Bernard Fonlon

(Book Review) Genuine Intellectuals by Bernard Fonlon Re-issued

Bernard Nsokika. Genuine Intellectuals. Academic and Social Responsibilities of Universities in Africa. Langaa Publishers, 2009.

This book, slim as it looks, took Bernard Nsokika Fonlon the best part of five laborious years to write 1965-9 inclusive. He writes: "I was penning away as students in France were up in arms against the academic Establishment, and their fury almost toppled a powerful, prestigious, political giant like General de Gaulle. In America students, arms in hand, besieged and stormed the buildings of the University Administration, others blew up lecture halls in Canada - the student revolt, a very saeva indignatio, was in paroxysm. But in England (save in the London School of Economics where students rioted for the lame reason that the College gate looked like that of a jail-house) all was calm..."

An interview about Literature with Bernard Fonlon

Author: S. H. Arnold
Affiliation: University of Alberta, Canada
Published in: Journal of Postcolonial Writing, Volume 20, Issue 1 Spring 1981, pages 48 - 62
Subjects: Creative Writing; Post-Colonial Studies;
Formats available: PDF (English)
Previously published as: World Literature Written in English (0093-1705) until 2005

The interview took place on 7 May 1979 in Professor Fonlon's retreat at Mballa, near Yaoundé. Less than one third of it is reproduced here. I would like to acknowledge a grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada which helped make possible the research for this and other papers on the topic which are in preparation.

Click here to order article.

Bernard Fonlon Through Today's Lens

BY CANUTE TANGWA*

Professor Bernard Fonlon died on August 26, 1986. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the death of a “teacher, advisor, sage, writer, philosopher, academic, Africanist, nationalist, essayist, leader, and mentor”. Much has been written and said on the impeccable qualities of Fonlon.

I am beginning this encounter with a point or two less because I never met Fonlon nor was he my teacher. The only weapon I have is an intellectual baggage! I also draw inspiration from Bate Besong’s soul searching question, “what would Professor Bernard Fonlon had (sic) done had he been confronted with the present national tragedy?” in THE BERNARD FONLON REVOLUTION: IF GOLD SHOULD RUST, WHAT WILL IRON DO? (2005).

The Enemies Of African Unity

By Bernard Fonlon (An Extract from "Task Of Today", March, 1966)

The idea that African unity is unrealistic, impossible, a pipe dream; that those who call for an all-African, continental government are crying for the moon, is European-inspired.

For, since the white man has kept black men under, by keeping them divided, it is the most natural thing in the world that he should become the sworn enemy of African unity, since such unity constitutes a formidable threat to his hegemony.

By Bernard Fonlon (An Extract from "Task Of Today", March, 1966)

The idea that African unity is unrealistic, impossible, a pipe dream; that those who call for an all-African, continental government are crying for the moon, is European-inspired.

For, since the white man has kept black men under, by keeping them divided, it is the most natural thing in the world that he should become the sworn enemy of African unity, since such unity constitutes a formidable threat to his hegemony.

Bernard Fonlon, America, and the Arrogance of Power

Culled from the Memoirs of Tony Barnicle, Former Priest

In his book The Arrogance of Power, Senator Fulbright tells the story of how our missionaries went out to teach the natives not to work on Sunday only to find that they didn’t work on any day at all! President Kennedy instituted the Peace Corps not to aid third world countries. The first purpose of the Peace Corps was to educate our youth by giving them an opportunity to live in another country and in another culture. This would be an experience far beyond serving in the military or traveling on a vacation overseas. 

Mgr Atang on Bernard Fonlon

Monsignor Lucas Ade Atang, The Hard struggle for the Catholic Priesthood (With a Preface by Christian Cardinal Tumi), pp.65-66.

“...Some four months into the year, Fonlon’s class was preparing, in the usual Retreat, for the Order of the Sub Deacon, the last but one rung in the ladder to the priesthood. Fonlon was not only a very studious and bright student but one we all liked and looked up to for his moral rectitude and exemplary character. He loved writing articles.

