The history book was launched in Yaounde last Friday.
“Rois et Royaumes Bamiléké,” a beautiful book which walks its reader through the grass field, rich in over 150 chiefdoms was received with applause by the public last Friday at the Solomon Tandeng. The book also known in English as “Kings and Kingdoms of Bamileke, co-authored by two media icons, Haman Mana, Publisher of “Le Jour” and Mireille Bisseck Eyouk, anchor lady at CRTV was launched amidst a cream of media men, writers and fans.
In his opening remarks, Haman Mana, on behalf of the Schabal editing house, said Kings and Kingdoms of Bamileke, is a fruit of long standing hard work. He added that in their move to discover the grass field monarchs and monarchy, sell the country via history to the international world, they deemed it important to conserve the country’s history in writing. This he noted is to make sure that the Bamileke culture and tradition does not suffer from extinction.
Mirelle Bisseck Eyouk, held the public spell bound as she took to the stage. To her, there is need for Cameroonians to sell the image of the country, which is known elsewhere as “Africa iminature.” It is time people stood up to valorise the riches of Cameroon. Why should we sit and wait for foreigners to come and research on our country while we can and do it even better,” she said. Selling Cameroon and Africa, is her motive. The Bamiléké’, a unique community reputed for its visceral attachment to its culture and its ancestral heritage merits attention and protection, Mireille noted. They are the few people whose settlement has failed to erode the power of tradition and those who embody the kings. Far from it, the tradition has no other choice than to coexist with modernity.
According to the authors, it was not a bed of roses investigating into the tradition and culture of the Bamileke. Also working with a new edition house, added the challenge. However, the authors promise readers that they are not ending at the Bamileke land. Another book is in the making and book lovers have been assured of the good taste.
