The quest for political power and recognition

problems that nearly marred the transfer of sovereignty in the Southern Cameroons at independence in 1961

Abstract

The article focuses on the mixed hopes and political ambitions of the political elite and population of the Bamenda Grassfields on their political unification with la République du Cameroun in early 1961. A prominent feature in the venture was the ambition to exercise political power and patronage in the post-colonial nation-state. The emerging political elite from colonization sought to use neo-patrimonial tactics to assert political control over the newly independent political space. This was in a centralised system not much mastered by the political elite of our area of study. Many federal interventions to manage conflicted with the anticipated egalitarian platform which unification was believed to achieve. The feelings of mistrust, frustration and marginalization were borne from the belief that their sovereign and autonomous right were usurped by one sector sanctioned by un-codified advantages of reunification. Since national integration is a daily affair, the need to privilege dialogue to eliminate pent-in emotions of neglect was imperative.