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1 | 6 Things You Wanted to Know About Cameroon but Were Afraid to Ask | Fanontaniana 6 Tsy Sahinao Mikasika An'i Kamerona |
2 | School children in Cameroon - Public Domain | Mpianatra any Kamerona - Sehatra ho an'ny daholobe |
3 | This post is part of a series shedding some light on underreported or unusual topics in many African countries. | Lahatsoratra tafiditra amin'ny andiany fandalinan‘ny Global Voicesa lohahevitra tsy dia fantatra loatra any amin'ny firenena maro ity. |
4 | Our first installment was about Madagascar. | Andiany izay nanomboka tamin'ny fibanjinana an'i Madagasikara [fr]. |
5 | In this post, Gaelle Tjat, based in Douala, tells Global Voices about six must-know issues in her country, Cameroon. | Anio i Gaelle Tjat ao Yaoundé dia manazava fanontaniana 5 momba an'i Kamerona, ho an'ny Global Voices. |
6 | This post is republished and translated from her personal blog Amazing Tjat Bass with her permission. | Miaraka amin'ny fanomezan-dàlana avy aminy no namerenana namoaka ity lahatsorany avy any amin'ny bilaoginy manokana, Amazing Tjat Bass, ity: |
7 | 1. Besides President Biya, who are Cameroon's most influential or famous personalities today? | 1. Ankoatra ny filoha Biya, iza avy ireo olona mbola to teny/malaza ao Kamerona amin'izao fotoana izao ? |
8 | Cameroonian citizens often ask themselves the same question. | Paul Biya - Sehatra ho an'ny daholobe |
9 | So if you happen to know the answer, please kindly enlighten us. | Na isika olom-pirenena tsotra izao aza dia manontany tena. |
10 | But if there is something people should know, it is that the Cameroonian political system was designed in such a way that only one person can be in the spotlight at all time (see photo below). | Ka raha mahita ny amin'izy ireny ianareo, mba ampahafantaro anay. Kanefa tsy maintsy fantarina fa ny rafitra Kamerone dia narafitra mba tsy hanasongadina olona IRAY. |
11 | Paul Biya - Public Domain | Na farafaharatsiny, eo amin'ny sehatra politika. |
12 | In that context, it is quite a challenge to identify other influential figures. | Sarotra araka izany ny hahita olona to teny ao anatin'io vanim-potoana io. Anatin'ilay fe-potoana. |
13 | But in the long run, one can see that there are some potential “decision-makers” who are currently keeping a low profile. | Manàja tena maka sisiny ireo olona tena manana ny toetran'ny ho to teny. Tsy ho ela dia handefa azy ireny any am-ponja ny “papangolahy”. |
14 | This is the best way to avoid being sent behind the bars by the ubiquitous “sparrowhawk”. | Araka izany dia ireo olona malaza, fa tsy ireo to teny, no horesahantsika. |
15 | So let us talk about famous people rather than influential ones. | Ho an'ny andian-taranaka niaina ny taona 80 (sy latsak'izay) izay misy ahy. |
16 | For those like me born in the 1980s or later, footballer Samuel Eto'o, the most decorated African player of all time, is one of those hailed figures. | Ao anatin'ity sokajy ity no azo ametrahana an'i Samuel Eto'o sy ireo rehetra izay nametraka ny akony tonga hatrany amin'ny tany misy anareo. |
17 | DIPMAN, a Cameroonian communications and marketing agency, listed the top 10 Cameroonian personalities who are most influential on Twitter and three football players top the list. | Raha tsy izay, ao amin'ny Twitter, manana ireo mpitarika anay nalahatr'i Dipman izahay. |
18 | Well, at least those mentioned in the list (pop celebrities notwithstanding) are succeeding in changing and transforming attitudes in Cameroon. | Farafaharatsiny aloha, mba nanova ny fomba fanao izy ireto, nanozongozona ny laharana ary manome antsika ny faniriana hino fa mety hisy ny hoavy mamiratra na eo aza ny fahasahirànana. |
19 | They also provide hope for a better future despite all difficulties we face here. | Ireo « olo-malaza»-‘ny fanesorana azy tanaty fandaharana. |
20 | 2. Is there any actual tension between English speakers and French speakers in Cameroon or is it others who are making too big a deal out of this issue? | 2. Tena misy tokoa ve ny fifanenjanana eo amin'ireo mpiteny frantsay sy ny mpiteny anglisy sa ny sasany no te-hanatavy resaka ? Hum ! |
