A PhD thesis in English on the theme was defended by Lydia Njitung Menjoh at the University of Yaounde I on July 24, 2015.

Living with trauma or any deeply distressing or disturbing life experience is commonplace today, with the impact becoming more evident in later life. It was in cognizance of this fact that Lydia Njitung Menjoh of the University of Yaounde I wrote her Doctorate degree or PhD thesis on the topic: “Women And Trauma In Selected Works Of Jean Phys, Doris Lessing, Bessie Head And Tsitsi Dangaremgba.”

It was a comparative study of the works of four female writers: Jean Phys, a Dominican, Doris Lessing, a British raised in Zimbabwe, Bessie Head, a South African who later took Botswana nationality and Tsitsi Dangaremgba, a Zimbabwean novelist and film maker. The thesis was successfully defended at the University of Yaounde I on Friday, July 24, 2015, with the award of ‘Mention Très Honorable’ - the highest grade. The jury was headed by John Nkemngong Nkengasong, a Professor from the University of Yaounde I. He was accompanied by Anyang Sarah Agbor, Associate Professor and thesis supervisor from the University of Yaounde I, Kachim Ibrahim Tala, examiner and Professor from the University of Buea, Ebosse Dolissane Nyambe, examiner and Associate Professor, University of Yaounde I and Manyaka Toko Djockoua, examiner and Associate Professor, University of Yaounde I.

After over three hours of defence, jury members agreed that the choice of the topic was relevant and had made a significant contribution to literary scholarship, awarding Lydia Njitung Menjoh the PhD degree in English, with specialty in Commonwealth Literary Studies. According to Prof. John Nkemngong Nkengasong, the fact that an increasing number of people roam Cameroonian streets these days talking alone means that the issue of trauma is serious and demands more studies for better understanding by the public.

“I wrote on women characters and trauma and how such childhood experiences affect them later in life. This is seen in their inability to cope with stress in marriages and relationships,” Dr Lydia Njitung Menjoh told Cameroon Tribune at the end. “Trauma is also prevalent in Cameroon, with many suffering from it in almost every family and work place. I therefore proposed that children should be well treated and proper attention paid to every family member. And when traumatised, victims should be assisted to cope with their distressing experiences,” she advised.