The culture of peace and cultural development in Cameroon
Culture de la paix et développement culturel au Cameroun
International Nelson Mandela day 2018
Journée internationale Nelson Mandela 2018
Published on Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Abstract
La journée internationale Nelson Mandela offre aux experts (universitaires, étudiants, journalistes, etc.) en sciences sociales et en humanités une excellente occasion pour se retrouver autour des thématiques de la culture de la paix et du développement culturel.
Announcement
The National Center for Education of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation in collaboration with The Department of Languages and Cultures of Cameroon, Higher teachers training collage, University of Yaounde 1, Will organize from the 5th- 6th of September 2018 in Yaounde, a SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM on the theme: Peace and Cultural Development in Cameroon
Rationale
In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 18 "Nelson Mandela International Day" in honor of the contribution made by the former South African President towards culture of peace and freedom. This decision echoed the recognition of the values defended by Nelson Mandela, as well as his dedication to the service of humanity, through his humanitarian action in several areas. Peace is then understood as a state of stability, tranquility, moral and psychological well-being that contributes to the self-fulfillment of an individual.
In a country marked by crises of various kinds (social, economic and political), it is more than imperative to invoke peace as a lever for sustainable development that all citizens want. This culture of peace that the United Nations General Assembly summarizes in terms of "values, attitudes and behaviors that reflect and promote usability and sharing based on the principles of freedoms, justice and democracy, all the rights of the tolerance and solidarity, which reject violence and advocate for the prevention of conflict by tackling their root causes and solving problems through dialogue and negotiation and guaranteeing the full rights and means to participate fully in the development process of their society ".
To achieve sustainable development, it is not just about creating wealth and redistributing it but it must be anchored intelligently in a social and cultural context, so that consumption will not mortgage future generations. This position puts culture at the center of sustainable development, because any attempt at development that does not concern us as a member of a culture is doomed to failure and worse, the withering away of millennial African cultures.
The Nelson Madela's day offers experts (academics, students, journalists, etc.) in the social sciences and humanities an excellent opportunity to meet around this theme on the culture of peace and cultural development and to dissert on one of the three domains, which are not meant to be exclusive.
1. Peace and cultural environment
Some societies derive their vital fundamentals from nature (forest, stream, savannah, desert, etc.). The uncontrolled and abusive management of this environment would also destroy the culture of these people, with the immediate consequence of dispossessing the vital space of a people who would be threatened with extinction. Indigenous people are an example here. Green belts could be put in place to avoid catastrophes. Depriving them of their vital space, the lack of harmony with the new space would affect the peace that these people could have develop vis-à-vis themselves and their environment. How then can this state of peace and harmony in an environment affected by industrialization be maintained? How can one think of the development that could take into consideration the appropriation of land in rural areas by elites who set up an intensive agriculture oriented towards foreign trade to the villages, thus starving the villagers?
2. Peace, Beliefs and Religions
Voltaire in’’ Les Lettres Anglaises’’, has shown with happiness that peace and harmony is aroused by the existence of about thirty religions in England. The question of religions transposed to a local level is rather transformed into an instrument of division and undermining of social cohesion. Now come into play economic, tribal, ethnic, regional interests, which often only benefit isolated individuals to the detriment of the whole community. What look at a phenomenon as old as societies, but which is constantly regenerating and spreading? What is the influence of new practices brought by certain religions that would be prohibited in local societies? What would be the share of politics in maintaining social cohesion in this case?
3. Local languages, cultures and stability
Cameroon's current linguistic context questions the different language policies established since independence. The fathers of independence thought that it would be better to consecrate the country to bilingualism, considering the fact that there was an English-speaking part and a French speaking part. Beyond this consecration and even questioning the Berlin conference, could the linguistic problem in Cameroon not have known a better end in considering the linguistic globalism and particularity of the country? Why dwell around linguistic groupings that only contribute to the dominance of the West? How to think of the practical and exclusive use of local languages in the same functions as the so-called official languages?
4. Education for a culture of peace
Culture and Education are inseparable, as they are simply two sides of the same coin. These two concepts are said to be indistinguishable, as the primary definition of Education is Acculturation. Every human society whatever its level of technical evolution devotes considerable attention to transmitting its cultural heritage to the young. This has helped cement human solidarity and to ensure the continued survival of societies over the ages. The education for a culture of peace is founded in UNESCO’S constitutional mandate to build peace ‘’in the minds of men’’. Access to education and to various forms of learning is necessary but not a sufficient condition for a culture of peace. A comprehensive system of education and training is needed for all groups of people at all levels and forms of education, both formal and non-formal. For peace and non-violence to prevail there is a need to foster a culture of peace through education by revising the educational curricula to promote qualitative values, attitudes and behaviors for a culture of peace, including peaceful conflict resolution, dialogue, consensus- building and active non – violence.