21 | In my humble opinion, Anglophones and Francophones coexist peacefully all across the national territory as citizens of the same planet. The problem arises when we start thinking in terms of integration and national unity. | Raha ny hevitro manokana aloha, amin'ny maha-olon'ity tany ity ahy, miara-miaina am-pilaminana ny mpiteny Anglisy sy ny mpiteny Frantsay manerana ny firenena. |
22 | One issue of importance is that of the marginalisation of southern Cameroonians. | Na izany aza, mitoetra ny olana rehetra fidirana anaty fiarahamonina sy firaisam-pirenena no resahana. |
23 | Because of this situation, political parties such as the Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC) have been strongly seeking more autonomy and pushing for secession (The Southwest region is mostly anglophone). | Ilaina araka izany ny manipika etoana ny « fanaovana an-jorom-bala» (amin'antony) izay manjo ireo teratany avy any « atsimon'i Kamerona ». |
24 | So if one day, you feel like wandering through both the “Francophone” and “Anglophone” sides, you cannot help but notice the stark contrast between the two. | Ireo fitarainana avoitra amin-kery sy fahavononana ataon'ireo antoko toy ny “Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC)” izay mitaky ny fisintahana. |
25 | You will see that the Anglophone side will show favorably when it comes to infrastructure and orderly behavior. | Raha manao fitetezana kely any amin'ireo andiany lazaina hoe « miteny anglisy» sy miteny frantsay ianao, dia tena mandona tokoa ny fahasamihafàny. |
26 | Unfortunately, nothing is done to unite this differences at the national level. | Amin'ny lafiny miabo no iresahako ny mpiteny anglisy. Amin'ny resaka fotodrafitrasa sy ny fifehezantena. |
27 | We can even count on one hand the number of southerners who share a part of the country's “mangeoire” (wealth) [ed's note: for more on this, see Ladislas Nzessee definition of Mangeoire in his report on “Cameroonian French: Appropriation and Dialectisation,” page 121. | Indrisy anefa fa tsy hita taratra manerana ny firenena ny fandalàna azy ireny. Isaina amin'ny rantsan-tànana any amin'ny toerana sasany, ireo mpikambana nivoaka avy ao amin'ity faritra ity. |
28 | It is ”an organisation of individuals who consider ‘national wealth” as their private propriety. | Fotoana izao hamerenana ny mizàna tsy mitsindry ila. |
29 | Nzessee also speaks of accredited ethnicities. ”] | Ity lahatsoratra ity sy ity no mitondra fanazavana misimisy kokoa momba ilay olana. |
30 | Perhaps it is about time to restore some balance in Cameroon when it comes to wealth distribution. | 3. Amin'ny fiainana andavanandro, miteny anglisy ve ianao? |
31 | This article and this one provide additional excellent insight on this issue. | Frantsay sa izy roa? Mampiasa fiteny roa i Kamerona. |
32 | 3. In everyday life, do you speak English? French? | Fa ny vahoakany no, na miteny frantsay na miteny anglisy. |
33 | Both? Cameroon is a bilingual nation. | Ankavitsiana no hoe izy roa. |
34 | However, its citizens are either Francophones or Anglophones, but rarely both. In that manner, we would be only copying the example of our head of state who delivered the opening address of the Commonwealth Conference in French. | Tsy manao afa-tsy ny maka ho ohatra izay ataon'ny filohanay izahay, izay nanao tamin'ny teny frantsay ny kabary fanokafana ny fivoriamben'ny “Commonwealth” (Fiombonamben'ireo tany mampiasa sy miteny ny teny Anglisy). |
35 | The only time where bilingualism is brought into limelight is in the use of pidjin, which is a mix of French, English, Portuguese and Spanish. Pidjin came to be as a mode of communication during the slave trade along the coast of the country in order to facilitate transactions between traders and buyers. | Ny hany fotoana nanasongadinana ny fampiasàna ireo fiteny roa dia ny fampiharana ny « pidjin» , fampifangaroana ny teny frantsay, anglisy ary portiogey, espaniôla teraka avy any amin'ny morontsiraka mba hanamoràna ny raharaham-barotra teo amin'ireo mpivarotra sy mpividy andevo. |
36 | Bilingualism is also used within the context of “camfranglais,” slang language created by Cameroonians. | Na ny « camfranglais » tenin-jatovo noforonin'ny Kamerone mba hampandrimpandry saina azy. |
