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.

The occasion, organised by the Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace, CAMYOSFOP, and Airseal International Cameroon, was devoted to celebrating, in a solemn manner, Fonlonian virtues and savouring an intellectual politician who towered above the mundane pettiness of his time.

In a glowing tribute, Tumi, who chaired the occasion, said Professor Fonlon was an intellectual of the first order. Cardinal Tumi recounted the various interactions he had with Professor Fonlon and concluded that the fallen hero "was truly a humble man, a man of discipline, a man of principles, a man of prayers who loved the truth and had respect for other people's views.

" He described him as a saintly man and said even people outside the country considered Fonlon worthy of being declared a saint. The Cardinal said he was happy that such an evening was organised in honour of Professor Fonlon and urged the younger generation to emulate the values that he stood for.

Mr. Francis Wache, one of Fonlon's students, presented a paper titled: "A Student Remembers The Master". Wache presented Prof. Fonlon as the genuine intellectual, philosopher and teacher who gave students the marks they deserved. He recalled that, unlike other teachers, Fonlon used to give eighteen on twenty (18/20) to his students if they deserved it. Wache recounted his days of academic glory in the then University of Yaounde when Prof. Fonlon used to mesmerise them with "book".

Another tribute came from Mr. Ernest Alima, a retired diplomat. Alima said Prof. Fonlnon was his mentor and the person who encouraged him to dabble into a literacy career.
One Peter Taniform said he grew up, learnt about Fonlon and was greatly inspired by his life and values.

Mr. William Talla, Chairman of Airseal International, in an appraisal of the legacy of Fonlon, said he wished to put together all the works of Prof. Fonlon and publish them in a manual before next year - the 20th anniversary of Fonlon's passing. He said the manual would include unpublished works by Prof. Fonlon, testimonies on Fonlon as well as poetry, articles and short stories written by the late Professor.

Dr. Bate Besong, University don, writer and critic, presented a paper on "The Bernard Fonlon Revolution". Bate Besong said the spirit of the Fonlon Revolution was growing in many of his followers.

"In his numerous writings on such varied subjects as economics, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, education, theology, political sciences etc, Professor Fonlon delineated, the landmarks, epochs, stages and watersheds in Cameroon's, socio-economic and political evolution over time," Bate Besong stated.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Director of CAMYOSFOP, Mr. Eugene Nyuydine Ngalim, thanked the Bernard Fonlon Society for making Fonlon's anniversary such a momentous event. He said such an event went in long way in immortalising Fonlon and giving him the honour he deserves.

According to Ngalim, Prof. Fonlon remains a legend in the making of the Cameroon nation, because of his political contributions and vision on the building of his country. As a humanist and genuine intellectual, Ngalim stated, Fonlon translated his philosophical ideas into writing.

Eugene Ngalim, who is also the Director of the Publication Project of the Manual on the Legacy of Prof. Fonlon, called on those interested in honouring the fallen hero to do so by writing short stories, poems and tributes for publication in the manual.

   A cross section of the Anglophone elite, including, Prof. Victor Anomah Ngu, Prof Leke, Prof. Njeuma, Dr. Fongot Kini-Yen Kini, among others, attended the occasion.
Heat Wave, The Thrillers and The Tribute Sisters choirs animated the occasion. The event was equally the culmination of a literary competition. The laureates were Labang Wang Kencholia, Emmanuel Ekale and Ernest Alima who won the first second and third prizes respectively.