Bernard Nsokika Fonlon: Twenty Years Passed Already!

By Paul Verdzekov - Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda

  1. Twenty years ago, on 26th August 1986, Bernard Nsokika Fonlon died in Canada. He had gone there in the month of May of that year in order to receive a doctorate degree in Literature (D. Litt.) from the University of Guelph, and it was his intention to spend the 1986/1987 academic year in the United States of America, within the framework of a Fulbright programme. But the Lord, the Giver of Life, decided otherwise. Bernard died in Canada at the age of sixty-one years, and nine months and six days. He would have been sixty-two years of age on 19th November 1986.

Bernard Fonlon Receives Tribute for his Scholarly Achievements

Originally published in L'effort camerounais

Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon, of Blessed memory, has been honoured following his extraordinary contributions to culture, politics, religion, literature and philosophy, in tribute paid recently on the occasion of the 4th International Day of Philosophy that held at Bilingual Grammar School in Buea, under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Secondary Education, Louis Bapes Bapes, under the theme, "Philosophy and Ethics".

Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon "The Inspirer"

By TANIFORM Peter Ngwa

Paper presented on the occasion of the celebration of the 19th anniversary of the death of Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon.

When on that fateful day August 26th 1986, God closed the page of the earthly walk for Cameroon’s illustrious son, Africa’s Socrates, the model and inspirer of his time, Dr. Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon, many thought that was the end of a great and genuine intellectual. Like Jesus’ two disciples on their way to Emmaus just after his death, despairing of what would become of them and what had become of their great teacher (Luke 24:13-35), so too were the sentiments during and after the funeral of Prof. Fonlon, among his family members, closest friends, followers and countrymen.

Christian Cardinal Tumi on Bernard Fonlon

Opening remarks by His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, Archbishop of Douala, on the occasion of the celebration of the 19th anniversary of the death of Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon.

Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:

When the organizers of this evening asked me to chair this occasion, I did not hesitate at all to say: “Yes, I will be there with you!”  Why? Because this event brings to mind many memories of a truly great Cameroonian, a truly great statesman, a truly great Christian, in short, a truly great human being: Dr. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon.

The Bernard Fonlon Revolution: If Gold Should Rust, What will Iron Do?

By Bate Besong
Paper Read During The Commemoration Of The 19th Anniversary Of The Passing Away Of Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon - Djeuga Palace Hotel, Yaounde,24th November 2005.

WILLIAM FULBRIGHT has argued that literary agitation, like practical political instigation, which edges on dissent or rebellion is “an act of faith”. Accordingly, and, as I have already shown elsewhere, although Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon (a man who was so exceptionally handsome), was, an intellectual pillar of fire; a Prometheus among his peers; indeed, something of a twentieth century Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and classical biologist, his neo-classical treatise on literary composition have, neither,received accolades nor endorsement from me.

Fonlon Was Humble And Disciplined - Tumi

By Kini Nsom

His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, Archbishop of Douala, has said late Prof. Bernard Fonlon was a humble and disciplined man, worthy of being a saint.The Cardinal was speaking at the Yaounde Djeuga Palace Hotel, November 24, during commemorations marking 19 years since the death of the celebrated Professor.

Press Release: 19th Anniversary Event, Thursday 24th November 2005

The Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP) in collaboration with Airseal International Cameroon are organising the Commemoration of the 19th Anniversary of the passing away of the Legendary Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon and the Celebration of his Legacy, on Thursday 24th November 2005, as from 7pm prompt, at the conference hall of Djeuga Palace Hotel.

The event, which shall be chaired by His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, include the following high lights:

• Unveiling and exhibition of paintings on Fonlon
• Testimony presentation on the Legacy of Fonlon
• Launching of Audio CDs on testimonies on the Legacy of Fonlon by his contemporaries
• Poetry dramatisation and choral singing
• Award of prizes to the best literary works submitted for the Fonlon literary competition launched by CAMYOSFOP.

