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International Reputation
Cameroon is a unique nation in Africa because it is often referred to as a microcosm of Africa in the sense that it embodies all of the characteristics associated with culture on the entire continent of Africa. The perception of a state like Cameroon in America is that it is far behind in terms of infrastructure and technology, it is resource rich but heavily corrupt and poverty stricken. Interestingly there are people who are perfectly satisfied with life in Cameroon which is rich in culture within its music, languages, diversity, art, and tradition yet that aspect of Cameroon is not typically communicated worldwide. When people in North America and Europe think of anywhere in Africa they put it on a different level and label it as third world and associate it with a life of struggle and strife. Diane Chebab married a Cameroonian man and lived in Cameroon as a foreigner for twelve years. She writes a blog entitled “Away from Africa” where she wants to “show a different aspect of Sub-Saharan Africa, beyond the images of poverty, disease, and corruption.” (Tene) While she does not disregard the presence of these problems she intends to show that these are normal, happy individuals who “are leading their lives, albeit with a different outlook on culture than in Europe or the United States. As everywhere in the world, the aspirations are the same: earning a livelihood, educating one’s children and staying healthy—i.e. the pursuit of happiness.” (Tene) In a conversation with Diane I learned that there is little to no presence of Cameroon in the American or international media and if there ever is, it’s almost always negative. This contributes to the way Cameroon is perceived and communicated to the rest of the world which doesn’t reflect the reality. Is merely a facade of stereotypes and misperceptions about life in Africa and what constitutes a ‘good’ life.
While there are definitely some gray areas in terms of the way Cameroon is represented in the international community there are also some traditions and aspects of Cameroonian culture that are recognized at the international level. For example football or American soccer is an important element in Cameroonian culture that is projected on the world stage. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Cameroonian National Team known as the Indomitable Lions took the gold metal. This was a big moment for a country like Cameroon in terms of representing itself to the rest of the world through soccer which serves as one of the country’s biggest national symbol. Some important players in the national soccer culture include Roger Milla, Emanuel Kunde, Raymond Kalla, Joseph Antoine Bell, Thomas N’kono and Pierre Wome. Samuel Eto’o is the most internationally recognized soccer player and an iconic figure for Cameroonian culture. He was given African Footballer of the Year for three years in a row and he played on the European circuit where he played for Spanish giant FC Barcelona. Samuel Eto’o is a sort of celebrity for Cameroon in the sense that he is one of the figures through which Cameroon is communicated to the rest of the world.
Music is another key element in Cameroonian culture that is reflected in its international image. Makossa has been one of the main types of music recognized throughout other countries in Africa and parts of Europe. It was developed in the 1970’s and became the most popular genre of music in Cameroon which was funkier dance-inspiring music that was most associated outside of Africa with Manu Dibango who’s single, “Soul Makossa” became popular in the international community in the 1970’s. Makossa was a fad on the international level in that Dibango was popular for a short period of time but then faded out of popular culture. However the legacy of Dibango and the development of Makossa is that the genre itself produced many musicians and celebrities throughout Africa during the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. Makossa resonated across continents and moved to Paris during the 1980’s when it became more pop sounding. The scope of international reputation with regard to Cameroonian music was amplified by the developments in Cameroon’s media throughout the 1980’s. L’equipe National de Makossa was formed which brought together the biggest stars including Ndedi Eyango, Ben Decca, Guy Lobe, and Dina Bell. (Fokwang 2007)
In terms of foreign policy Cameroon has strong ties to French government, policy and language which is predominately spoken in Cameroon. Interestingly Cameroon has had a history of civil wars with its neighboring countries. There was a civil war with Chad that forced a mass of 100,000 refugees into Cameroon. There are also constant conflicts with Nigeria during the 80’s which led to a seven-month suspension of any diplomatic discussions. The countries fought over the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula in 1994 which was solved by the International Court of Justice and the Organization of African Unity. (Enc. World Nation) Cameroon does not regularly feel threatened by its neighboring countries and all national forces are used only for peacekeeping within the country.
It doesn't seem that Cameroon really makes a conscious effort to advertise itself in westernized nations such as the United States. It is not often that you will read or hear something about all the great tourism Cameroon has to offer despite its tropical climate, beautiful landscapes, rich culture and abundance of natural resources. Elements of Cameroonian culture that are able to resonate in the international community do so in a genuine way. What this means is that Cameroon doesn’t seek to advertise itself throughout Africa and the rest of the world but some of its cultural beauties are communicated to the world naturally through the nature of their skill and popularity. For example the internationally recognized symbols discussed were music and culture which naturally lend themselves to be recognized and communicated with the rest of the world.
For the most part the image purveyed to the rest of the world about Cameroonian often reflects typical African stereotypes and generalizations. Most international media outlets fail to fully cover the real picture of Cameroon because the news that is covered is always dramatic or negative. For example a story from the Associated Press was about pirates releasing hostages taken off the Cameroon coast. It said that militant groups want the peninsula to secede from Cameroon and Nigeria and these kidnappings are increasing on the West African cost. Another story discussed how an oil firm will forge forward with exploratory drilling of Cameroon while it awaits the final go ahead from President Biya. These two stories alone reflect the misperceptions about Cameroon that are communicated to the world. While the conflicts with militants do probably exist, it is interesting to note that this is the dominant coverage of Cameroon as opposed to feature pieces on the richness of Cameroon music and dance or the unique make up of ethnic tribes, languages and religions. Most Westerners probably aren’t aware that Cameroon is considered a microcosm of Africa’s rich culture which shows some of the discrepancies in how Cameroon communicates itself and is perceived in the international community
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