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.

We owe him a moral obligation to make sure that his memory does not fade. One way of doing this is certainly by writing about him. But much more, is the obligation to imitate and try to put into practice the values by which he lived, wrote and died. The basic virtue he treasured was to live according to the demands of a truly Christian Intellectual. That is probably why some decided to call him the “Socrates of Cameroon”. And the appellation fitted very well. Since we cannot build any house without a proper foundation, my series of contributions on Fonlon will begin with what may seem too obvious: the implication and challenge of being a Christian Intellectual. A Christian Intellectual spontaneously recognizes that as human beings we owe a debt of inexpressible THANKS to God, who created all, sustains all and brings all to a definitive end. ... Click here to download or print complete article in PDF format

Comments

[eghai Kennedy candida]

It is a good idea to see that, we try to re-consider legends like Fonlon. It is rathar unfortunate that, our own nation has not put any structure in place for his memory for all his contributions to our beloved country.Infact, reading his book titled: 'The genuine intelectual'.One can say with certainty that, Fonlon,was an outstanding figure in the world of academics,he was a man of mesmering oratory and galvanising eloquence.'anybody who takes state property for his private property is committing sin' said Fonlon.

I wish you all a happy time.

Candida.