Dr Seraphin Kamdem Places the Current Crisis in Cameroon in its Historical Context

Dr Seraphin Kamdem, lecturer in African Studies at SOAS in London, recently joined the “How My Country Works” podcast to give much needed insight into the history of Cameroon. 

Dr Kamdem recently participated in our seminar on periodisation in African history in which he highlighted the importance of a critical discourse on ownership and authority in the shaping of historical narratives.

In this podcast with Stephen O’Shea, Dr Kamdem tracks the history of Cameroon from the anti-colonial campaigns of the early to mid-20^th century to the current political crisis that is gripping the country. He places the power politics of contemporary Cameroon into its historical context, providing insight into the dual linguistic heritage of the West African state. As a linguist, Dr Kamdem is able to offer insight into the long-term effects of the linguistic divisions caused by colonisation and highlight how Cameroon has been disproportionately affected by this phenomenon. 

In so doing, Dr Kamdem shines a light on two very important issues, the Ambazonian independence movement in Cameroon, and the failure of Africa to think concretely about the legacies of the nationalist project and the legacies of the colonial cutting of the land. 

You can listen to the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Q5lsTqBLzBRTOagY6rhxs?si=f_gAMbFrQMCugJEg_2_TZA