OPINION: One and Indivisible’: Really? A look at Cameroon’s complex identity crisis

By Hans Ngala
Members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) have a catchphrase that they love to tout “Cameroon remains one and indivisible”. This sing-song phrase of theirs is rarely ever pulled when they are in their meetings by themselves but is a refuge they seek when they want to challenge those who disagree with how they have run the affairs of this country for more than four decades.
However, to pretend so shamelessly, that Cameroon is one (never mind the divisible part), is a mockery of history and facts that are staring us in the face. The fact of the matter is that Cameroon has a complex (sometimes amoebic history). Before the Germans came, no such thing existed as Cameroon in the sense in which we now know it. When the Germans came, they carved the territory up into what we mostly know today as Cameroon though it was the ancient Portuguese who are credited with naming the country “rio dos camaroes” (or river of prawns) due to the many shrimps they found in the Wouri River back then.
After Germany was defeated in the First World War, Britain and France split the country between themselves, contributing to the dual linguistic and cultural heritage that the country has today. To pretend that the country is simply “one and indivisible” is to deny these historical facts. The British Cameroons was administered separately through Eastern Nigeria while French Cameroun was administered separately by the French as well. The British colonial officers chose Indirect Rule as their form of administration (delegating day to day administrative duties to local traditional rulers) while the French colonial administrators chose to give French Cameroonians the belief that they could be assimilated and become French even though they were black Africans.
This approach to governance has largely influenced how these two parts of Cameroon view contemporary issues. In the psyche of the Anglophone, he knows what leadership he wants and cannot tolerate certain corrupt practices. This is very glaring in the structural developments of both parts of Cameroon. A panoramic view of Bamenda (the largest Anglophone city in Cameroon) tells of a sprawling metropolis with skyscrapers, manicured lawns and other impressive real estate properties. Some of Cameroon’s top health facilities such as the St. Elizabeth’s Cardiac Center in Shisong, the Banso Baptist Hospital and Mbingo Baptist Hospital, are all the products of Anglophone resilience and excellence with zero contribution from the government for these institutions. The Baptist hospitals have now spread to French-speaking parts of Cameroon with notable structures that even rival some government ones in Yaounde and Douala as well as in the Far North’s Meskine.
The same holds for education. The University of Buea which was created in 1994 to cater mainly to Anglophone’s who felt they were being Francophonized in Yaounde University, is today one of the most prestigious in the country, noted for its academic excellence, world-class facilities and high standards of research. It now attracts students from French-speaking backgrounds in the country who are now largely adopting an Anglophone education due to the numerous opportunities an Anglophone education affords.
Anglophone Cameroonians are also culturally conservative and respect traditional family roles as opposed to their more progressive counterparts. It is no secret that Anglophones are polite, family-oriented people while their Francophone counterparts have a reputation for being arrogant and uncouth for the most part.
The ongoing conflict raging on in the former Southern Cameroons is a demonstration of the Anglophones’ dissatisfaction with the poor leadership of Paul Biya and the Ahmadou Ahidjo regime before him. Anglophones have complained for ages about their dissatisfaction with the mediocre standards they see in the country. This is because as competent as Anglophone Cameroonians are, they know that they can handle the affairs of the country much better if they were in power. People will never die at an Anglophone hospital because they were unable to pay first (which is a mainstay characteristic of Francophone-led government hospitals).
The cultural differences between Francophone and Anglophone Cameroonians are not just incidental or insignificant quirks of history; they are deeply embedded in the fabric of the nation’s identity. These differences shape the way people approach governance, education, healthcare, and even personal values. The contrast between the Anglophone’s more conservative, community-oriented approach and the Francophone’s often more centralized, state-driven style is reflective of the colonial legacies left by the French and British. Yet, while these differences have contributed to tensions and dissatisfaction, they should not be viewed as irreconcilable divisions. Rather, they represent the potential for a rich, pluralistic society that, when managed well, could become a source of strength rather than division.
In countries like Canada, cultural and linguistic differences are embraced as a vital part of the national identity. The recognition of English and French as official languages and the celebration of multiculturalism have not only enriched the Canadian experience but have also fostered unity in diversity. Cameroon can, and should, follow a similar path. The solution is not to erase these differences, but to acknowledge and celebrate them, ensuring that both Anglophones and Francophones have a voice in the governance of the country. By recognizing the strengths that each community brings to the table—whether in education, healthcare, or governance—Cameroon has the opportunity to craft a more inclusive and dynamic future.
For this to happen, there needs to be a conscious effort from all stakeholders to promote unity through respect for cultural differences, rather than attempting to force a homogenous national identity. The path forward should focus on building bridges, not walls, between Cameroon’s diverse communities. Only then can Cameroon genuinely become “one and indivisible”—not through the denial of its differences, but through the celebration of them. The diversity of Cameroon, if harnessed properly, could very well be its greatest asset in building a more prosperous, stable, and unified nation.