How can stakeholders create enabling conditions for an overall environment in which culture and education would thrive?
What can be done to ensure that children from an early age benefit from education on the values, attitudes, modes of behavior and ways of life to enable them resolve any dispute peacefully and in a spirit of respect for human dignity and of tolerance and non- discrimination?
How can linguistic diversity be promoted at levels of education?
Submission guidelines
Proposals for papers may be sent in French or in English to the following addresses:
- gastonbessala@gmail.com
- bihdavina@yahoo.com
Timeline
-
Deadline for submission: April 27th 2018
- Conference date : 5th -6th of September, 2018
Venue: Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation
Scientific committee
- Dr TAMAJONG Elisabeth, Research Director, CNE-MINRESI
- Pr BITJA’A KODY Denis, Universiy of Yaounde 1
- Pr BILOA Edmond, University of Yaounde 1
- Pr MBA Gabriel, University of Yaounde 1
- Pr SADEMBOUO Etienne, University of Yaounde 1
- As.Pr NSEME Clédor, University of Yaounde 1
- As.Pr ATINDOGBE Gratien, University of Buea
- As.Pr ASSOUMOU Jules, University of Douala ;
- As.Pr MESSINA NDIBNU Julia, University of Yaounde 1
- As.Pr MEBENGA Luc, University of Yaounde 1
- As.Pr TABE Florence, University of Yaounde 1
- Dr MBOUOMBOUO Pierre, Senior Research Officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr YAMBENE Henri, Senior Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr ZOA ZOA Yves, Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr KIWOH Terence Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr MGBA Stéphane, Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr NOAZI Carole, Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr NGO NDJEYIHA Madeleine, Senior lecturer, University o Yaounde 1
- Dr FONKOUA Paul, Senior lecturer, University of Yaounde 1
- Dr NZAMEYO Rodrigue, Senior lecturer, University of Yaounde 1
- Dr ABOUNA Paul,Senior lecturer, University of Yaounde 1
- Dr NDJOMNBOG Joseph Roger, MINEDUB
Organizing Committee
- Dr MAKASSO Moselly, Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr BESSALA Gaston, Research officer, CNE-MINRESI
- Dr MANIFI Maxime, Senior lecturer, University of Yaounde 1
- Dr NGUE UM Emmanuel, Senior lecturer, University of Yaounde 1
- Dr AKU Julius EYOH, Senior lecturer, University of Yaounde 1 ;
- M. BELINGA Pierre Germain, Research Assistant, CNE-MINRESI ;
- Mme NGO BINAM Isis, Research Assistant, CNE-MINRESI ;
Secretariat
- Mme BIH Davina Research Assistant, CNE-MINRESI ;
- M. MFIARAK Richard, Research Assistant, CNE-MINRESI ;
- Mme SANDJOL epse ATANGANA, Research Assistant, CNE-MINRESI ;
- Mme KAYUM Carole , University of Yaounde 1 ;
- Mme JIRNDI Finita ;University of Yaounde 1 ;
- Mme DE MOMHA Mispa ,University of Yaounde 1 ;
- Mme AVOA Sandrine epse BELINGA, University of Yaounde 1 ;
- Mme TALLA Christlle, University of Yaounde 1 ;
- Mme DIGBWA Joséphine, University of Yaounde 1 ;
- Mme HABIBA Missa, University of Yaounde 1.
Subjects
- Education (Main category)
- Society > Ethnology, anthropology > Social anthropology
- Mind and language > Language > Linguistics
- Mind and language > Education > Educational sciences
- Society > Ethnology, anthropology > Cultural anthropology
- Mind and language > Representation > Heritage
- Mind and language > Representation > Cultural identities
- Society > Geography > Nature, landscape and environment
Places
- Yaoundé, Cameroon
Date(s)
- Friday, April 27, 2018
Keywords
- croyance, culture, éducation, environnement, langue, paix
Contact(s)
- Gaston Bessala
courriel : gastonbessala [at] gmail [dot] com - Davina Bih
courriel : bihdavina [at] yahoo [dot] com
Information source
- Gaston Bessala
courriel : gastonbessala [at] gmail [dot] com
License
This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
To cite this announcement
« The culture of peace and cultural development in Cameroon », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, https://doi.org/10.58079/z9l
