Oscar C. Labang
Anglophone Cameroon Poetry has been expressed through various channels. Bernard Fonlon’s strictly Western English grammatical convention was followed by John Menget’s Pidgin English style of writing and Tanla Kishani’s adoption of the indigenous language medium.
In recent years, Bate Besong, Nol Alembong, Bole Butake, John N. Nkengasong, Matthew Takwi, Kucha Kucha and a host of others have developed diction that is more violent and “attackist”, especially on the issue of the substandard position of the Anglophone and the manipulation of the Cameroonian citizenry.
It is however necessary to point out that these poets were violent in varying degree, with some opting for raw unadorned vitriol while others employed subtle, though biting attacks. Then there is Shadrach Ambanasom whose focus is on the romantic—making for the variety of expressions in Anglophone Cameroon Poetry.
Literature constitutes the dramatization of human conditions and relations. Consequently, the greatness of a culture is measured by the quality of its art. When human conditions become too complex and beyond human computation, it becomes the duty of poets to, not only exorcise the myths and mysteries but to chart new doable visions for humanity. In this way, poetry becomes a replay of the patterns of human predicaments and an expression of our most common dreads, anxieties and desires. Thus, the most significant of human statements have been made by poets in the form of experiences communicated for intellectual and sensuous pleasure.
In our case, a new generation of poets has emerged whose vision of life has been wrought under the grip of a tyrannical and fear instilling proto-democratic regime in the vestments of “advanced democrats”. Most of these poets were born in the last hours of the Ahidjo regime and the early days of the Biya’s (New deal). Their recollections are mired in horror and hopelessness and diagnose the grossly tribalised, anti-human and vulgar situation in their society. They have witnessed suffering and are still suffering in the hands of highly propagandist politicians and are therefore hostile towards the regime and sceptical about whatever it offers as solutions.
In a bid to invigorate humanity with intellectual and emotional zephyr, the poets have not only raised their artillery to confront the ideological sterility, political Mafia, administrative inefficiency, economic epilepsy and religious proliferation, but have also celebrated national heroes (intellectual and political), village life, myths and prophecies as well as the more pressing questions of Globalization.
Above all, in their verses, these emerging voices have revisited Cameroon history to tell the story of twin brothers. They recount how one day, one of these brothers suddenly proclaimed himself the heir to the vast homestead they were supposed to share.
These emerging voices are the chroniclers of our time for a generation not yet born.
*The slightly different version of Our Emerging Voices was published as an Introduction to the Author's Anthology of Young Anglophone Poets.
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