On behalf of:
CAMYOSFOP & Airseal International-Cameroon
NGALIM Eugine Nyuydine

ARCHBISHOP PAUL VERDZEKOV: Cardinal Arinze asked why we haven't started the process to canonize Bernard Fonlon

In a recent Interview granted the Cameroonian Catholic Bi-Monthly, L'Effort Camerounais, His Grace Archbishop Paul Verdzekov of Bamenda, talked, among other things, about his early days in the priesthood and the impact that Bernard Fonlon had on his life. Excerpts:

Bernard Fonlon: Can you build people and die a pauper?

Boniface Ndemping Wewe (Ngonyama Ka Brooklyn)

Hamba Kahle (Farewell) Shufai Nto Drev!

As a primary school pupil in the former West Cameroon and precisely at St.Joseph's Catholic Boy's School Bamenda in the early 1970's, my teacher introduced the concept of Ph.D to us. He further stressed that Dr. Bernard Fonlon was one of the first Cameroonians to obtain one. The concept stuck and I nursed ambitions or fantasized about doctorate degrees!

Government Enrichment

There is a famous expression- "a goat grazes where it has been tethered". Being in government gives certain corrupt officials the opportunity to make money by hook or crook before it is too late. They serve themselves and not their people or country!

The late Marshall Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Nbgendu Waza Banga- of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) even advised his cabinet ministers to loot treasury. He, however, cautioned them not to steal too much and to do it with caution and not to be caught!

There are still people of good conscience around:-

The former Minister of Public Health and Transport in Cameroon, the late Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon, was once asked why he did not loot the treasury and Build houses with ill-gotten gains like his cabinet colleagus. His answer was, 'They build houses, and I build people.' 'Dodere, Movere, Placere'

Culled from the book by Boniface Ndemping Wewe: The Joys of African Sex, Jokes , Courtesies and Idiosyncrasies © 2004

Honouring a Great Intellectual

Book Review by Martin Jumbam

Daniel Noni Lantum, ed. Dr. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon (1924-1986) is now a legend: Funeral Addresses, Tributes and Eulogies, Kumbo Town: Nso History Society Publication No 3, May 1988, pp. xii + 107. No price given.

Revised and reproduced from Cameroon Tribune, May 1989.

Three years ago come next August 26, Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon died suddenly in Ottawa, Canada. His death came at a particularly painful moment for our country that was still reeling from the blows of the Lake Nyos disaster, that tragedy that was to pin Cameroon in the headlines of world news for years to come, bequeathing to us a notoriety we would only have been too happy to do without.

Bernard Nsokika Fonlon: Glowing Memories of the Master

By Martin Jumbam

Revised and reproduced from Cameroon Life, Vol. II, N° 7, October 1992, pp.41-43 where it was originally published under the title "Bernard Nsokika Fonlon: Six Years After"

It's a rainy and soggy morning in the city of Douala. The day is the 26th; the month is August; the year is 1992. For several days now, endless garlands of words have been winding their way through my mind as I reflect on a fitting tribute to pay my Master, the Yaounde University Professor Emeritus, Doctor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon, of glorious memory. But, somehow those words have failed to deflower the virgin sheet of paper before me.

Welcome Address: CAMYOSFOP Fonlon Forum

By NGALIM Eugine Nyuydine

Your Excellency Kibuh Tumi Henry Excellencies Invited GuestsGood evening and welcome to this event, the celebration of the legacies and the Launching of a Manual on the Legacies of Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon. On behalf of the Cameroon Youths and students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP) and the other collaborators of this project, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Kibuh Tumi Henry, Minister of Mines, Water, and Energy, who despite his tide schedule accepted to support us by personally presiding over this exercise. I equally wish to extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Bernard Fonlon Society who collaborated with us and accepted to actively participate by providing the necessary publication for exhibition and testimonies for the eminent Professor Fonlon, during this event.Click here to print or download complete welcome address in PDF format

Why a Manual on the Legacies of Prof. Bernard Fonlon?

