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.”

It is difficult to think of any other ethical statement which is less subjected to controversy than this (Responsabilités des intellectuels, Démocratie et marché, Nouvel ordre mondial, Droits de l’Homme, Marseille: Agone Editeur,1998, 16). He was not sufficiently understood by francophones as well as anglophones who respected him but considered him unpragmatic. Fonlon already symbolised what Fabien Eboussi calls ‘‘exotic intellectual’’ in a universe where ventriloquists triumph.

Culled from Ambroise Kom, "The Development of Ideas in Cameroon: A Process to Watch"

Comments

[Ralph Tanyi]

Dr Fonlon introduced classical music to me at a tender age via Radio Cameroon. Classical music was an opium during my studies and revisions. When I came to Europe I learnt that apparently research findings revealed that classical music made one intelligent.

Whatever.

The man, Dr Fonlon influenced a lot of lives through things he did and those he didn't.

He is a great man of his time. Probably still is of ours. I defer to him.

This site will remain another monument to his achievements.

Well done to the conceptual engineers.

Ralph Tanyi

[Njodzeka Divine]

I felt so grateful when reading through the post news paper i saw a website on the great man and African Socrates Fonlon.I think it is right ot rename the yaounde university 1 the BN Fonlon university.If there are universties in Nigeria bearing Amadou bello why not NB Fonlon university
Continue in this psirit we are all behind you

[TAKWI Derrick]

I must testify that I have been so much touched by the great Phylosopher. Dr. Fonlon's brief histroy have been ringing a bell in my head. I am now 26 years old and the second time I am seeing Cameroons' Socrates Photo. I first saw it when I learning Phylosophy at the high school. Here on Fonlon.org, I can see it the second time. I am so happy. Please go ahead and put more infromation on the site and make it more popular. There are so many of us young Cameroonians / Africans that needs daily inspiration from the great Dr. Fonlon. I vote YES that the University of Yaounde should be renamed in honour of B.N FONLON. God bless us.

[Uche Eze Nkatt Idika]

Fon was among beacons and agents of hope in Cameroon whose zest and zeal for excellence,passion and committment to good, form and progress are uncommon and rare.
He was an epitome of Optimists and thinkersin this country Cameroon. He was a realists and go-getters who believe in the goodness of mankind and the multiplication of the greatest good, for the greatest number of people.
He possessed the true version of Cameroon's Pride
Prof, Though you go, your legacy will linger on. You will always remain immortalise in the anals of books and generations yet unborn will sing your praises

[maureen mcglame]

In 1966 and 67 I was a Peace Corps volunteer teacher at Okoyong, Mamfe. During that time I taught English to the students at Holy Rosary preparing them for the GCE exam. I remember fondly one of my students from way back then. Her name was Grace. Grace wrote beautiful poetry.
One of her poems was so lovely that I decided to see if I could get it published in "Abbia" which was the Cameroon Cultural Review. Dr Fonlon was the editor of "Abbia". I remember sending him Grace's poem and asking if it might be published in "Abbia". Dr Fonlon wrote back to me. He accepted Grace's poem for publication. He was a scholar, a teacher, a philosopher and a spiritually enriched man. It was my privilege to get to know Dr Fonlon back then and it is my privilege today to share this memory of him. Thank you. Maureen McGlame, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

[ndong ivo]

Indeed he is a great philosopher of our present day generation.

[Damian Y. W.]

Fonlon was an Excellent Scholar and will soon be canonised as I pray for it strongly

[KUFE CLEMENT NYUYKI]

I know Prof Fonlon only through his works which are indelible.I have tried making a collection of all his writings but they seem not present any where!
His book that inspires me most "The Genuine Intellectual" should be taught to all those hoping to persue further studies.In that book I am shocked at the rate at which all Prof Fonlon's predictions have come to pass.
I am amazed at the simplicity of an unparalleled scholar who feared nothing but God. His yearning for the truth and his fight for merit is still to find its way in today Cameroons' intellegencia.
He left a gap yet to be filled!

[FUBE WALTERS]

WORDS ARE ENOUGH TO USE IN EXPLAINING AND EXPRESSING WHO BERNARD FONLON WAS BUT ONE THING CLEAR IS THAT, HE WAS THE GREATEST OF GREAT MEN IN AFRICA.
HE ACTUALLY NEEDED TO REST.
GREAT PEOPLE DON'T LAST FOR LONG. FOR THIS MAINTAINS THEIR GREATNESS

GREAT DAD HAVE A GREAT REST. WE WILL MEET AGAIN.
ADIEU

[ENONGENE MIRABEAU SONE]

Little did I know of Prof Fonlon until I came in contact with his first Ph.d product of the university of yaounde -Prof Kashim Tala Ibrahim.As my supervisor , he introduced me into Fonlon's world.I started reading his works keenly and swimming deeply into his beliefs and philosophy.Fonlon now became a model to my life.Although he is dead, he lives in men and will continue to mould men ,not only of the past,but to the present and future generations through his writings.I believe ardently and fervently that Fonlon ,by his very self ,has become a book, a mirror, and a picture for us to read, understand , interprete and emulate.I recommend his master piece: "The Genuine Intectual" to every scholar worthy of the name.The builder of men is gone but continues to build forever.

ENONGENE MIRABEAU SONE
UNIVERSITY OF DSCHANG
CAMEROON

[Kibunri Kenneth]

I remember Dr. Fonlon like it was yesterday. The day he was buried, I was a pupil in STS Kumbo. In fact, I (STS)participated in his burial mass at the Cathedral. He was the first non clergy to be buried in the clergy burial ground.

