THE REUNIFICATION MONUMENT OF CAMEROON
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PHOTO CAPTION: Reunification Monument. SOURCE: yengafrica
Situated on “Plateau Atemengue”, Yaoundé’s political and administrative centre, the Reunification Monument was built in 1972, during the early post-independence period under President Ahmadou Ahidjo, to commemorate the 1961 reunification of British and French Cameroons. It symbolises national cohesion and identity.
After World War I, Cameroon was split between the British and the French. The two parts came together to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The history of this unification is important for education because it brings together the historical memory of approximately 200-250 ethnic groups living together in the Republic of Cameroon, a mosaic of cultures committed to sharing a common life.
The sculpture situated in front of the spiral architecture reinforces the idea of a united nation as a foundation for development, fulfilment, and prosperity.
The composition represents a stocky colossus (53 tons, height of 7m) in a seated posture of great stability. He holds a torch in his right arm while his left hand serves to support the four children who are clutched to him. The children’s visible efforts to climb up the colossus make for a strong vertical tension, echoing the cone-shaped architecture in the background. This shows the unity of the country’s different regions. The design also stands for the challenges and hopes of building a united Cameroon.
The Reunification Monument, therefore, is a source of pride for Cameroonians, but it also reminds people not only of past unity but also of the current fight for fairness and equal treatment for all. As a prominent landmark in Yaoundé, the monument attracts visitors interested in Cameroon’s post-colonial history.
