In an op-ed by a Cameroonian journalist based in Italy, the harsh realities of tribalism in Cameroon are laid bare.
The writer begins by recounting personal experiences that expose how tribalism operates in unexpected ways, often cloaked in intellectualism and privilege.
Recently, while speaking with a friend from the Far North region, the conversation took a revealing turn. This individual, a graduate of two prestigious institutions—the ESSTIC and IRIC (known for their competitive entry exams)—and daughter of a high-ranking customs official, made a sweeping generalization. Despite not being among the country’s top performers, she had secured spots in these elite schools, a feat many PhD holders fail to achieve annually. In my own family, spanning generations since independence, no one has ever had such privilege.
Yet, during our discussion, she casually remarked, “The country is tough, unless you’re a Béti—only they control everything and succeed by sticking together.” The conversation escalated when she suggested that my 20-year exile was a result of “pride.” According to her, all I needed to do was “apologize” to my Béti brothers to be “accepted” back in Cameroon.
“Apologize for what crime? What fault?” I challenged. “When our brother Martínez Zogo begged his executioners—financed by elites from all backgrounds—for mercy, did they show any? The team that brutally killed him—was it composed of a single ethnic group? No. Crime and corruption know no tribe.”
Reminding her that she had benefited from this very system far more than most young people from the Béti community or other regions changed nothing. In one sentence, she trivialized two decades of exile, struggle, loneliness, and relentless fight with shocking ease.
My response was decisive: I blocked her. I have zero tolerance for tribalists, especially those who are privileged.
The truth is simple:
In Cameroon, there are only two real ethnic groups:
- Those who hold the keys to the system: They secure spots for their children in elite schools like IRIC, ESSTIC, ENAM, or EMIA through influential connections.
- The rest of us: Children of resourceful mothers, farmers, and street vendors who sold water on the go to survive.
The real divide isn’t regional—it’s social. Stop being distracted by those who benefit from the system while complaining about marginalization.
I cut ties with her because privileged tribalism is the most dangerous kind of all.
Jean Claude Mbede Fouda
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