Remembering 30-year German rule in Cameroon: NEW Foundation plans to build Deutsch Memorial site in Buea

By Tata Mbunwe

The coordinator of NEW Foundation, a Buea-based organisation, Wilson Efokoa, has revealed they will be setting up Deutsch Memorial, a site that will honour German contributions to development in Buea.

To be inaugurated in February, Deutsch Memorial will be located at the entrance into the old German cemetery in Buea just before the former GIZ office.

“Our intention is to pay homage to the fallen German heroes who made tremendous contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Buea during the colonial era,” Wilson Efokoa said.
The memorial will contain a garden, works of arts, a microhabitat, refreshment facilities and other recreational components.

“Hopefully we will start a small library and a Deutsche Cultural Centre where the Deutsche language and culture will be taught,” NEW Foundation’s coordinator said.
He further explained that, though German occupation of Cameroon was short-lived due to their defeat in the First World War, the German contributions to the development of Buea was more significant than what the British and French did.

Although the memorial is to be launched in a month’s time, NEW Foundation says they expect public support through their presence at the launching, which will take place at the memorial’s site.

The Germans were expelled from Cameroon in 1916 following their brief colonial rule that started in 1884.

Despite exercising greater military strength on natives during the rule, the Germans have widely been acclaimed for establishing some of Cameroon’s landmark assets, including the Cameroon Development Corporation, the second largest employer after the Cameroon government.

In Buea, the German handiwork remains visible with standing German colonial structures such as the Prime Minister Lodge (Schloss), the old Secretariat, the 1902 Post Office, the Bismarck Fountain, alongside residential buildings, roads and other infrastructures constructed during the German rule.