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Papers by Ngwoh Venantius Kum

This paper aims at dispelling the misconception that the prevalence of agro-pastoral conlicts in ... more This paper aims at dispelling the misconception that the prevalence of agro-pastoral conlicts in Menchum Division of North West Cameroon is because stakeholders have no interest in resolving them. Such disputes have been a common feature in the country where economic resources generate protracted clashes not only between ethnic groups, villages and individuals, but also over the choices of economic activity. From simple crop damage, the opposition between farmers and graziers has been taking many forms, ranging from daily quarrels, frequent exchange of blows, mob demonstrations and litigation, to the use of mystical powers and conventional weapons. Although these struggles are common throughout the division, Esu, Kuk, Mmen and Wumhave singled themselves out as hotbeds. The consequences of these clashes are relected in almost all spheres of life, including the economy, education, ethnicity, gender, health, human rights, justice, nutrition, peace and politics. In the face of these catastrophic effects, the administration and people of Menchumhave have been trying in many ways to curb the disputes, albeit without any remarkable success. In 1947, Cattle Control Rules were instituted by Native Authorities who, unfortunately, lacked the legal basis to enforce any decisions and so the 1962 Control of Farming and Grazing Law was brought into force. But it also proved unworkable because stakeholders openly and obstinately refused to obey its provisions. Even the 1978 Presidential Decree creating a statutory organ (the Farmer Grazier Commission) for the settlement of conlicts has remained a toothless bulldog. Other administrative policies, such as demarcation of land, introduction of mixed farming and the barbed wire scheme intended to facilitate peaceful coexistence between the two rival activities, were implemented without any remarkable success. The holding of meetings with stakeholders, the proposals made by the World Food Organization (FAO) in 1962 and the laying down of resolutions by commissions of inquiry like the Nseke Commission (1973) and Koumpa Issa Commission (2003) were other unsuccessful measures aimed at resolving disagreements. Instead of dissipating, conlicts rather escalated, becoming acute and chronic.

As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and mult... more As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nature, nation building has been very necessary for Cameroon. Whereas this objective became an important focus for post-colonial African governments, historiography on the issue however, was dominated by discourse on the reasons and problems, rather than the policies used in achieving it. This study sets out to identify and scrutinize the different strategies that have so far been implemented to achieve this goal in Cameroon. With the help of secondary sources and using a multidisciplinary approach, fourteen nation building rules grouped into four themes have been pinpointed. These are indigenization, harmonization, centralization and building citizenship which have almost succeeded in making the country one and indivisible were it not for hidden agenda of the Francophone-dominated apparachici cum political elite of the post-colonial state. The state has been driven by the firm determination to dominate, marginalize, assimilate, subjugate, provoke and destroy the identity, heritage and institutional foundations of the Cameroon Anglophones who have been frustrated by these guidelines.

As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and mult... more As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nature, nation building has been very necessary for Cameroon. Whereas this objective became an important focus for post-colonial African governments, historiography on the issue however, was dominated by discourse on the reasons and problems, rather than the policies used in achieving it. This study sets out to identify and scrutinize the different strategies that have so far been implemented to achieve this goal in Cameroon. With the help of secondary sources and using a multidisciplinary approach, fourteen nation building rules grouped into four themes have been pinpointed. These are indigenization, harmonization, centralization and building citizenship which have almost succeeded in making the country one and indivisible were it not for hidden agenda of the Francophone-dominated apparachici cum political elite of the post-colonial state. The state has been driven by the firm determination to dominate, marginalize, assimilate, subjugate, provoke and destroy the identity, heritage and institutional foundations of the Cameroon Anglophones who have been frustrated by these guidelines.

This paper aims at dispelling the misconception that the prevalence of agro-pastoral conlicts in ... more This paper aims at dispelling the misconception that the prevalence of agro-pastoral conlicts in Menchum Division of North West Cameroon is because stakeholders have no interest in resolving them. Such disputes have been a common feature in the country where economic resources generate protracted clashes not only between ethnic groups, villages and individuals, but also over the choices of economic activity. From simple crop damage, the opposition between farmers and graziers has been taking many forms, ranging from daily quarrels, frequent exchange of blows, mob demonstrations and litigation, to the use of mystical powers and conventional weapons. Although these struggles are common throughout the division, Esu, Kuk, Mmen and Wumhave singled themselves out as hotbeds. The consequences of these clashes are relected in almost all spheres of life, including the economy, education, ethnicity, gender, health, human rights, justice, nutrition, peace and politics. In the face of these catastrophic effects, the administration and people of Menchumhave have been trying in many ways to curb the disputes, albeit without any remarkable success. In 1947, Cattle Control Rules were instituted by Native Authorities who, unfortunately, lacked the legal basis to enforce any decisions and so the 1962 Control of Farming and Grazing Law was brought into force. But it also proved unworkable because stakeholders openly and obstinately refused to obey its provisions. Even the 1978 Presidential Decree creating a statutory organ (the Farmer Grazier Commission) for the settlement of conlicts has remained a toothless bulldog. Other administrative policies, such as demarcation of land, introduction of mixed farming and the barbed wire scheme intended to facilitate peaceful coexistence between the two rival activities, were implemented without any remarkable success. The holding of meetings with stakeholders, the proposals made by the World Food Organization (FAO) in 1962 and the laying down of resolutions by commissions of inquiry like the Nseke Commission (1973) and Koumpa Issa Commission (2003) were other unsuccessful measures aimed at resolving disagreements. Instead of dissipating, conlicts rather escalated, becoming acute and chronic.

As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and mult... more As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nature, nation building has been very necessary for Cameroon. Whereas this objective became an important focus for post-colonial African governments, historiography on the issue however, was dominated by discourse on the reasons and problems, rather than the policies used in achieving it. This study sets out to identify and scrutinize the different strategies that have so far been implemented to achieve this goal in Cameroon. With the help of secondary sources and using a multidisciplinary approach, fourteen nation building rules grouped into four themes have been pinpointed. These are indigenization, harmonization, centralization and building citizenship which have almost succeeded in making the country one and indivisible were it not for hidden agenda of the Francophone-dominated apparachici cum political elite of the post-colonial state. The state has been driven by the firm determination to dominate, marginalize, assimilate, subjugate, provoke and destroy the identity, heritage and institutional foundations of the Cameroon Anglophones who have been frustrated by these guidelines.

As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and mult... more As one of the most heterogeneous states on the African continent due to its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nature, nation building has been very necessary for Cameroon. Whereas this objective became an important focus for post-colonial African governments, historiography on the issue however, was dominated by discourse on the reasons and problems, rather than the policies used in achieving it. This study sets out to identify and scrutinize the different strategies that have so far been implemented to achieve this goal in Cameroon. With the help of secondary sources and using a multidisciplinary approach, fourteen nation building rules grouped into four themes have been pinpointed. These are indigenization, harmonization, centralization and building citizenship which have almost succeeded in making the country one and indivisible were it not for hidden agenda of the Francophone-dominated apparachici cum political elite of the post-colonial state. The state has been driven by the firm determination to dominate, marginalize, assimilate, subjugate, provoke and destroy the identity, heritage and institutional foundations of the Cameroon Anglophones who have been frustrated by these guidelines.