By AKARA Ticha (ed). Manual on the Legacies of Prof. Bernard Fonlon (Forthcoming)

The other day I was listening to one of the world’s most venerated radio stations – The BBC - and it was a lengthy interview with Kenya’s best known man of letters – NGUGI WA THIONG’O! NGUGI received so much attention from around the globe for such a long time following the attack on his Nairobi apartment, where his wife was raped some weeks back. I felt jealous of the attention Kenya was receiving thanks to Mwalimu WA THIONG’O and imagined what kind of tribute he would have received if the worst befell him during that attack.

In Memory of the Christian Intellectual: The Relevance of Fonlon’s Legacy to Us Today? (Parts I & II)

By Fr. Tatah H. Mbuy

Africans celebrate life. In fact, someone has said that Africans have a cultural instinct for celebration; and this is true to experience and fact. When a child is born, we celebrate his coming into the world; when he is initiated, we celebrate his new status; when he marries we celebrate his maturity and when he dies we celebrate his transition into the sublime world of the Ancestors. If we fondly remember Bernard Nso’kika Fonlon, it is partly due to the fact that he has gone before us marked with the faith of our ancestors.

Celebration of the Legacies of Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon

A CAMYOSFOP informative forum, Yaounde, 3rd September 200427th August 2004 makes eighteen years since Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon passed away from this world. Yet, he remained a legend in the making of a reunified Cameroon and the Cameroon University system. As a genuine intellectual and master of philosophy, Fonlon had a wonderful vision, probably drawn from his inspirations and wide contacts around the world. Today, Fonlon’s vision of a complete University is more of a reality especially with the Cameroon University system. Many Cameroonians have equally drawn lots of inspirations from Fonlon’s teachings and publications; these in many minds, Fonlon remain to be a burning candle in their lives.

Program for the CAMYOSFOP Fonlon Forum

Programme for the Celebration of the Legacies and Launching of the Project to Publish a Manual on the Legacies of Prof. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon. Friday 3rd September 2004. 5 pm prompt at Hôtel des Deputés Yaounde.5:00-5.30 pm. Arrival of invitees 5:30-6:00 pm. Exhibition of the works of and works on Fonlon. 6:00-6:15 pm. Introduction of MCs (Yah Gladys Viban) A word of prayer A word of welcome by the Executive Director of CAMYOSFOP An opening speech by the Chairman of the occasion (H.E. Kibuh Tume Henry) 6:15-8: 20 pm. Testimonies on the legacies of Prof. Fonlon. Each testimony will take a maximum of 15 minutes, introduced by a song or poem. Click here to print or download complete program in PDF formatClick here to print or download official invitation in PDF format

Dr. Bernard Fonlon - A Tribute

By Pamela Mesanga Martin - August, 1986

Published in Cameroon Life Vol. 1, No. 8, March 1991 p. 38Brain child of Philosophers Endeavour's utmost proof Never daunted never despaired Always serving others Riches of the mind displayed Dedicated Fonlon Nation's pride fulfilled in words Serving to the last, his gifts O'er continents have spread Kind and ever helpful Inspiring and devout Kamerun indeed has lost A son so rare and dear For ever you'll be immortal On volumes pages writ Now we are left without you Lost for a little while Oh! the flame will blaze for ever Nsokika Farewell

ALA Tributes to Fonlon

The tributes to Fonlon contained in this section titled ALA Bulletin Tributes were originally published in the African Literature Association (ALA) Bulletin, Volume 12, Number 3 of Summer 1986, just months after the death of Bernard Fonlon. They are from some of the people who knew him best and/or worked closely with him on numerous projects.

“Bernard Fonlon of Nso : The Pathfinder”

By Professor Aliko Songolo, University of California – IrvineThe news of Bernard Fonlon’s death reached me as Cameroon was mourning the more than 1700 deaths of the tragedy of lake Nyos, in his region of origin. He died in far away Canada, unable to be with his countrymen in their hour of sorrow.