37 | 4. What were the happiest times or greatest moments of pride in the country? And the saddest? | 4. Ireo ora mamy teo amin'ny firenena na ireo fotoana tena nampirehareha ho an'i Kamerona sy ny ny mifanohitra amin'izay, ireo fotoana nampalahelo? |
38 | Many young Cameroonian activists are fighting to keep the memories of the country's forgotten heroes alive. | Mitolona hisian'ny fahatsiarovana ireo maherifo zary adino ireo tanora tonga saina ankehitriny. |
39 | So far, our proudest moments mostly include victories in sporting events. | Ireo fotoana nampirehareha anay dia ny fanantanjahantena no mameno azy. |
40 | Most of those memories were created by the Cameroon National Football Team, aka the Lions Indomptables (the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon): their qualification to the quarterfinals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy; their back-to-back victory in the 2000 and 2002 African Cup of Nations; their triumph at the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney; their runner-up status at the 2003 FIFA Confederation Cup. | Voasoratra miaraka aminy tantaran'ny Lions Indomptables (Liona tsy mety folahana) : ny ampahefa-dàlana tratrany tamin'ny Fiadiana amboara erantany tany Italia tamin'ny 1990, ireo fandresena tamin'ireo andian-dalào CAN 2000 sy ireo lalao olaimpika, ny fandresena tamin'ny CAN 2002;ny lalào nahafinaritra nandritry ny fiadiana ny amboaran'ny kaonfederasiôna tamin'ny 2003 sy ireo medaly olaimpika azon'i Françoise Mbango tamin'ny JO 2004 sy 2008. |
41 | Aside from football, there were also Françoise Mbango's medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. | Teo noho eo ny fotoam-piravoravoana tamin'izany, tsy nisy fiantohana azo antoka ho an'ireny tetikasa isan-karazany ireny. |
42 | But these happy moments were short-lived as no further action was carried out to ensure the sustainability of these successful stories. | Noho izany dia zoro kely ao anatin'ny fahatsiarovan'ny daholobe no mba misy nametrahana azy ireny. |
43 | So we are left with the nostalgic memory while hoping for the best at the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2016 and 2019. | Eo ampiandrasana angamba ny fandraisana ny CAN 2016 sy 2019. Ny loza nahatsiravina tao Nsam |
44 | | Momba ny fotoana nampalahelo kosa, dia tanisaiko ireo maherin'ny 1700 niharam-boina tamin'ilay zava-doza tao amin'ny Farihy Nyos nitranga ny 21 Aogositra 1986, ireo teratany Kamerone niisa 250 mahery namoy aina tao Nsam ny 14 Febroary 1998 taorian'ny fipoahan'ilay fiarandalamby 2 fitateran-tsolika an'ny SCDP, noheverin-dry zareo hanatsaratsara ny fiainany ary ny fahafatesan'i Marc Vivien Foé nandritry ny mondovision. |
45 | As for moments of great sadness, I recall the 1,700 people killed because of toxic gas released from Lake Nyos on August 21, 1986. | Farihy Nyos, avy amin'i Peuple Sawa 5. Inona no tsy maintsy fantarina momba ny Boko Haram ao Kamerona ? |
46 | I also felt so sorry for those 250 Cameroonian citizens who lost their lives on February 14, 1998 during the Nsam train explosion. | Tany am-piandohana dia nisy ireo Nizeriana mpihoko. Nalain-dry zareo ankeriny ireo mpitondra fivavahana, ny Shinoa ary ny tovovavy. |
47 | There was also the tragedy of Cameroonian international footballer Marc Vivien Foé‘s sudden death in 2003 on the football field during the FIFA Confederation Cup. | Efa navotsotra daholo ireo mpitondra fivavahana sy ireo Shinoa rehefa notakalozana vola Biya an-davitrisa maro. |
48 | Lac Nyos by Peuple Sawa | Mbola voatazona any ho any hatrany kosa ireo tovovavy. |
49 | Nsam Disaster | Any Nizeria. |
50 | 5. What should the rest of the world know about Boko Haram in Cameroon ? In the beginning, Boko Haram in Cameroon was composed of Nigerian rebels who would kidnap missionaries, Chinese people and young girls. | Ao Kamerona, tato anatin'ny fotoana vitsy, misy ireo nohadinoina/mangidy hoditra amin'ny mpitondra ary lazaina ho mifandray tendro amin'ny fahavalo (tena misy na foronina). |
