By Sally Oneke
Students, lecturers from Bloomsberg University of Pennsylvania and University of Buea, were gathered at the Am phi theater in Buea campus for a colloquim with the theme “Contemporary Approaches to English Language in Cameroon.” It was an opportunity for the both universities to exchange ideas in English and Literature. Thanks to Prof. Molindo of the University of Buea for coordinating the event.
Students from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and University of Buea during the cultural evenning.
Prof Ekema Agbaw, Professor of English from Bloomsburg University led the talks as he pointed out the corruption and imbalance of the English language in Cameroon despite 50 years of its usage in the country. He went further to ask how the imbalance of English language usage in Cameroon can be remedied.
In the same light Professor of Linguistics and Registrar of the University of Buea Samson Abangma, says language is a crucial problem in the Country. He says French and English are the two official languages, yet French dominates and English survives at the mercy of bilingualism.
While some speakers where of the opinion that English has lost battle to the majority in Cameroon, English remains a language of global communication. So people are trained to be rooted to their culture but open to the world. In this light, Dr Paul Buffong of the University of Buea threw a question which carried the day, he asks, “if culture is an identity of a people, should the national identity of Cameroon be represented by English and French even though Cameroon has its own ethnic languages?” The answer remains that globalization is of essence. Though people are trained to be rooted to their culture, they are encouraged to be open to the world.
Prof David Walker and Student from Bloomsburg University duing the cultural manifestation in Buea, Cameroon
The Colloquium was graced by a cultural evening and characterized by a dramatic excerpt from Real Mothers by Viviane Yenika Agbaw. Lecturers and students thrilled the population with poetry. There was traditional fashion parade by Bloomsburg University led by Prof David Walker who was dressed in traditional clothing from Cameroon’s Northern Region. Students from Bloomsburg University also exhibited the culture of Cameroon with Assiko music from Littoral Region and Bitkussi music from the Center Region.
