CAMEROONIAN IN THE DIASPORA: A VITAL WEAPON FOR EC...

RANSBIZ: CAMEROONIAN IN THE DIASPORA: A VITAL WEAPON FOR EC...: Read from the CEO      Cameroonians in the diaspora have been very instrumental in the development of the country es...

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NO REASON TO KILL

Some said let us blame it on God

Some said blame it on race

The world is still ablaze,

From the fire of hate

Yes! The one we people create

When my home was rampaged,

And my people died under rage

With no respect of age,

All I saw was people

No, it was not religion behind the gun

Under the light of the sun,

I saw the fire in your eyes

And felt your hearts cold as ice

You were flesh and blood

You were nothing odd

You lived like us, natives

Some I called friends and relatives

So please let us not pretend,

To see what you defend.

It wasn’t race,

It wasn’t religion.

You find the reasons forever,

Because there was none ever,

When you pulled the knife,

And you took a life,

It was all you

You know that’s true.

Don’t hide cowardice behind religion,          

Because all I see is opinion.

Don’t hide fear behind a gun

Because you fool no one.

Don’t tell me it is about color

Color is one under ‘humane’ law.

At the end when all is done,

We were all victims

Just on different teams

Yours a team without reason

And mine a world wanting to be free.

By Hilda S. Ndenecho

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RANSBIZ: CAMEROONIAN IN THE DIASPORA: A VITAL WEAPON FOR EC...

RANSBIZ: CAMEROONIANS IN THE DIASPORA: A VITAL WEAPON FOR EC...: Read from the CEO      Cameroonians in the diaspora have been very instrumental in the development of the country es...

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3) A NEW SCHOOL WEEK

Almost all the pupils looked pretty bright and neat today. Monday opened a new school week. The pupils were lined up for devotion. The flag prefect had just climbed the flag pole and hung up the national flag. The teachers were making sure the pupils were in straight lines.

“Put your hands on the shoulder of the person in front of you and stare at their occiput.” Madam Regina kept shouting. All the noise ceased when the head teacher and a few staff took to the front of class five and six which served as a podium. Madam Regina led the pupils in the Lords prayers. It was then time for the national anthem.

“Attention!” commanded the head teacher. Ms Regina the tuned the anthem in a very sharp tone, one that would have shattered a glass window.

The pupils all joined in pride as the sang,

“O Cameroon thou cradle of fathers

Holy shrine where in our midst they now repose…”

Like most Cameroonians, the start was usually loud and then the volume and diction dropped at the middle only to pick up momentum at the chorus. After a brief moral lesson from a teacher, the pupils listened to announcements from the head teacher. The following week was arts and craft week. The pupils were each to present an art and craft material which will be graded and the marks filled in their report cards. After devotion was over, a pupil tuned a marching song as the pupils marched to their classrooms.

Home again again

Home again again

When shall I see my home?

When shall I see my native land?

I will never forget my home

This was one of the songs the pupils sang as they marched to their classrooms.

Arata ship for bed,

Monkey leak ye lass, some naughty pupils added at the end of the song.

‘I saw Paul Biya in the bush market

He was selling strong canda

He was selling one for 25

In the name of the Republic Cameroon’ Was another popular song the pupils used in marching.

In class 2, there was so much noise. The head boy quietly jotted down the names of noise makers. Lum seemed to be leading the noise. She was narrating how her loose tooth fell out and what she later did with the tooth. Bih who was spying at the window soon whispered, “Mr. Boniface is coming. They all ran to their seats and opened their English readers pretending they were studying. Mr. Boniface entered the class and looked at them sternly. He then turned to the head boy. Right away the head boy handed him a list of noise makers.

“If you hear your name, come out quickly.” Mr. Boniface ordered. The pupils prayed silently. Some made the sign of the cross hoping if their names were on the list, it will suddenly disappear.

“Ngwa, Bih, Lum, Babila, Anjikwa, Camerica, Mangiento, Jean Pierre, Aggie….” Mr Boniface called. Once they were out, he gave them each five strokes of the cane. It was embarrassing to cry in front of the class, so most of them shocked it and saved the crying for later once they were seated. They would bow their heads over the bench and hide their faces once they cried silently, then they would dry their eyes and look brave.

 After roll call, Mr Boniface asked them to bring out their readers and turn to chapter two.

“Today we will learn about the plural of certain nouns…” Mr Boniface said with a smile. “Who can tell me what a noun is?” Mr Boniface asked. Manka’s hand immediately shot to the air before he could finish the question.

