Cameroon: A Discreet Pride

Rather than wax ecstatic on Obama's victory, the collective blog 20mai.net [fr] from Cameroon has chosen to go out in the streets and tape short interviews of young Cameroonians on yesterday's victory. In this video [fr], we learn that Obama is a bantoo name and that Cameroon knows how to keep its African pride and hopes in check, publicly.

The video has generated many comments. When the camera is not rolling, emotions take over, in this patchwork of readers’ opinions :

jts comments :

J'ai noté entre autre que les médias internationaux ne s’attardent point sur le ressenti africain en la matière et qu’aucun des plus en vue auprès des africains n’a jugé bon d’avoir un envoyé spécial télévisuel de race noire couvrir le vote américain.

I've noticed that global media did not waste time to record how Africans viewed [this election] and that the main stream media most followed by Africans did not bother to send  a black tv anchor to cover the American vote.

austine mckyielle :

martin luther peut calmement sourire là dans les cieux, vive l’amerique, que Dieu bénisse l’amérique

Martin Luther (King) can now smile serenely in heaven, long live America, God bless America

cent76 :

yes we can
Meme au cameroun ca peut bouger!

Yes we can, even in Cameroon, things can change !

jean luc :

mes pauvres amis vous croyez que obama va se soucier de l’afrique pensez vous il est l’incarnation du brillant capitaliste anti communiste et raciste amis africains prenez vous en main chassez vos vieux demons chassez vos presidents malhonnetes et affameur des opprimes…s’il doit y avoir revolution c’est a vous de reagir et non a l’etranger meme s’il est noir…Obama pense surtout a lui….i have a dream mais pas Obama.

My poor friends, if you believe that Obama will care about Africa, you are joking. He represents the brilliant capitalist, anti-communist, and racist. African friends, look after yourself, shoe away your old demons, your corrupted presidents…If a revolution is to come, you will have to act yourself, not a foreign guy, even if he is black. Obama cares about himself…I have a dream, but it is not Obama.

Samantha :

En tant que Camerounaise vivant aux USA et ayant fait l’Europe, je peux vous assurer que:
– Obama est d’ABORD Americain! un noir americain n’acceptera JAMAIS de se comparer a un Africain car un noir americain est d’abord un americain car il pense et agit comme un americain.Et mes freres Africains, je vous le dis aujourd’hui si les noirs americains sont arrives a cela aujourd’hui, c’est pck ILS SE SONT BATTUS! et ne se sont pas laisses faire comme bcp de mes freres Africains font en Europe.

As a Cameroonian living in the USA, after Europe, I can assure you that Obama is first and foremost an American. An Afro-American will NEVER compare himself to an African, he is first an American, he thinks and acts like an American.[…] And, my African brothers, if Afro-Americans stand where they are today, it's because THEY FOUGHT for it. They did not let themselves be trampled with, like many of my African brothers in Europe.

PEP JEAN :

Enfin le noir gouverne le monde . Une grave honte pour nos vieux et rouillés présidents d’Afrique . Eux qui ont toujours traité le blanc pour un Dieu Obama a prouvé le contraire .

At long last, a black man rules over the world. Such a shame for our old and rusty African presidents. They always workshipped the white man like a god. Obama proves them wrong.

 Shalimar 444 :

BARACK OBAMA a gagné d abord parce qu’il n’avait aucun gene camerounais! the corruption’s DNA.

         

BARACK OBAMA won because he had no Cameroonian gene (the corruption DNA) 

Ludovic :

Il y a 4 ans,Obama n’était qu’un inconnu aux yeux du monde,il épelait son nom aux journalistes,aujourd’hui il est élu président du pays le plus puissant du monde.Cette élection,cette remonté fulgurante nous interpelle à plus d’un titre nous les fils de l’Afrique,car malgrer les souffrances et le chomage que nous vivons,nous devons garder cette “audace d’espérer”comme Barack

Four years ago, Obama was totaly unknown in the world, he had to spell his name for journalists. Today, he is elected president of the first world power. This election, this meteoric rise inspires us, sons of Africa, beyond our suffering, the lack of work, we must keep the “courage to hope”, like Barack.

2 comments

  • Gilbert Ojong

    Dear friends from Africa, I believe Obam’s victory is a lesson for us to learn and act rather than waiting for him to come and perform our task. Also, his victory was not something sudden. No matter how long it takes, change will one day come to Africa.

  • Gilbert Ojong

    Dear friends from Africa, I view Obama’s victory as a lesson for us to learn and act rather than waiting for him to perform our task. Also, his victory was not instantaneous, therefore no matter how long it takes, change will one day come to Africa.

    Gilbert Ojong

    USA

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