Cameroonians who gathered at the Molyko Omnisport Stadium on Thursday, September 19, 2024, to watch an 80-minute documentary film chronicling President Paul Biya’s 42-year legacy left the venue with disappointment. Many viewers criticised the film for its lack of depth and historical accuracy, highlighting distorted facts and gaps in its contextual narratives.
Documentary’s Quality
Renowned historian Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh voiced his dissatisfaction with the documentary, stating that it failed to properly portray President Biya’s role in Cameroon’s history. According to Ngoh, the film lacked the necessary quality in both its content and presentation.
“I am angry this evening because I left the Molyko Stadium where the documentary on President Paul Biya was shown, and I was disappointed with the standard of the substance of the documentary. Cameroonians need to know their history; this documentary, supervised by the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, does not help the situation. And it is going round to ALL the country’s ten regions,” Ngoh said.
Concerns Over Personality Cult
Many attendees felt that the documentary overemphasized a personality cult around Paul Biya, while downplaying the contributions of other key figures and organizations that shaped the nation’s socio-political and economic landscape. There were frustrations over the omission of significant events and entities that played critical roles in Cameroon’s development.
“You cannot talk of the reintroduction of multiparty politics in Cameroon without mentioning the SDF. You cannot discuss education in Cameroon without discussing the immense contribution of the various religious bodies and the private sector. You cannot have a documentary of Cameroon supervised by the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, and it is strictly on the CPDM; if the CPDM secretariat did it, it would have been okay,” said Njumbo Lawrence, a civil society actor.
Loosely Translated Scripts and Regional Oversights
In addition to these concerns, viewers pointed out issues with poorly translated scripts and accompanying documents. This further added to the frustrations of many who attended the screening, hoping for a comprehensive reflection on Biya’s legacy.
After scribbling through the entire movie and finding it hard to identify a specific capture of Paul Biya’s legacy for the South West Region, it took the head of the film projection, Peter Mafany Musonge, over 20 minutes to identify some 11 things Biya has done for the region. Amongst others, he cited the creation of the University of Buea, the tarring of the Buea, Kumba-Mamfe road, and the according of a special status to the region.
The film, which is being projected across all ten regions of Cameroon, has generated a heated debate over its portrayal of Paul Biya’s legacy. While some expected a comprehensive account of his contributions, the documentary has left many viewers questioning its accuracy and balance in recounting Cameroon’s history under Biya’s leadership.
