Significance of May 20 in Cameroon
By Kwaw Ashiakwei
The celebration of May 20 was put off in 1983 and 1984 following the sad and unfortunate events which characterised those years and which created temporary instability in the country.National Days of most countries are usually observed with pomp and pageantry and May 20, a very significant day in the history of Cameroon, when a declaration of a United Cameroon was proclaimed in 1972, was no exception. On that day the maiden extraordinary congress of the erstwhile Cameroon National Union (CNU) ratified the institution of the unitary state in place of the federal system which previously operated.
This institutional change was brought about by what is known in official political circles as the 'Peaceful Revolution of May 20, 1972'. This day saw the adoption of the name United Republic of Cameroon to mark the official unification of Cameroon. This name has, however, recently been amended without the official fanfare to read 'Republic of Cameroon'.
A major problem in Cameroon prior to this memorable day had been that of unification in the real sense of the word. Cameroonians had hitherto con- sidered themselves as belonging to two entirely alien entities. It was against this background, therefore, that the government of Cameroon made unceasing efforts soon after independence to ensure that the spirit of oneness prevailed.
Formerly there was a clear polarisation of the country into East and West Cameroons but this was expected to die off with the abolition of the federal system of government and the institu- tion of the unitary system in May 1972. But one often wonders whether the mere amendment to the name of a country implied a practical change in the attitudes of her citizenry. Cameroonians have therefore wondered why such an amendment and the annual observance of the National (Unification) Day, the Anglophone- Francophone dichotomy still persists.
But thanks to the ingenuity of President Paul Biya and his vision of the New Deal which calls for real national integration, the cultural differences which exist between the Order or Cash directly from: Anglophones and Francophones coupled with the multiplicity of religions and tribes are being eliminated. This has culminated in the recent Anglophone-Francophone dichotomy.
May 20 has been observed as a National Day since 1973. It is often characterised by social activities including march pasts by organised groups drawn from all facets of society during which the Head of State takes the salute.
The celebration of the 'Day' is not limited to the Capital Yaounde. The provinces participate fully and the Head of State is adequately represented in these places by the provincial governors.
This year's celebration was significant for a variety of reasons. The celebrations in 1983 and 1984 had to be put off following the sad and unfortunate events which characterised those years and which created temporary instability in the country. The govern- ment naturally could not have organised any celebrations in such an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. As a consequence of this, this year's celebration took off with a momentum un- precedented in the history of the country.
More than 100,000 people from all walks of life converged at the 'May 20 Avenue' in Yaounde, the new marching ground which replaces the Reunification Square, to witness a crisp and impeccable military, gender- marie and police parade and a colour- ful march past of immaculately dressed civilians comprising school children, students and militants of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).
The canopy which accommodated the President and other dignitaries was draped in the national colours of yellow, green and red as well as the insignia of the CPDM. Dignitaries who witnessed the function included the Head of State, Paul Biya, members of the diplomatic corps and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Com- mission for Africa, Professor Adebayo Adedeji, who was in Cameroon on an official assignment unconnected with the celebrations.
In a speech delivered by the Presi- dent after the march past, he paid tribute to all Cameroonians for the enthusiastic turn out for the occasion and highly commended the delegates for National Security, Ministers of State for the National Education, Youth and Sports, Armed Forces and the organising secretary of the central committee of the CPDM as well as the women and youth wings - WCPDM and YCPDM.
In the provinces similar colourful march pasts were organised and the provincial governors who represented the Head of State, took the salute of contingents of school children, students, cultural groups and militants of the CPDM.
The enthusiasm and the importance attached to May 20 by Cameroonians cannot be overemphasised and it is the fervent hope of many that such cele- brations would help to further narrow the gap and eliminate the petty differences between Anglophones and Francophones in this prosperous central African country.
