Linguistic Segregation in Cameroon: A Systematic Tool for the Assimilation of the Anglophones

Abstract

A retrospect of the close to 60 years after the reunification of Cameroon unveils a systematic chain of political repression, cultural marginalization, linguistic segregation and assimilation by the uninterrupted Francophone regimes on the Anglophones. This has led to Anglophone nationalism in the quest to protect, preserve and uphold their cultural identity. This has been as a result of the feeling that they are being recolonized by the majority Francophones. This paper based extensively on secondary sources takes off from the plethora of literature on the Anglophone Problem to make a diagnosis of linguistic segregation and cultural assimilation in Cameroon. The main problematic of the study lies in the fact that in the means of nation building, national unity, national integration or building a consensual national identity, there has been deliberate efforts at sideling the English Language despite the fact that the constitutions requires that the linguistic and cultural variables of both groups (English and French speaking) be protected, upheld and preserved. Linguistic segregation of the English language is thus endangering the cultural heritage and identity of the English speaking population. The main objective of the paper therefore is to reveal the hidden agenda which the successive Francophone dominated regimes had to sideline the English language and by extension “re-annex” Anglophones. The paper is a means through which to understand the diverse experiences which the Yaounde government or the French dominated regimes systematically executed language segregation and Anglophone assimilation agenda since independence. It goes further to demonstrate vivid and glaring examples and concludes that the Anglophone reactions and resistance put up to castigate, uphold the cultural identity and the English language is at the center of Cameroon’s identity crisis currently plaguing the two Anglophone regions.