“I sir! I sir.” Shouted Manka.

“Yes Manka tell us the answer.” Mr. Boniface said.

Manka stood confidently and said, “A noun is a word which is a person, place, or thing.”

“Good girl. Class clap for her.” Mr. Boniface said with a big smile. The class clapped in symphony. After English, came mathematics which was hated by most pupils. Twenty minutes into the math’s class, the minds of the pupils were not still in class, they were now anticipating sound from the large school bell. The school bell was an old car tire wheel tied to a pole. A metal rod rested on it and the school prefect would hit it during break and when classes were ended for the day.

At the sound of the bell, the pupils shouted “Yeeeeh!” their voices could be heard from the church on the hill. They all ran out to play. Not even the scorching sun could stop them now.

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2) LUM’S TOOTH

It was Saturday. As usual, Mama made lum sweep the yard before going out to play. Lum had been dying to go see Anjikwa. She was eager to show her friend her tooth that had just fallen out. Fortunately, Anjikwa came down to play with Lum.

“Good afternoon aunty,” Anjikwa greeted.

“Good afternoon, my daughter. Lum get some bananas and an orange from the fridge for Anjikwa.” Mama said with a smile. Lum strutted off to get the fruits and Anjikwa marched behind here.

“No playing in the house and no playing with mud or water.” Mama shouted after them. There was no response. She doubted they had heard her at all. Once Anjiwa had eaten her fruits, the girls headed to the back yard.

“What did you want to show me?” Anjikwa asked impatiently. Lum put her hand in her pocket and brought out the tooth. Anjikwa stared at it as if it was gold. Lum then showed her the space of the missing tooth in her mouth.

“Wow that is beautiful. Will you throw the tooth away?” Anjikwa asked.

“No, do you want my tooth never to grow again. My father said I must not let a cock see me smile or my tooth will not grow. Also I must run round the house ten times with the tooth and then through it on the roof for it to grow again.” Lum said.

“That is great. I will do that as well when my tooth falls out so it will grow back.” Anjikwa said excitedly.

“Let us run together so I can throw the tooth on the roof.” Lum said. Both girls then ran round the house ten times and Anjikwa tossed the tooth on the roof.

They then sat on the veranda and played as they sang;

My grandmother is sitting on a chair

She hasn’t heard what the doctor has said

Wupie wupie wupie awup

The time in the morning is six o’clock

We have to go and brush our teeth

Wupie, wupie wupie awup….

As they played, the sun smiled on them and so did life. They later played hop scotch and later eh eh. By sundown, they were both worn out. Atekwana came to call Anjikwa home. Neba who was playing with Atekwana was back as well. 

After a warm bath and a meal of Achu, Lum and Neba sat at Daddy's feet impatiently waiting for him to tell them stories. It was Saturday and daddy had not gone to work, hence he wasn't tired. He was glad to tell them a story.

"Boys and girls are you ready to hear my story?" Daddy asked.

"Yes we are happy to hear your story. What is your story about?" Neba and Lum said simultaneously.

"My story is about Mr Tortoise and Mr Deer. One day, Mr Deer bragged to Mr Tortoise saying he was the fastest in the forest. Mr Tortoise challenge Mr Deer to a contest. Mr Deer knowing how slow Mr Tortoise was, gladly accepted. Before the contest, Mr Tortoise went to his relatives and asked them to hide along the racing track at different stages. During the day of the race, as Mr Deer ran confidently, he kept catching up with Mr Tortoise relatives along the track and they passed off as Mr Tortoise. When Mr Deer got to the finish line, Mr Tortoise himself was already there." Daddy narrated

"Wow Mr Tortoise is very smart."Neba said amazed.

"Yes boy, Mr Tortoise is smart. Sometimes wisdom beats skill or strength." Daddy said.

"Tell us another story daddy." Lum begged.

"Tomorrow my queen.You have to go to bed now." Daddy said. Lum frowned and grumbled. Mama led the kids to their room. She then returned to the sitting room to watch TV with her husband.

Just then Lum screamed. Her frightened parents ran to see what was wrong.

"What did you do to Lum?" Mama asked Neba angrily.

"Mama she kept putting her hands on my head. she was disturbing me from sleeping, so pinched her hand." Neba said confidently as if say Lum got what she asked for.

"Don't cry Lum. Neba do not pinch her again.Now you both go to sleep." Daddy said sternly covering them with the blanket.

Once they were calm, Mama and daddy left. Once they were in the corridor, they heard another scream.

"Oh my! What am I going to do with this child." Mama said tiredly.

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