51 | Missionaries and Chinese people were set free after a likely hefty ransom payment. However, the girls are still held hostage somewhere in Nigeria. | Mitondra mankany amin'ny fisamborana tsy misy fitsaràna ireny fiampangàna ireny ary hatrany amin'ny fisavàna tampoka ny toeram-ponenan'ireo ahiana ho mpiray tsikombakomba. |
52 | On the other hand, the regime is carrying out a massive crackdown on those accused (rightfully or wrongly) of colluding with the enemy. | Sarotra araka izany, ao anatin'izay vanim-potoana izay, ny “hisintona herinaratra” avy ao, ka hitondra fanazavàna ho an'ny mpamaky mikasika io olana io, izay hita ho goavana anefa any amin'ireo zana-paritra ao Afrika Afovoany. |
53 | These accusations result in arbitrary arrests and random raids of the homes of those alleged accomplices. | 6. Naninona i Serena Williams no nitafy ny fanamian'i Kamerona ? |
54 | So it is hard in these circumstances to try to get a clear picture of the issue here, even though Boko Haram is clearly a major problem in the region. | Serena Williams - Sehatra ho an'ny daholobe Indray andro, tamin'ny lalào famaranana ny Rolland Garros, nahoron'ny “la go” tao anatin'ny maitso-mena-mavo « ny fitaovany » ! |
55 | 6. Why was Serena Williams wearing a Cameroon jersey while playing at the 2002 French Open? | Nanome fifandraisana taminy sy ny “liona” vitsivitsy ny « sabitou ». |
56 | During the finals of the 2002 French Open, the tennis champion was clad in a Cameroonian green, red and yellow outfit. | Teo no nananako ny tena fomba fijerin'ireo teratany Kamerone momba ireo “lion-dry zareo”. Manana ny vola hitantànana vehivavy tahaka iny ve i Mboma ? |
57 | Those Mr. Know-it-Alls out there, or ”sabitou-sabi-all'‘ as we call them in Cameroon, insinuated that she was involved romantically with some members of the football national team. | » ; « Ratsy endrika loatra i Ndiefi ka tsy mendrika ny handray ny arahabany »; « Nolazainy tamin'i Eto'o fa tanora loatra loatra tsy sahaza azy izy »…Dia faly ery tokoa ny gazety nandray izany. |
58 | The national media were gleefully buzzing about it all. Serena Williams - Public Domain | Ny ekipam-pirenen'i Kamerona - Sehatra ho an'ny daholobe |
59 | But the real reason behind Serena's outfit is a simple one: Back then in the early 2000s, Cameroon was indeed an Indomitable football team, just like Serena in tennis. | Ary dia tsotra kely anefa no anazavàna azy : TSY AZO FOLAHANA i Kamerona tany ampiandohan'ny taompolo 2001 tany. |
60 | They stood out from other football teams by wearing sleeveless jerseys (see photo) usually sported by tennis players. | Namorona zava-baovao ry zareo tamin'ilay fanamiana tsy misy tànan'akanjo izay eny an-kianja filalaovana “tennis” no tena miasa. |
61 | Cameroon National Football Team - Public Team Serena needed an outfit for the French tournament. | Nila fanamiana i Séréna ho an'ilay tapa-bolana nilalaovana tao Parisy. |
62 | | Rehefa nandroso hevitra taminy ny PUMA, izay sady mpanohana ny “Lions” no mpanohana an'i Séréna, sarotra ho azy ny tsy hanaiky, indrindra fa tamin'izay fotoana izay dia nifampizaràn-dry zareo ilay: TOE-PANAHY TSY MANAIKY RESY. |
63 | So Puma, who was the sponsor for both the Cameroonian football team and Serena at the time, suggested that she wear their colors since she and the lions shared the same fighting spirit and she agreed. | Mijanona eo ny tantara. Satria mamolaka izay rehetra nolalovany ry Liona #LionSpirit RT@TjatBass: Naninona i Serena W. no nitafy ny maitso-mena-mavo taminà fotoana iray? |
64 | Because the Lions would tame everything in their way. | - Cyprien TANKEU (@Cyprien_T) September 13, 2014 |
65 | #LionSpirit RT@TjatBass: Why did Serena W wear the green-red-yellow at one point? | Sady izao koa e, tsy mbola nahafaty na iza na iza ny resabe. Dia izay. |
66 | I hope I have satisfied your curiosity and given you a taste of my homeland. | Antenaiko fa nahafa-po anareo ny kiriko ary mba nanome anareo hetaheta hahafantatra bebe kokoa momba an'i Kamerona, fireneko mahafinaritra. Ho tahiana! |
67 | I also hope that you will come visit to know more about my beautiful country, Cameroon. | *Fitaovany: ilazan'ny Kamerone ireo mivoiboitra manasongadina ny vehivavy. *Sabitou : ilazan'ny Kamerone ireo manampahaizana saingy manam-pifandraisana mampiahiahy |