The colonial partition that keeps Cameroon split along ‘artificial lines’

A Living Witness to Colonial Rule and Resistance in Cameroon

On a sweltering day in the English-speaking village of Mudeka, across the river from Cameroon’s Francophone region, supercentenarian Atemafac Anathasia Tanjuh reflects on her childhood memories. At approximately 120 years old, Tanjuh is one of the last living links to Cameroon’s colonial past and the fierce resistance of her Bangwa people against German colonisation. Sitting among her surviving children and great-grandchildren, Tanjuh recalls the harsh realities of life under colonial rule. “They imposed their rules on us,” she says, her voice a blend of nostalgia and resilience. Her memories provide a vivid picture of a time when Cameroon was reshaped by European powers, leaving behind a legacy of division and conflict.

The Berlin Conference and the Artificial Division of Cameroon

The seeds of Cameroon’s current struggles were sown in 1884, when Germany annexed the region during the Berlin Conference. This gathering of European powers and the United States divided Africa into colonies with little regard for ethnic, linguistic, or cultural boundaries. Cameroon became a German colony, but after World War I, it was split between Britain and France under the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. The Picot Line, named after French negotiator Georges Picot, arbitrarily divided communities, separating people who shared linguistic and cultural ties. For example, the Mbo people speak English in one region and French in another, just across the Mungo River. Retired anthropologist Paul Nchoji Nkwi highlights that these borders were drawn without any consideration of Africa’s ethnographic composition. “They simply drew straight lines,” he says, noting how this disrupted natural state formations and fostered ongoing tensions.

A Legacy of Division and Conflict

The artificial borders imposed by European powers have had far-reaching consequences for Cameroon. After independence in the 1960s, the country adopted a federal system, but over time, the French-majority culture dominated, marginalising Anglophone regions. This marginalisation escalated into a violent conflict in 2016, as Anglophone separatists clashed with government forces. Over 6,500 lives have been lost, and 700,000 people displaced. For Tanjuh, the sound of gunfire today brings back memories of World War I, when her family sought refuge in caves. “Let’s hide in the caves to stay safe, just like we did back then,” she tells her family, her instincts honed by a lifetime of turmoil. Her story underscores how colonial divisions continue to shape Cameroon’s identity and fuel its conflicts.

Ethnic and Cultural Ties Across Artificial Borders

Despite the divisions, many communities in Cameroon remain culturally connected to kin across colonial borders. The Elung clan, for instance, remains divided along the Picot Line. Muangwekan, one of the Elung villages, is a coffee-growing community near the border. Its traditional ruler, Chief Atabe Emmanuel Ndonjume, is determined to preserve the village’s historical identity, even as bureaucratic proposals threaten to redraw its administrative boundaries. “This pillar was planted in 1947 by the British Commissioner in Buea,” he says, pointing to a colonial-era border marker. “It shows that the next village is four miles away.” For Chief Atabe, the pillar serves as proof of Muangwekan’s rightful place in the English-speaking region, a reminder of the resilience of cultural ties in the face of colonial partitions.

Scholarly Insights on Colonialism and Its Aftermath

Scholars like Joseph Takougang and Paul Nkwi offer valuable perspectives on Cameroon’s colonial history and its enduring impact. Takougang, a professor of African history, argues that the Berlin Conference disrupted Africa’s natural state formations, creating artificial borders that have caused lasting instability. “If not for the second partition, Cameroon would have been one big, happy family,” he says. Both scholars emphasize the need for genuine dialogue and a return to Cameroon’s pre-1972 federal system to address the Anglophone-Francophone divide. Without such measures, the country risks remaining trapped in a cycle of division and instability. Takougang also underscores the broader implications for African unity, noting that colonial powers exploited divisions to maintain control. “The more divided we are, the easier we are to exploit,” he says.

The Path Forward: Reckoning with the Past and Building Unity

The story of Cameroon serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of colonialism on Africa. For elders like Tanjuh and Chief Atabe, the colonial era disrupted established social structures and cultural practices, leaving behind scars that remain visible today. Yet, they remain hopeful. Tanjuh, sitting on the doorstep of her humble home, expresses a deep longing for peace before she leaves this world. Her words echo the resilience of a generation that has witnessed immense turmoil but continues to hold onto the hope of unity and harmony. As Cameroon grapples with its colonial legacy, the way forward lies in dialogue, a reckoning with the past, and a commitment to transcending the artificial barriers imposed by European powers. Only then can the nation heal its divisions and reclaim the peace and prosperity that once defined it.