Ngaoundere: Teenage writer summoned to court over published book

By Joe-Pavel Nyuysuliy 

Marzouka Oummou Hani just succeeded in her Baccalaureat examination, but a court case over her book, has deprived her of celebration.

“My Destiny or My Father”, the book published in May 2023, tells the story of a young girl, “Astawabi”, whose father imposes a man on her. Determined to pursue her dreams and not marry against her will, she opposes her father’s decision despite the repercussions involved.

The 150-page book paints a picture of what many young girls face in the North on a daily basis.

However, the fact that she named characters in the novel after historical figures in the chiefdom and used Idool as the setting, the village head, Mohaman Ahman, considered it a desecration of the community’s ancestry.

He wrote a complaint to the Minister of Arts and Culture, and further dragged the 17-year-old to court, demanding a payment of 150 million FCFA.

“She took the exact name of Idool with the same description” the chief said.

“My father founded this village. He was called Yaya Oumarou. He was also known as  ‘Sidi’ the guide. He was loved. Idool is known at the national and international level and attracts tourists thanks to him” chief Mohaman pointed out. He said the names of such figures were tarnished in the book with their usage to represent negative practices in the North.

“She decried the charia law, rape and the subjugation of women. But why use Idool?” a notable questioned. “Why use characters that have once lived in this village. Even if it’s fiction people will translate it as reality” he noted.

The chief and his aides are said to have asked the young writer to remove the unwanted parts from the book, which she declined.

Mohaman Ahman has been widely criticized for his actions. Critics consider his actions politically motivated with the aim to have the book completely banned.

According to Marzouka’s family the village leaders had spread the impression that the girl was being instigated by elderly people.

The collective of lawyers handling the case, led by barrister Raphaël Deugoué, qualified the Idool chief’s allegations as baseless, quoting that the right procedure which ought to involve a prior investigation to back their claims, was not respected.

The charge of blasphemy which Marzouka is being accused of, falls under Section 241 of Cameroon’s penal code, where anyone found guilty may face six weeks to six months imprisonment.

The procedure is seen as an attempt to prevent the young writer’s brilliance and efforts to raise awareness about the ills in her region.

A UNESCO Institute of Statistics report shows that more than one million girls between 10 and 19 years of age (31.9% of all girls) in the region, are affected.

Families in the North have remained steadfast to basic traditions, which require that only boys have the right to higher education. Even those who have agreed to send their daughters to school believe that knowing how to read and write is sufficient.