The Role of Identity Reconstruction in the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon

Conventionally, the Anglophone problem in Cameroon is understood loosely as a language crisis, a situation whereby there is a forceful imposition of language upon a group of people against their will (Herbert 2004). An in-depth analysis reveals not just a language crisis but justifies, my hypothesis that this recent crisis is not only based on eliminating the marginalization of the Anglophone community but essentially reconstructing the Anglophone Identity in Cameroon termed as the Anglophone Problem. It has been described as “the emergence of an Anglophone consciousness derived from the feeling of being ‘marginalized’, ’exploited’ and ‘assimilated’ by the Francophone-dominated state in Cameroon (Konings & Nyamnjoh 1997). A vivid understanding of this crisis entails a portrayal of what it means to be an Anglophone in Cameroon. This identity was fabricated through colonial heritage based on the transfer of British culture, education, language and legal system. This perception is what formulated the Anglophone identity. This thesis examines how this crisis seeks to reconstruct the Anglophone Identity through the reformation of language, education, culture and the legal system. It examines the marginalization and exploitation of the Anglophone Community. This study employs both quantitative and qualitative measures. It is strictly a case study design but inferences have been drawn from external cases to support or challenge the arguments made in this research. Keywords: Anglophone Identity, Ethno-regionalism, Marginalization, Francophone, Perception.