“Remembering Bernard Fonlon”

By G. D. Killam, University of GuelphDr Bernard Fonlon’s contribution to Cameroonian life in politics and education is salutary and will remain so. He held important ministries and built for Cameroon an airlines and telecommunications network, a public transport service, a health and welfare system - all of which make a proud legacy. His tireless effort in securing the reputation of the Department of African Literature, the only such Department in the world, adds to the uniqueness of Dr. Fonlon’s career and further establishes his vision.

“Bernard Fonlon: In Memoriam”

By Richard Bjornson, The Ohio State UniversityThe death of Bernard Fonlon in an Ottawa room was completely overshadowed by the horror of the Lake Nyos disaster that occurred some thirty miles from his birthplace of Banso in the North-West Province of Cameroon. In some way, the very fact that he died in semi-obscurity is symbolically appropriate, for despite the accomplishments of his life, Fonlon was a humble man, who never really sought the limelight.

“Nécrologie : Bernard Fonlon n’est plus »

Par I. C. Tcheo, Université de Yaoundé

La pénible réalité : le 27 août 1986, Shu Faî Docteur Bernard Nsokika Fonlon a rendu l’âme dans un hôpital à Ottawa, au Canada.Il avait quitté le Cameroun au début du mois de mai 1986, pour aller recevoir un D.Lit. à l’Université de Guelph. Il se proposait de passer, par la suite, l’année académique 86/87 aux Etats-Unis, dans le cadre d’un programme Fulbright. Mais la mort ne lui donnera pas l’occasion de réaliser ce projet. Elle l’a surpris en pleine activité et, désormais, nous ne parlerons plus de Bernard Fonlon qu’au passé.

BOOK REVIEW: Dr. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon: An Intellectual in Politics

Daniel Noni Lantum, Dr. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon: An Intellectual in Politics (Gown and Throne), Yaoundé: SOPECAM, 1992, 80pp. No price Indicated.

Review by Martin Jumbam

(First published in the weekly tabloid The Sketch, No 22 of April 9, 1993).

Nightmare: A Poem by Bernard Fonlon

I stood on the verge,
the verge of the cliff,
and gazed down the chasm
dizzy and black.
Libera me, Domine
de ore leonis,
de lacu profundo

I danced on the brink,
the brink of perdition,
the grim dance of death
ecstatic and fatal
Libera me, Domine,
de morte improvisa,
de poenis inferni

Consequences of Fonlon's Individual Bilingualism Policy

By Jikong Stephen Yeriwa, Ph.D - University of Yaounde I, Department of English

Culled from "Official Bilingualism in Cameroon: A Double-edged Sword" in Revue ALIZES N°19

Implementation of the Bilingual Policy

When the Cameroon government adopted the bilingual policy, language experts elaborated the implementation principles. Professor Fonlon was one of the experts. According to him the bilingual policy enshrined in the constitution of 1st September, 1961, placed Cameroon among other bilingual countries in the world, like Canada and Belgium. He pointed out that though these countries adopted the bilingual policy a long time ago, not all Canadians speak English and French, nor all Belgians French and Dutch (or the Belgian variety of Dutch), but he went ahead to suggest that Cameroon should be different:

Revisiting Fonlon's Vision of a Bilingual Cameroon

“de jure, Cameroon has become a bilingual state; but, de facto, it is a highly diversified multilingual, multi-cultural country” (1969)

Described as "the chief philosopher and theoretician of Kamerun's official bilingualism" (Tangwa), Bernard Fonlon was one of the main architects of Cameroon's bilingualism policy. This policy's long term goal was to transform Cameroon into a country where bilingualism would be even more deeply engrained in every day life than in Canada, and where every citizen would flawlessly speak both French and English.

