French Cultural Centers Called To Be Conscious Of Bilingual Nature Of Cameroon

Christine Robichon French Ambassador To Cameroon

French Ambassador to Cameroon Christine Robichon has called on the management of French Cultural Centers in Cameroon to always take cognizance of the bilingual nature of the country and this should be reflected during every exhibition at the centers. This observation she made at the French Cultural Center in Bamenda on September 28 2015, during her visit to be part of the exhibition of the 34 wonders of the world when all the exhibits were all in French in a predominantly English speaking part of the Country. With great relief many saw this move by the French ambassador as a step in response to the out cry that French is the domineering language in Cameroon. This move by a French Ambassador is a challenge to some Cameroonian top government functionaries who are doing very little or nothing to use the English language at public events.

The objective of this exhibition was to display the hotspots of the world showing climate change would affect these areas thereby warranting a holistic approach in the fight against climate change or risk extinction of these natural jewels (species of plants and animals) of the world especially in some identified hot spots. She lauded the Cameroon Government for her contribution in the fight against climate change and that the upcoming Paris conference on climate change is largely contributed by Cameroon rigorous fight against climate change. Talking on why she was in Bamenda is to discard the notion that the French government has concern only for French speaking part of the country. Many people in English speaking Cameroon see very little feasible French Funded projects in the two Anglophone Regions. Christine Robichon said France is doing a lot in the C2D projects where debts are cancelled and rechanneled to develop the country. These projects are largely in the domain of agriculture under PADMIR.

The Cameroon Association of Traditional Rulers Against Climate Change headed by Fon Mbah Nyamsig of Guzang that launched an operation plant one million trees, handed a gift of a portrait of an endangered specie of birds found in the North West Region Panama Turaco to Christine Robichon. In appreciation the French Ambassador said her government shall continue to stand by the government of Cameroon in the fight against climate change and it is expected that some huge fallouts shall emanate from the Paris Conference to enhance the fight against climate change. While at the Region the French Ambassador  visited the Fon of Mankon HRM Fon S N Angwafor III, at the Ntoh Mankon (Mankon Fon's Palace) where she warmly shakes hands with the Paramount ruler of the Mankon people with English salutations. This feat could not have been the same in Nsoland of old that a woman no matter her status should shake hands with the Fon in public. Her relaxed nature at the Fon's palace and fluent use of the English language marveled all. It will not be a long exchange before Christine will go into the palace and reemerge as a typical Mafor of the grass fields cloth in typical traditional outfit. Looking quite traditional, she hangs on the shoulder her handbag that complements her as a grassfield woman.  She also paid a visit to the North West Governor Adolpe Lele L’Afrique, the Muna Foundation in Mbengwi and SDF National Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi to explain the French Funded projects in the Country and in the North West Region in particular.

By Ignatius Nji