When people have been pushed to the wall for so long and with their own eyes day in and out they see people disappear into thin air,there is bound to be an explosion or eruption. That is what 22nd September 2017 was to Southern Cameroonians (S C) headed by women/TAKEMBENG or TAKUMBENG. This same day Mr Paul Biya was presiding over his bag of lies at the UN General Assembly in New York. Southern Cameroons schools have not opened since last year and Mr Biya is that bold to talk when he has deprived us of education which is a basic human right. When women come out in their numbers in a mass protest as ‘Takumbeng” in a traditional way,it means that their “eyes have seen their ears”. This is a traditional way of expressing the severity of an offence. Women go out in numbers putting on old clothes,bright colours clothes etc. The case of Friday 22nd September 2017,women were dressed either in red,white or old clothes. Southern Cameroonians have had enough and can no longer accommodate or bare the barbarism of La Republic. Mothers/women can no longer sit and watch their children disappearing. The militarization of our towns and villages,the unlawfully killings, arrests,threats,etc has unleashed the Takumbengs for an out cry for the gods to hear as well as the international community to rescue us and intervene. So many innocent souls have been lost and enough is enough, we want our independence.
Takumbeng or Takembeng are a female social movement in the North West region of Southern Cameroons. It connects with traditional practices where group of women perform ostracizing rituals against individuals in their communities. Glaring examples could be seen as far back as the 1950s and 1960s towards the end of colonial control and in the early years of independent Cameroon. Since the early 1990s especially in the city of Bamenda, Takumbeng protests have taken place which was another horrible period in the history of S C. This was seen more especially during the presidential election of 1992 in which the results were fraudulent in favour of Mr Paul Biya. This resulted to several deaths, arrests, destruction of public structures etc. (For further reading go to
http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://www.yourdictionary.com/africa&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwj2ppDA8MPWAhUGIsAKHV2LDeoQFggiMAg&usg=AFQjCNGB_g0uAoe4vjpwoYUQdW9PXzDg3w
The “takumbeng have been unleashed” and Southern Cameroons must be free.
By CATHERINE MURING YOMBO,SCNC UK.