According to Fonlon:

The Time is Now (A secret memo by Bernard Fonlon to Ahmadou Ahidjo)

In 1964, barely three years after the unification of the British Southern Cameroons and the French Cameroons and the creation of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, cracks began appearing in the edifice. Dr. Bernard Fonlon, then Chief scribe of the K.N.D.P. (the ruling party in the former Southern Cameroons), wrote a secret letter to President Ahidjo informing him that the KNDP was disillusioned with its marginalization within the federation.

Fonlon and National Integration

"I had naively believed that, with the struggle over, common sense and political insight would prevail and the leaders would sink their differences and close ranks and make unification a resounding victory. I was soon to learn that they had not attained the depth of personal and political maturity, which makes statesmen of politicians and enable them to crush personal hurt underfoot in the interest of lofty national undertaking. I have grown up to detest bitterness and hatred and thus it was a rude shock to me, on my arrival, to hear our leaders tearing each other to bits. Today they have reached the stage where they do not hesitate to sling mud at each other in the East Cameroon press. What a shame!"

Fonlon, B. N. (1966) The Task of Today. Cameroon Printing and Publishing Company Ltd, Victoria, West Cameroon, p. 52.

A Student Remembers the Master

By Francis K. Wache

Of course, we had heard of Bernard Fonlon. Who had not? He was a living legend. As a result, many stories were circulating about the man; his erudition, self abnegation, abstemiousness, scholarship, lifestyle....

So that morning when we were told that he would be giving us a lecture, our anxiety grew. Earlier than usual, the lecture hall was jammed. There were the usual catcalls when the attention-attracting damsels arrived flouncing their backsides. There were the customary squeals of "Anglo! Anglo!" when some chairs creaked or someone coughed. Then, all of a sudden, stony silence.

Dr. Bernard Fonlon, the long-awaited, was here in flesh and bone.

Canadian Professor's Homage to Bernard Nsokika Fonlon

The following is an interview Martin K. Jumbam conducted on July 19, 1987 in Douala with Dr Stephen Arnold, then Professor of Comparative Literature and Vice-Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at Canada’s second largest university, the University of Alberta in Edmonton [now retired]. A scholar of African literature with a world-wide reputation, Dr. Arnold has written many articles on Cameroon’s literatures in English and French. He is also the Editor of the quarterly African Literature Association Bulletin.

Rename the University of Yaounde : The B.N. Fonlon University

By Martin Jumbam

Revised and reproduced from Le Mont Cameroun, No. 0036 of August 19, 1989 – September 5, 1989, p.3.

Much has already been said and written about the late Venerable Professor Emeritus of the University of Yaounde, Dr Bernard Nsokika Fonlon, of blessed memory. Much more remains to be unveiled about this man who was, even to his closest colleagues, something of an enigma.

Fonlon’s contribution to the academic world, in general, and to the University of Yaounde, in particular, has been, and is still being widely analysed, dissected, commented upon, vilified and applauded by friends and foes alike.

Dr. BERNARD NSOKIKA FONLON

One of the advocates of the integration of the anglophone and francophone traditions was Bernard Fonlon (1924-1986), also known as the Cameroonian Socrates (read, Nalova Lyonga, editor, Socrates in Cameroon. The Life and Works of Bernard Fonlon, Yaounde, Leeds: Tortoise Books, 1989). Founder of the Abbia Review, many times Minister, Fonlon was endowed with a vast Greco-Latin culture, Anglo-Saxon culture as well as Christian and African cultures. His ethical integrity was in stark contrast to the political culture at the time. As Noam Chomsky wrote, “the responsibility of the intellectual as a moral agent – […] - is to try to reveal the truth to interlocutors who are able to intervene.”

Bernard Fonlon: A Select Bibliography

This section will contain a select bibliography of all publications by and about Dr. Bernard Fonlon. The current bibliography is not an exhaustive one. Tracking down publications by Fonlon has been a Herculean task since virtually all of his works are currently out of print. The same is the case with most of the books about his life and philosophy which were limited edition releases in Cameroon. It is our hope that the public will help in updating the current bibliographical selection, and if possible, make available copies of his out of print works.