I recall, his grave was the biggest. I never saw him in real life, but I was told at the time that he was a great scholar and enlightened the people on Nso in particular and Cameroon as a whole.

[Che Ndipewah,University of Yaounde 1]

Dr Benard Fonlon was the first cameroonian to obtain a Phd.His works have been so infleuncial especially to nation building,and his writings stand out as a source of inspiration to so many poets,playwrights and Novelist in Cameroon today.But some dramatist like Dr Bate Besong(university of Buea) sees Fonlon as writer of no vision according to Dr Bate Besong a writer most have a vision.His writings most be able to shake places,most bring changes to Totalitarian political systems.

[che Ndipewah]

A poem Title 'We Have lost'
we have lost
we have lost,
Great man of
Times
can he see
what he left
behind?
Fon farewell
che ndipewah,university of yaounde 1.contact.5519745

[DR CHINUA FONYEHLON KENNETH]

fonlon is the son of god.believe me or not.yaounde university should be renamed * [fonlon,s sinior high school cameroon]not even yde.he deserves more than nameing a universityin his name in africa.if he can have streets named in his respect abroad why can cameroonians not even name one provence .it will be an over statemen if i can call him my god but his intelectual spirit is still living.good wine needs no bush.tell the world.kenny is speaking,

[princekarl]

i am so moved by his works and i must make it known to the world that HON.DR PROF. Fonlon Bernard is not just him but a GOD to KNOWLEDGE ,WISDOM AND LIFE MAKING.HE IS WONDERFUL.DO YOU PEOPLE THERE KNOW ABOUT ONE OF HIS WORKS IN ABBIA VOLUME 3.HE SAID,KEEP ALWAYS WITH YOU WHERE EVER YOU FIELD OF WORK MAY LIE ,THE INSPIRATIONS OF GREET IDEAS,THE CONSULTING OF GREAT DOWNFALLS AND THUS ARMED. YOU WILL FACE WITHOUT FEAR THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THOSE WHO DIDN,T MAKE IT AND THOSE THAT MAKE IT ,THEN YOU CAN HAVE THAT SO CALL BIG WORLD IN YOUR HANDS AND YOU WILL EVEN STUDY IT USING A MISCROSCOPE FOR IT IS A SMALL WORLD BUT WE ARE CARRIEED BY POETRY AND DRAMA WITH NO EVIDENCE ,FANCIES NOT FACTS ,SENTIMENTALITIES WITH NO SENSE AND WE SO CLEVER AND NOT INTELLIGENT.HE IS ALL I HAVE .KARLMAX WISH ALL PLANTS,ALL ANIMALS,ALL ANTS AND ALL THE WORKS OF NATU RE TO BE LIKE HIM FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN.

[paul samjela ngomba]

a great man who has shaped the future of many cameoronians and whose footspring still cuts and sharps te life of cameroonaina, a great man he was

[Galabe Elvis]

It is saad to note the world doesn't know this great member of the human race who walked the earth. Small wonder the website on him is obsolete so to speak. That doesn't matter as long as on the last day, when time must have come to its end, all of the world's greats shall ressurrect with Fonlon - on the one hand spirit-led lives greats like Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr or Moses while on the other mind-loaded secular greats like socrates, Newton or Shakespeare. Much more needs to be done in honour of this man's memory.

[Galabe Elvis]

I do not think Yaounde University as it now stands should be renamed in honour of Fonlon as long as the francophone power structure has usurped the anglophone. Fonlon's legacy should be reflected in a bilingual and bicultural academic insitution. This means the university of Yaounde should be restructured to confortably acommodate anglophone identity, vision , culture and philosophy before carrying Fonlon's name. In this way Fonlon's spirit would append his name but as it now stands Fonlon frowns at the so-referred to as bilingual Cameroon.

[Bob Mix]

It was a bloody waste of time, if you ask me, trying to mix oil and water and suffering the cruel and murderous Ahidjo. Fonlon saw the light at the end. He supposedly coined the term "Ambazonia" which was then taken up by Dinka.

[Che Ndipewah]

What is death that takes great minds and thinkers of our time.I rebuke death,i heard of this great man when i was still a kid,His intellect,morality and duty consciousness is still burning into my mind like red coals.
When i read His article titled A CASE ON EARLY BILINGUALISM i saw the great need for our intellectual giant to be hailed.
Pro,your spirit is still burning into our hearts,lets keep the lamps burning and we come one day and tell you we did our job.
Che Ndipewah; University of Yaounde 1.contact.+23774854834

[Nchamaze Arnold Akepu]

If Cameroons leaders, ministers, university lectuers, students. in fact all Cameroonians, have one person to emulate as their role model or mentor, then i think Professor Emeritus Bernard Fonlon should be that person. The teacher who taught, the minister who ministered, and the writer who wrote. remember his words "you can fool all the people some of the times, you can fool some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." This is the Golden Rule of the 21st Century.

[Ferdinandes Silas Axweso]

I had only begun to learn English when I first read the legendary Fonlon's master piece:” The Genuine intellectual”. Even so, it didn't escape my wisdom to reckon that I had stumbled upon the "African rock star" who went on to inspire me throughout my academic career. Now, a University graduate and "The Genuine intellectual" myself, I read his masterpiece with even greater appreciation like never before. He should be grouped along with N.Mandela and J.K Nyerere. His masterpiece should be a "must" to any serious scholar.
Ferdinandes Silas Axweso: University Hill,P.O.Box 110144,Dar-es-Salaam.Tanzania.E-mail:ferdinandsila@yahoo.com