Guinea (GG) is as insecure as the Straits of Malacca² and the maritime domain that covers the territorial waters (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles) and exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles) from the Somalian coast.

Notes from Douala

By Canute Tangwa

Douala-Mbeng also has a number of historical monuments. For obvious reasons, I do not mean German or French monuments. I mean authentic visible and invisible Cameroonian historical monuments.

Though Douala-Mbeng saw the Portuguese, English, Germans and French, it witnessed over and above all the real fight for our independence! I do not know how many Cameroonians or Doualans, especially, bother to ask the right questions. Really, if you ask the right questions, as they say, you will get the right answers: questions about who we are, where we come from and where we are heading to.

A Virtual Mola In The Heart Of Bui

By Canute Tangwa

I traveled to Bui Division after a 12-year or so absence. Do not wince. Prince Nico Mbarga once sang, home be home, though certain developments make me wary about the notion of home.

We are now in Kumbo Town where the late Bernard Fonlon lies in peace. Indeed, just as the first glowing yellowish sun rays pierced the dry pitch-cold morning air at the Njavnyuy Motor Park, I muttered something to Verla Victor that came straight from the recesses of my heart.

JOTTINGS FROM DOUALA: ANGLOPHONES IN DOUALA-MBENG

BY CANUTE TANGWA (First published on 02/01/2008)

Douala-Mbengers like other Cameroonians are worried about the state of preparedness of the Indomitable Lions at the upcoming 2008 African Cup of Nations. They have temporarily forgotten about their litany of sorrows that begin and end with poor this, poor that.

THE FEAR OF CHINA SHOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

BY CANUTE TANGWA (First published in THE POST on 14/03/2007)

On May 13, 2004, The Economist sounded a jarring note, “a fascinating drama is about to be played out in the world’s biggest country. China’s economy is growing too fast for comfort, and the country’s leaders know it. In recent weeks they have promised forceful measures to cool things down, but it is not clear what they will or can do”.